2026-09-11 Ag Navigator

Microbes offer early window into soil health gains from regenerative practices, study finds

The study, led by researchers from North Carolina State University in collaboration with North Carolina A&T State University and Emory University, found that microbial biomass, microbial necromass and enzyme activity can serve as biological "proxies" for soil carbon, a key measure of soil health.

2026-09-11 LA Times

California coast braces for another battering as new El Niño-related wave emerges in Pacific

This isn’t a surfable wave, and it wouldn’t be overtly noticeable to swimmers or boaters either. But it is expected to increase the sea level off the California coast by another 6 inches or so, and its effects could last months, according to Dillon Amaya, an expert on coastally trapped waves and an assistant professor at North Carolina State University’s Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

2026-09-10 Washington Post

This El Niño-fueled phenomenon could soon bring major flood risks to the West

Tracking the wave's impacts Dillon Amaya, an assistant professor of marine science at North Carolina State University, said the combination of higher sea levels and the potential for stormier-than-usual weather this fall and winter could increase the risk of coastal flooding and beach erosion.

2026-09-10 North Carolina Health News

Veterans find purpose on the farm

That aging workforce is a concern in North Carolina, where agriculture and agribusiness had an estimated $111.1 billion economic impact in 2022, according to a 2024 analysis of USDA data by NC State University economist Mike Walden.

2026-09-10 Yahoo! News

Forbes’ Top 25 Public Colleges

NC State enrolls more students than any other institution in North Carolina. Recognized for its research in microelectronics and agriculture, the university combined these areas by hosting the 2026 National AI in Agriculture Conference for agtech leaders, researchers and government officials with a goal of defining AI's role in climate adaptation and precision farming. In tandem, NC State launched the REFRAME project to harness AI for converting agricultural waste into commercial biomaterials. While NC State is nationally recognized for STEM, engineering, and agriculture, it also has popular programs in non-STEM subjects such as the humanities, business, and education. The school's admission rate for first-year students is about 40% and for transfers, 45%.

2026-09-10 The Washington Post

How El Niño could bring punishing conditions to the West Coast this winter

Dillon Amaya, an assistant professor of marine science at North Carolina State University, said the combination of higher sea levels and the potential for stormier-than-usual weather this fall and winter could increase the risk of coastal flooding and beach erosion.

2026-09-10 Cardinal & Pine

It’s peak hurricane season in NC. So where are the storms?

Craig Schreck, who works at NCEI as Interim Associate Director of the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies at NC State University, explained that the center houses hundreds of data sets including satellite, radar, and temperature data.

2026-09-10 Business North Carolina

NC State gets $20 million to advance AI research for K-12 students

The renewal of a five-year, $20 million federal grant is going to allow artificial intelligence researchers at NC State University and other institutions to advance the development of interactive storytelling tools in K-12 education.

2026-09-09 CNN

El Niño is about to raise California’s sea levels by a foot. That’s going to be bad news when winter storms roll in

According to Dillon Amaya, an oceanographer at North Carolina State University, the wave is a clear signal that El Niño has arrived in California. “Typically, we think of El Niño and its impact on precipitation, but some of the first indications that El Niño is really occurring are the arrival of these coastally trapped waves,” he said.

2026-09-09 WISH TV

Floss-based vaccines could offer protection without needles

Researchers at North Carolina State University are testing a new delivery method using an item found in most bathrooms: dental floss. Most vaccines for illnesses — including the flu, COVID-19, measles, shingles, tetanus, HPV, and RSV — require a needle in the arm. However, chemical engineer Harvinder Singh Gill and his team at North Carolina State University believe the small space between the teeth and gums provides a doorway for medicine.

2026-09-09 WWAY

NC State receives $4.2 million grant to study PFAS health effects in Cape Fear River Basin

Researchers at North Carolina State University have received a four-year, $4.2 million grant to continue studying the potential long-term health effects of exposure to PFAS and perfluoroalkyl ether acids, including GenX.

2026-09-08 POWER Magazine

Major Leap for Solid-State Transformers: Megawatt-Class Unit Demonstrated on Live Feeder

“This is the first independently verified, megawatt-class solid-state transformer validated on a live utility distribution feeder,” said Srdjan Lukic, principal investigator on the SST project and Lampe Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State. “This is a significant step in advancing power transformer technology.”

2026-09-08 Repairer Driven News

NC State study using professor’s patented composite metal foam could improve frontal collision safety

North Carolina State University researchers say their new study finds that composite metal foam (CMF) could significantly improve frontal vehicle collision safety by increasing injury prevention limits at higher impact speeds by up to 48%.

2026-09-07 Wonderful Engineering

Scientists Have Built a Tiny Robot That Can Keep Jumping Forever Using Nothing But Light

The teardrop-shaped device was created by researchers at North Carolina State University. Its unusual movement is powered by a self-resetting mechanism that stores elastic energy through twisting before releasing it in a sudden burst. The robot then automatically returns to its original position and begins the process again.

2026-09-06 USA Today

The US went all in on AI investment. Is it driving up consumer prices?

Data centers' impact on your electric bill might depend on where you live. A 2025 Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University study found that data centers and cryptocurrency mining could lead to an 8% increase in Americans' average electricity bill by 2030. For consumers living in major data center hubs, like central and northern Virginia, it estimates their bills could rise by 25% in that time.