Matt Shipman

Dec 9, 2014

Moving Toward a Cheaper, Better Catalyst for Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen could be an important source of clean energy, and the cleanest way to produce hydrogen gas is to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. But the catalyst currently used to facilitate this water-splitting reaction is platinum. And that’s a problem. 

Dec 9, 2014

Online Students Give Instructors Higher Marks If They Think Instructors Are Men

A new study shows that college students in online courses give better evaluations to instructors they think are men – even when the instructor is actually a woman. 

Dec 8, 2014

Study: Charter Schools Can Lead Families To Buy Homes Nearby

A new study finds that families with children enrolled at a charter school are likely to move closer to the school. The finding may have relevance for urban renewal efforts. 

Dec 8, 2014

Nanoparticle Allows Low-Cost Creation of 3-D Nanostructures

Researchers have developed a new lithography technique that uses nanoscale spheres to create 3-D structures with biomedical, electronic and photonic applications. 

Dec 5, 2014

Fruitcake – Will it Last Forever?

How long will a fruitcake last? Is it safe to eat old fruitcake? We asked a scientist. 

Dec 3, 2014

The Gorilla in the Room: Inattentional Blindness Isn’t Blindness at All

Imagine being so engrossed in a task that you don’t notice a gorilla entering the room. (This actually happened in a famous psychological experiment.) The phenomenon is known as “inattentional blindness” and occurs when people are so focused on a task that they fail to notice unexpected events. But it turns out that inattentional blindness isn’t blindness at all. 

Dec 2, 2014

Nutrition, Safety Key To Consumer Acceptance of Nanotech, Genetic Modification In Foods

New research shows that the majority of consumers will accept the presence of nanotechnology or genetic modification technology in foods – but only if the technology enhances the nutrition or improves the safety of the food. 

Dec 2, 2014

This Is What Science Looks Like at NC State: Amy Savage

How one researcher went from the mountains of Montana to studying the insect ecology of New York City. 

Dec 2, 2014

Study Finds Insects Play Important Role in Dealing with Garbage on NYC Streets

In the city that never sleeps, it’s easy to overlook the insects underfoot. But that doesn’t mean they’re not working hard. A new study shows that insects play a significant role in disposing of garbage on the streets of Manhattan. 

Dec 1, 2014

Q&A on Review and Revision of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone

Here are answers to some questions about the recent announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding a proposed revision to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone from Dr. H. Christopher Frey, Distinguished University Professor at North Carolina State University and chair of the EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. 

Dec 1, 2014

Unhappy Hour: Non-Drinkers Devise Strategies to Navigate Booze-Centered Work Events

From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers and clients often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position: they don’t want to drink, but they do want to take part in events they feel are important to networking and career advancement without making drinkers feel bad. That perceived tension leads non-drinkers to develop techniques to fit in socially without taking a drink. 

Nov 21, 2014

Researchers Study Impact of Power Prosthetic Failures on Amputees

Powered lower limb prosthetics hold promise for improving the mobility of amputees, but errors in the technology may also cause some users to stumble or fall. New research examines exactly what happens when these technologies fail, with the goal of developing a new generation of more robust powered prostheses. 

Nov 20, 2014

New Technique Allows Ultrasound To Penetrate Bone, Metal

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique that allows ultrasound to penetrate bone or metal, using customized structures that offset the distortion usually caused by these so-called “aberrating layers.” 

Nov 19, 2014

Warmer Temperatures Limit Impact of Parasites, Boost Pest Populations

Research shows that some insect pests are thriving in warm, urban environments and developing earlier, limiting the impact of parasitoid wasps that normally help keep those pest populations in check. 

Nov 17, 2014

Something Resistant This Way Comes: An Insect Mystery

An NC State entomology researcher has found that a feared crop pest found in North Carolina is becoming resistant to a common method used to protect crops.