Apr 15, 2026 Blue Ridge Now

Though WNC doesn’t have Amtrak, excursion rail generates $191M impact

If it is built, the Amtrak line would support an estimated 305 jobs, producing nearly $60 million in economic output, according to estimates produced by the North Carolina State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education in an economic impact study of the rail line. The NCDOT has called the corridor a “critical connection” between… 

Apr 15, 2026 Money

Prediction Markets Have an Insider Trading Problem. Are They Still Worth the Gamble?

“Prediction markets, in the way that they’re constructed, provide a lot of opportunity for insider trading,” says Richard Warr, a finance professor at N.C. State University. “The granularity and the variety of these possible contracts means that the number of people who potentially have prior information about the outcome is massive.” 

Apr 15, 2026 NC Health News

Helene exposed cracks in western NC’s health care safety net

The situation McNeill described is reflected in forthcoming results from studies led separately by researchers Jen Runkle from NC State University and Maggie Sugg from Appalachian State University, who, along with their respective colleagues, analyzed emergency department use in western North Carolina after Helene. 

Apr 15, 2026 Grist

Hurricane Helene ravaged farmers’ topsoil. They’re still fighting to build it back.

“None of us had ever seen anything like this before or responded to an emergency like that,” said Stephanie Kulesza, a nutrient and soil scientist at North Carolina State University. “And so we weren’t really prepared for recommendations to provide to producers.” 

Apr 14, 2026 WFLB-FM

NC State Team Releases Free Guide for Building Pollinator Habitats on Farms

A team from NC State University, NC Cooperative Extension, and the NC Botanical Garden created a guide that helps farmers and landowners build pollinator habitats. Free to download, this resource walks readers through site selection, plant choices, prep work, installation, and upkeep aimed at supporting bee populations that have been dropping. 

Apr 14, 2026 WRAL

AI reshapes NC student job prospects as entry-level hiring slows, state officials stepping in

At North Carolina State University, students said AI is already shaping how they approach coursework, internships and career planning. “I’m looking to add a machine learning or AI minor just to prepare for the coming times,” said Nicole Sokeye, an engineering undergraduate student at NC State. Other students said expectations in technical fields have shifted as… 

Apr 14, 2026 World Today News

Artemis II: Christina Koch’s Inspiring Message for Earth

Her academic journey was exhaustive. She graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in 1997 before pursuing dual Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics at North Carolina State University in 2001. She followed this with a Master of Science in electrical engineering in 2002. This interdisciplinary approach—combining the theoretical… 

Apr 14, 2026 ABC11

Oil prices surge, concerns grow over gas and goods prices after threat to blockade Iranian ports

Tamara Scott with ABC11 spoke with Steve Allen, an economist at North Carolina State University, who said consumers should be prepared for higher prices in the months ahead. “My advice would be if you’re planning your summer vacation, don’t expect the price of gas to get below four dollars a gallon,” Allen said. “It affects fertilizer, it… 

Apr 14, 2026 Good Men Project

New Technique Could Stop AI From Giving Unsafe Advice

“We don’t want LLMs to tell people to harm themselves or to give them information they can use to harm other people,” says Jung-Eun Kim, corresponding author of a paper on the work and an assistant professor of computer science at North Carolina State University. 

Apr 13, 2026 Scientific American

How DNA forensics is transforming studies of ancient manuscripts

“It had its own biography, its own deep history. It seemed like an archaeological site between covers,” recalls Stinson, who is now a medievalist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “The parchment even had a vaguely animal smell, albeit a pleasant one.” 

Apr 13, 2026 WXII

NC State students celebrate the completion of Artemis II mission and their very own Christina Koch

Koch, a three-time graduate of NC State, was one of four members on the Artemis II mission, inspiring many on campus. “It was really inspiring to see a graduate of our engineering program be selected for such a great mission, so it’s almost like a full circle moment for me because I’m graduating this 

Apr 13, 2026 Southern Living

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs Before They Take Over Your Home And Garden

Brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) may have a funny name, but no one who has to deal with them is laughing. “They can be a significant issue for commercial growers and home gardeners in regions where the stink bug population is high,” says Jim Walgenbach, PhD, professor and extension entomology specialist at North Carolina… 

Apr 13, 2026 ABC11

Artemis II crew’s return inspires NC State students at watch party

A 10-day mission around the moon ended Friday as the Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, drawing cheers from North Carolina State University students who gathered to watch the landing. Many were especially moved to see NC State alum Christina Koch step out of the Integrity capsule after what space experts described as… 

Apr 13, 2026 WRAL

‘Absolute joy and delight’: NC State community reacts to historic Artemis II return

Students at NC State University celebrated the successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission Friday. The moment carried special meaning on campus as alumna Christina Koch helped make history. 

Apr 13, 2026 NPR / WUNC

The real space science behind ‘Project Hail Mary’

Nathan Crook, an associate professor of engineering at North Carolina State University, has worked on breeding microbes to eat plastic in the ocean while withstanding marine pH levels. Every microbe is a little different when it comes to trying to breed it to have certain characteristics, so it’s hard to say how realistic this part…