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Matt Shipman

female southern black widow spider with red hourglass marking

May 14, 2025

Are Black Widows Dangerous? Facts and Myths About Black Widow Spiders

Are black widow spiders deadly? Learn the truth about their venom, identification tips, and safety precautions from experts. 

steam billows out of a black metal pot that rests on a stone oven. there is an open fire in the oven.

May 12, 2025

What Are the Tradeoffs When People Have to Choose Between Clean Air and Clean Water?

A new study suggests that, while health risks from the resulting air pollution are real, the benefits associated with boiling water generally outweigh those risks. 

close-up view of several termites in tunnels they've carved into a piece of rotting wood

May 5, 2025

How Do I Protect My Home From Termites? Prevention and Control Tips

Discover effective tips for preventing and controlling termites in your home. Learn how to identify termite infestations early and protect your property. 

a lone star tick against a white backdrop

Apr 29, 2025

How Do I Protect Myself Against Ticks? Prevention and Removal Tips

Learn how ticks spread diseases, why tick bites are dangerous, and effective methods to prevent and remove ticks safely. 

illustration shows an aerial tramcar next to a soft robot that can also ascend and descend along a track

Apr 28, 2025

High-Wire Act: Soft Robot Can Carry Cargo Up and Down Steep Aerial Wires

Researchers have created a light-powered soft robot that can carry loads through the air along established tracks, similar to cable cars or aerial trams. 

a stylized graphic shows three robots conducting chemistry experiments while four humans look at computer screens. there is a globe representing earth in the background

Apr 24, 2025

Could Self-Driving Labs Lead to a New Era of Scientific Research?

How a new approach to research could expedite work on sustainable energy, emerging diseases and other global challenges. 

a mosquito rests on someone's skin

Apr 21, 2025

How Can I Prevent Mosquito Bites? Effective Prevention Tips

Learn why mosquitoes bite, why mosquito bites itch, and the best methods to prevent mosquito bites and protect yourself outdoors. 

pop-up ad reads Wait, we have a special offer

Apr 15, 2025

Study Finds Flaws in Tools Used to Enforce Online Ad Standards

Researchers have identified significant design flaws in the rules ad-blocking browser extensions use to enforce acceptable ad standards. 

aerial view of a football field in a stadium. all distinguishing features, such as logos, have been removed from the field and stadium

Apr 14, 2025

How Blockchain Could Change the NFL Draft

NFL draft trade deals are complex, fast-paced and rely on a clear understanding between the teams involved. Researchers say this is where blockchain smart contracts could be useful. 

a carpenter bee rests on the petals of an iris

Apr 14, 2025

How Can I Protect My Home From Carpenter Bees?

Learn why carpenter bees drill into wood, how to identify their nests, and methods for protecting your home from carpenter bee damage. 

a brown cockroach against a white background

Apr 8, 2025

How Do I Get Rid of Cockroaches?

Learn why roaches infest homes, how quickly they breed, and effective ways to address cockroach problems. 

Campus gateway sign reading NC State University

Mar 24, 2025

Novel Material Holds Promise for Tech to Convert CO2 Into Fuel

Researchers have developed a novel combination of materials that have organic and inorganic properties, with the goal of using them in technologies that convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into a liquid fuel. 

neatly planted rows of corn

Mar 17, 2025

Researchers Demonstrate New Technique for Boosting Plant Growth with Bacteria

The work paves the way for crop applications that make use of these beneficial bacteria in conjunction with agrochemicals. 

illustration of computer circuits in the shape of a brain in front of a range of colorful squares

Mar 10, 2025

New Technique Overcomes Spurious Correlations Problem in AI

Researchers have discovered that learned spurious correlations in AI can be traced to a very small subset of the training data and have demonstrated a technique that overcomes the problem. 

two men in hard hats crouch on a large roof covered with solar panels

Feb 27, 2025

Study Finds Support for Solar Energy Has Become Politically Polarized

While public support for solar energy remains high, that support declined significantly from 2016 to 2022.