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‘Teen’ Pachycephalosaur Butts Into Fossil Record

Exploration

Early-stage research happening at NC State

a pooping elephant walks past a watering hole where a zebra is drinking

Jan 26, 2026

Study Sheds New Light on What Drives Evolution of Gut Microbiomes

A study of African herbivores offers insight into how environmental conditions can influence the evolution of gut microbes that play a critical role in animal health and well-being. 
Crystal on dark background to illustrate how applying a thermal gradient to the crystal creates orbital angular momentum.

Jan 21, 2026

Chiral Phonons Create Orbital Current via Their Own Magnetism

Chiral phonons can create orbital current without magnetic elements, and the effect can be achieved in common crystal materials. 
a white robot resembling a moth creates ripples in purple water as it flaps its wings

Jan 20, 2026

NC State Contest Seeks Research Images from Students, Faculty, Staff

NC State calls on students, postdocs, faculty and staff to take part in the university’s annual research image contest. 
there are three images. first is a weaving of grey and blue strands; second is heat-map image, red in the center, surrounded by blue; third is an image of grey weaving with an overly of blue zigzag lines

Jan 14, 2026

Self-Healing Composite Can Make Airplane, Automobile and Spacecraft Components Last for Centuries

Researchers have created a self-healing composite that is tougher than materials currently used in aircraft wings, turbine blades and other applications – and can repair itself more than 1,000 times. 
close photograph of a chimpanzee eating a piece of fruit

Dec 1, 2025

Why Researchers Are Studying Lipid Levels in Chimpanzee Blood

The research holds value for zoos, wildlife conservation and – maybe – human health. 

Nov 6, 2025

Study: Composite Metal Foam Could Lead to Safer Hazmat Transportation

Composite metal foam can withstand tremendous force – enough to punch a hole in a railroad tank car – at much lower weight than solid steel. 
A pack of Nanotyrannus brazenly attacks a juvenile T. rex. Illustration by Anthony Hutchings.

Oct 30, 2025

Nanotyrannus Confirmed: Dueling Dinosaurs Fossil Rewrites the Story of T. rex

A complete Nanotyrannus skeleton has just ended one of paleontology’s longest-running debates. 
diagram shows how a metabot can fold itself from a two-dimensional sheet into various multi-dimensional structures

Oct 15, 2025

‘Metabots’ Shapeshift From Flat Sheets Into Hundreds of Structures

The metabots resemble animated sheets of plastic, capable of moving around a surface or grasping objects. 
a gembok defecates in a sere landscape

Oct 15, 2025

African Wildlife Poop Sheds Light on What Shapes the Gut Ecosystem

Because the gut microbiome plays a critical role in animal health, the work can be used to inform conservation efforts. 
A step-by-step diagram shows how a two-dimensional sheet can be cut and folded to create a three-dimensional shape that resembles a Chinese lantern

Oct 10, 2025

‘Chinese Lantern’ Structure Shifts Into More Than a Dozen Shapes for Various Applications

The rapid shape-shifting behavior of the structures can be controlled remotely using a magnetic field. 
NC State metal gateway sculpture silhouetted against the sky

Oct 8, 2025

Designing Polymers for Use in Next-Generation Bioelectronics

New research offers insights into how to fine-tune the electronic properties of polymers for use in applications such as implantable electronics and light-harvesting technologies. 
A person holds two small blocks of steel metal foam.

Oct 7, 2025

Some Like It Hot: Composite Metal Foam Proves Resilient Against High Stresses at High Temperatures

Coupled with the material’s high strength-to-weight ratio, the finding suggests that CMF could be used in applications ranging from automobile engines to aerospace components to nuclear power technologies. 
multicolored pixels in the shape of a person using a VR system stand in silhouette against a black background

Oct 1, 2025

‘Embodied’ AI in Virtual Reality Improves Programming Student Confidence

Giving AI “peers” in virtual reality a body that can interact with the virtual environment can help students learn programming. 

Sep 24, 2025

Study Challenges Theory Behind N.C. Blue Crab Decline

There are plenty of juvenile blue crabs in Pamlico Sound, so where are the adults? 

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.