Jan 29, 2026 Discover Magazine

Bright Streaks on Mercury Suggest That It’s Not a Dead Planet, but Geologically Active

Mercury was once volcanically active, but activity stopped around 3.5 billion years ago. This happened because the planet was undergoing global contraction, shrinking as it cooled. And unlike Earth, which is covered in multiple moving plates, Mercury’s crust is just one big plate that envelops a molten core, according to a report from NC State University. 

Jan 29, 2026 The New York Post

Here’s everything you need to know about Trump Accounts

“It’s gonna be very similar to a 401K match in the sense that this is just free money,” Nathan Goldman, a member of the American Accounting Association and professor at North Carolina State University, told The Post. Still, parents may want to diversify their savings with Trump Accounts – for example, putting 75% of savings in… 

Jan 29, 2026 Smithsonian Magazine

Mummified Cheetahs Discovered in Caves Could Help Saudi Arabia Bring the Wild Cat Back to Its Historical Range

“The fact that they went into over one hundred caves and were able to find mummies—that’s highly unusual outside of [things like] permafrost,” which has turned up many mummified Ice Age animals, Liz Kierepka, a wildlife geneticist at North Carolina State University who was not involved in the study, tells Science News’ Jake Buehler. 

Jan 29, 2026 The Martin County Enterprise

Can the beat go on in North Carolina?

Indeed, North Carolina has developed one of the top economies in the country. New businesses, and especially new and expanding “cutting-edge” businesses like pharmaceuticals, technology and aerospace, have moved to the state, bringing thousands of new jobs, many of which are high-paying. All of North Carolina’s governors over the last 50 years have been successful… 

Jan 28, 2026 The Microbiologist

Study sheds new light on what drives evolution of gut microbiomes

“There’s a concept in ecology called phylosymbiosis, which is basically the idea that as species evolve and diverge from each other, their gut microbiomes will also diverge in a predictable way,” says Erin McKenney, co-author of a paper on the work and an assistant professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University. “But studies… 

Jan 28, 2026 The News and Observer

How are NC private school voucher students doing? The test data isn’t public.

“As the (Opportunity Scholarship) Program has expanded, so has the demand for clear information about student learning in schools that accept Opportunity Scholarships,” the report sent to state lawmakers in December said. The report, conducted by researchers at N.C. State University and Basis Policy Research, didn’t recommend changing the exams that public schools use because… 

Jan 28, 2026 WUNC

Police-related stress tied to heart health risks for Black women, NC State study says

Police-related stress may have an impact on Black women’s heart health, according to new research out of North Carolina State University. The study followed more than 400 Black women living in the Atlanta area and examined how police-related stress is associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Researchers analyzed women’s personal experiences with police harassment, as well… 

Jan 28, 2026 National Geographic

The truffle-hunting dogs sniffing out new species in the name of science

Inga Meadows, plant pathologist at North Carolina State University, and her team at the station work closely with Gilbert and Dechiara, regularly checking in on the orchard’s truffle harvest with the help of their dogs. Meadows’ team inoculates young hazelnut, oak, and chestnut saplings with truffle fungal spores before planting them to enhance truffle production.… 

Jan 27, 2026 AOL

How to Keep Your Food Fresh Longer and Save Money

Some fresh produce, including berries, lettuce and cucumbers , should go right into the fridge when you bring it home. But there are some fruits and veggies you’ll want to leave on the counter to ripen, such as tropical fruits like avocados, bananas and mangoes. These brown more quickly in the fridge, says Ellen Shumaker, director… 

Jan 27, 2026 The New York Times

Pedro Sanchez, Who Helped Feed the Developing World, Dies at 85

Starting in 1968, he spent 23 years on the faculty of North Carolina State University and balanced teaching with extensive research abroad. Early in his career, he led a team in Peru that produced some of the highest rice yields in the world. 

Jan 27, 2026 ABC11

NC winter storm causing supply chain delays across the Triangle

“FedEx and UPS have shut down a lot of their flights,” said Robert Handfield, a professor of supply chain management at North Carolina State University. “Delta Airlines has put embargoes on some specialty services, and United Airlines is rejecting cargo.” Handfield says icy road conditions are another major factor that could disrupt deliveries for several… 

Jan 27, 2026 The Washington Post

Here’s how your diet may affect UTI risk

Food safety is also important, and you can take these steps to reduce your risk of foodborne illnesses and UTIs, said Ellen Shumaker, the director of outreach for Safe Plates, the food safety program at North Carolina State University. 

Jan 26, 2026 Chemistry World

How soft electronics are transforming medical devices

When Alan Heeger, Alan MacDiarmid and Hideki Shirakawa completed their Nobel prizewinning work to establish the field of conductive polymers, they disrupted a lot of the traditional dichotomies of plastic insulators versus metals and semiconductors. The conjugated polymers they worked on are long molecules built up of several repeating units strung along a carbon backbone.… 

Jan 26, 2026 NPR

Weather influencers are going viral. How much should we trust them?

Experts say that while weather influencers can help fill an information gap, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X tend to prioritize engagement and likes over accuracy. That means extreme weather updates on social media are often sensationalized or lack context, says Gary Lackmann, a professor of atmospheric science at North Carolina State University. 

Jan 26, 2026 Forbes

How A Weather Wedge Is Shaping This Weekend’s Southern Ice Storm

It can be a bit complex, but I found a website at North Carolina State University that presents it at an appropriate level for the public. “Winds circulate in a clockwise direction around high pressure in the northern hemisphere, so in this type of pattern, cold air funnels in from the north or northeast and…