Harnessing Data for Decision-Making

illustration of computer circuits in the shape of a brain in front of a range of colorful squares

Mar 10, 2025

New Technique Overcomes Spurious Correlations Problem in AI

Researchers have discovered that learned spurious correlations in AI can be traced to a very small subset of the training data and have demonstrated a technique that overcomes the problem.

two men in hard hats crouch on a large roof covered with solar panels

Feb 27, 2025

Study Finds Support for Solar Energy Has Become Politically Polarized

While public support for solar energy remains high, that support declined significantly from 2016 to 2022.

people sort through donations at a food pantry

Feb 20, 2025

New Technique Aims to Make Food Deliveries More Efficient

The technique develops optimized delivery routes to make food delivery faster and more fuel efficient.

two condoms in foil wrappers rest on a yellow background

Jan 29, 2025

Study Sheds Light on How to Encourage Condom Use Among Teens

The study finds that simply having knowledge about safer sex practices is not enough to encourage condom use.

a hand points to a computer screen displaying profits and losses over time

Jan 28, 2025

Understanding How Companies (Sometimes) Inadvertently Pay Less in Taxes

A new study highlights the fact that many companies unintentionally avoid paying taxes and outlines why this is important for observers to keep in mind.

Campus gateway sign reading NC State University

Nov 20, 2024

Garden Produce Grown Near Fayetteville Works Fluorochemical Plant Contains GenX, Other PFAS

New study indicates that diet, in addition to drinking water, can be an important human exposure pathway for PFAS.

illustration shows a digital screen displaying data related to groundwater quality

Nov 12, 2024

Machine Learning Predicts Highest-Risk Groundwater Sites to Improve Water Quality Monitoring

The new tool allows regulators and public health authorities to prioritize specific aquifers for water quality testing.

Oct 28, 2024

When is a Heat Wave Just a Heat Wave, and When is it Climate Change?

A 2023 heat wave helped establish processes that tease out whether particular weather events are climate related.

a man's hand is holding out a set of house keys

Oct 17, 2024

How Airbnb Could Help Curb the Rise in Housing Costs

Doing a better job of collecting taxes owed by short-term home rentals appears to slow the rise of home prices.

a cook is holding an uncooked turkey on a roasting pan. i hope the cook took steps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness

Oct 16, 2024

How Do I Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey (Without Making People Barf)?

How should you thaw a turkey? How can I tell when the turkey is ready? Our food safety expert answers these questions and more.

a large wave is cresting beneath a blue sky

Oct 9, 2024

New Tool Aims to Boost Ocean-Based Renewable Energy

Researchers have created a new modeling tool that can be used to help develop marine hydrokinetic energy projects.

a person at a laptop is entering a credit card number

Oct 7, 2024

Donations, Not Discounts, Make Shoppers More Amenable to Delayed Delivery

The finding suggests a path forward for online retailers hoping to ease stresses associated with providing the fastest possible delivery times.

Sep 30, 2024

New Tool Can Assess Elderly Dogs’ Frailty

The tool can give important data to owners faced with treatment and quality-of-life decisions for their aging dogs.

a row of windmills is silhouetted against a sunrise

Sep 30, 2024

Model Projects Energy Storage Needs for Fossil Fuel-Free Energy System

The model offers policymakers critical information for long-term energy system planning.

Sep 24, 2024

Atmospheric Methane Increase During Pandemic Due Primarily to Wetland Flooding

Flooded wetlands, not decreased pollution, were key drivers of atmospheric methane increases during the pandemic.