Matt Shipman

Dec 12, 2011

Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance (Part IV)

Editor’s Note: Readers of The Abstract are generally interested in research, science and technology. People that fall into that camp are often also devotees of science fiction. So, in a throw back to the serialized storytelling of the golden age of sci-fi, we decided to serialize some science fiction by one of our favorite authors… 

Dec 9, 2011

Insects And Evolution

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by post-doctoral researcher Michelle Trautwein, whose work at NC State focuses on entomology, genetics and evolution. Here she explains what we know about insect evolution – and why it matters. Our planet is swarming with insects. Literally. Six-legged creatures account for the majority of life on earth, by far… 

Dec 8, 2011

Why We Need to Pull These Films off the Shelf: Educational Films In The United States (Part III)

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Skip Elsheimer, also known as the A/V Geek, a graduate of NC State who has an archive of over 24,000 educational films, many of which he has digitized and made available on DVD or for free viewing at the Internet Archive. He is also a contributor to “Learning… 

Dec 7, 2011

Why Educational Films Matter: Educational Films In The United States (Part II)

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Marsha Orgeron, an associate professor of film studies at NC State and co-editor of “Learning With The Lights Off: Educational Film In The United States.” This is the second of three posts in a series on educational films. Thousands of educational films have been made, and they were… 

Dec 6, 2011

The Way We Learned: Educational Films In The United States (Part I)

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Devin Orgeron, an associate professor of film studies at NC State and co-editor of “Learning With The Lights Off: Educational Film In The United States.” This is the first of three posts in a series on educational films. I regularly teach a course on documentary film here at… 

Dec 6, 2011

Researcher Explains How Santa Delivers Presents in One Night

Don’t believe in Santa Claus? Magic, you say? In fact, science and technology explain how Santa is able to deliver toys to good girls and boys around the world in one night, according to a North Carolina State University researcher. 

Dec 5, 2011

NC State Holds Forensic Science Symposium for National and State Law Enforcement

North Carolina State University will hold its fourth annual forensic science symposium –including presentations of cutting-edge crime scene investigation technology and techniques – on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the College of Textiles. 

Dec 5, 2011

Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance (Part III)

Editor’s Note: Readers of The Abstract are generally interested in research, science and technology. People that fall into that camp are often also devotees of science fiction. So, in a throw back to the serialized storytelling of the golden age of sci-fi, we decided to serialize some science fiction by one of our favorite authors… 

Dec 2, 2011

Sense & Sensibility: New Technology To Help Engineers Monitor Bridges

Editor’s Note: This post was guest-written by Nate DeGraff of NC State’s College of Engineering. Nearly four in 10 bridges in North Carolina are labeled “deficient” by the state’s Department of Transportation (NCDOT). That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe — NCDOT has said it would close any bridge that’s too dangerous to travel over – but it… 

Dec 1, 2011

Archaeologists Find New Evidence Of Animals Being Introduced To Prehistoric Caribbean

An archaeological research team from North Carolina State University, the University of Washington and University of Florida has found one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric non-native animal remains in the Caribbean, on the tiny island of Carriacou. The find contributes to our understanding of culture in the region before the arrival of Columbus,… 

Nov 30, 2011

Researchers Find Some Smartphone Models More Vulnerable To Attack

New research from North Carolina State University shows that some smartphones specifically designed to support the Android mobile platform have incorporated additional features that can be used by hackers to bypass Android’s security features,  making them more vulnerable to attack. Android has the largest share of the smartphone market in the U.S. 

Nov 29, 2011

Dr. B. Jayant Baliga

Dr. B. Jayant Baliga created a super-efficient semiconductor that eliminates roughly 1 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year. 

Nov 28, 2011

NC State Designs New Handle To Make Lifting Infant Car Seats Safer, Easier

Engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a new handle for infant car seats (ICSs) that makes it easier for parents to lift the seat out of a car – while retaining a firmer grip on the handle – making it less likely that the seat will be dropped. 

Nov 28, 2011

Read This! Book Recommendations For Kids And Armchair Researchers

I think it is important to get the general public – and kids – interested in research. It’s never too late to get grown-ups excited about science. And maybe the child you encourage today will be a future Albert Schweitzer, Marie Curie or Steve Jobs. With the holidays approaching, now’s your chance to go buy… 

Nov 28, 2011

Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance (Part II)

Editor’s Note: Readers of The Abstract are generally interested in research, science and technology. People that fall into that camp are often also devotees of science fiction. So, in a throw back to the serialized storytelling of the golden age of sci-fi, we decided to serialize some science fiction by one of our favorite authors…