Exploration

Early-stage research happening at NC State

illustration shows an ice cube sitting on a metallic surface in a hot environment and not melting

Sep 18, 2026

New Material Is an Extreme Thermal Insulator

The new material approaches the theoretical limit of how good a thermal insulator can be.

Close-up of a laboratory microscope with a glass slide positioned beneath its objective lenses.

Sep 14, 2026

New Study Examines Americans’ Relationship With Science — It’s Complicated

The study found that most Americans are interested in science and value it, but many don’t trust scientists or feel like they belong in the scientific community. Researchers say citizen science could help bridge those gaps.

Two AI-generated images of oak trees, showing a close-up of oak leaves and a full tree standing in a field.

Sep 10, 2026

Study Suggests AI-Generated Images Could Support Conservation, but Real-World Data Remains Essential

New research finds AI-generated images could improve computer models used for species identification and biodiversity monitoring, but cannot replace real-world images.

a microscopic image in shades of pink and purple showing a sample of endometrium tissue

Sep 9, 2026

NC State Researchers Receive Federal Funding to Decode Key Uterine Function in Early Pregnancy

A $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will help researchers at NC State investigate the molecular mechanisms that control a critical transition in uterine function during early pregnancy, which could lead to solutions for reproductive conditions like recurrent implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss.

two translucent, tear-drop-shaped loops with a small silver V at the pointy end lie in the grass, while a third loop hovers in the air as if captured in the middle of a jump

Aug 28, 2026

Light-Powered Soft Robots Can Keep Jumping Forever

The soft robots leap upward or forward when exposed to infrared light – and will keep jumping as long as the light is present.

photo shows seven undergraduates interacting with each other and looking at a computer screen

Aug 26, 2026

New Tool Uses AI to Help Undergraduates Think Critically About Research

An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed and demonstrated a step-by-step framework called Socratic Challenger that uses artificial intelligence to help undergraduate students cultivate critical thinking skills. Specifically, the framework uses AI as a collaborator to develop research questions that can be pursued in laboratory or classroom settings.

a backlit glass tumbler of brown liquid rests on a nondescript background

Aug 19, 2026

Foreign Tariffs Made U.S. Whiskey Cheaper (Depending On Where You Live)

A new study finds one side effect of Trump-era trade wars has been cheaper whiskey in much of the United States – but not Kentucky or Tennessee.

Aug 12, 2026

AI-Enabled Stethoscope Can Miss the Beat in Pets

Fourth-year veterinary students matched – and experienced clinicians outperformed – an AI-enabled digital stethoscope in diagnosing heart murmurs and arrhythmias in cats and dogs.

a researcher in a white labcoat and purple gloves holds a piece of white mesh up in front of the camera

Aug 5, 2026

Tangled Seaweed Inspires One-Size-Fits-All Cleaners for Ocean Microplastics

The superadhesive meshes can capture large and small microplastic particles, and are made from sustainable biopolymers.

the setting sun casts warm light on a futuristic looking building

Aug 3, 2026

NC State to Lead Three Department of Energy Genesis Mission Projects

NC State will lead three Genesis Mission projects using AI to expedite discovery in the fields of high-performance computing, cybersecurity and astrophysics.

graphic shows molecular structures stacked on top of each other at differing angles

Jul 15, 2026

Researchers Extend the Limits of Twistronics. Literally.

Researchers have demonstrated a technique for fabricating oxide twistronic materials at much larger sizes, while also controlling the twist angles between materials that dictate their structural and electronic properties.

illustration shows the double-helix construction of DNA in bright blue against a black backdrop

Jul 14, 2026

Scientists Are Getting Better at Predicting Which DNA Sequences Bind to Each Other. AI is Helping.

A better understanding of these DNA-DNA binding relationships has utility in applications ranging from biomedical diagnostic tools to DNA computing.

Campus gateway sign reading NC State University

Jul 13, 2026

New Technique Sheds Light on Longstanding Debates About Ferroelectric Materials

New findings are shedding light on longstanding debates over the behavior of ferroelectric materials when those materials are exposed to electric fields.

photo shows an array of colored cubes and testtubes connected by tubing. It is the hardware for the flex-cat system

Jun 23, 2026

Self-Driving Chemistry Lab Discovers Catalysts That Can Switch Products on Demand

Researchers have developed technology that autonomously searches hundreds of catalyst recipes and reaction conditions to identify faster, more selective, and more programmable ways to make important industrial chemicals.

Jun 19, 2026

Mapping Cotton Bacterial Blight Resistance

Researchers make headway in search for cotton lines with resistance to cotton bacterial blight.