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Study Highlights Possible Path Forward for Teaching Writing to Students With Disabilities

Enriching the Human Experience

a young man lies back on the grass in a wooded area with his eyes closed, apparently listening to his surroundings

Aug 5, 2026

Study Suggests Natural Sounds Help Us Feel More Attached to Specific Places

A new study suggests the sounds around us have a significant impact on how we feel about physical spaces, with natural sounds – such as birdsong – associated with a greater sense of attachment to a given place.
A walking trail in a forest

Jul 21, 2026

Birdsong and walks in the forest tied to significant mental health benefits

A new study finds the sounds and sights of nature are associated with significant positive effects on mental health compared to loud, urban environments. The study, by North Carolina State University researchers, compared the experience of hearing different types of sounds in natural and urban environments to determine their effects on the listeners’ emotions. Study…
a person in a dark room is watching a nature video on a bright screen

Jul 10, 2026

Watching Nature Videos Can Help Relieve Stress, Study Finds

For people who can’t get outside, nature videos may provide a simple way to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
Spirostomum ambiguum

Jun 26, 2026

This Tiny Organism Contracts 200 Times Faster Than We Can Blink. Here’s How.

A tiny, single-celled organism's superfast contraction could lead to faster artificial muscles.
photo of an eclipse shows a black sphere against a black sky, surrounded by a thin ray of golden light

May 27, 2026

Study Finds Awe-Inspiring Nature Helps People Connect to Science

When people engage in science activities that involve awe-inspiring natural phenomena they more closely identify with science and feel a greater sense of belonging.
a pair of hands wearing latex gloves swabs a parchment manuscript to collect genetic information

May 18, 2026

Nondestructive Testing Paves Way for Genetic Analysis of Historical Parchments

The technique offers new insights into everything from trade routes to agricultural practices dating back 1,300 years – without harming the valuable manuscripts.
A house sparrow

Feb 27, 2026

How Invasive House Sparrows Are Helping Scientists Detect Dangerous Contaminants

The house sparrow is a highly invasive pest in North Carolina, and bluebird enthusiasts frequently throw their eggs out and remove their nests to keep them from overtaking the nestboxes that bluebirds call home. A new study puts those discarded eggs to use in detecting heavy metal contaminants in bluebird habitats, which often border human…
a woman in silhouette against the sun raises one hand in defiance

Feb 18, 2026

Want Entrepreneurs to Work Harder? Tell Them They’ll Fail

A new study finds entrepreneurs become more committed to their business ventures when they are told they will fail, increasing their efforts to make those businesses successful.
A father and son look for the perfect Christmas tree.

Dec 3, 2025

A Gift That Keeps On Giving

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NC State recently signed an agreement to license new varieties of two popular Christmas tree species — which have been bred to grow faster and shed fewer needles — to keep this vital industry thriving in our state well into the future.
a ladybug crawls along a windowsill

Dec 3, 2025

Do Bugs Fly in the Windows of High-Rise Apartments?

How high does an apartment need to be above ground level before insects stop flying into your home?
picture shows someone sticking out their tongue

Dec 2, 2025

Why Does Cinnamon Taste Hot? And Why Does Mint Taste Cold?

And while we're at it, why does soda fizz more when you put ice in the glass?
three AI-generated illustrations for childrens stories are displayed next to each other

Nov 13, 2025

How Parents and Kids Really Feel About AI-Generated Images in Children’s Books

Parents and kids raised some concerns about errors in the AI-generated illustrations.

Sep 17, 2025

‘Teen’ Pachycephalosaur Butts Into Fossil Record

A young pachycephalosaur provides answers to questions about what they might have done with those cranial domes.
orange brown and yellow autumn leaves cover the ground

Sep 16, 2025

Chemical Warfare and Soil Saviors: The Secret Life of Leaves

Leaves are more remarkable than you think, and autumn leaves play an important role that many people do not know about.
photo shows a young child's hands writing in a school notebook

Sep 16, 2025

Study Highlights Possible Path Forward for Teaching Writing to Students With Disabilities

New research suggests a technique called performance feedback could be a valuable tool for helping students with disabilities become stronger writers.