Jul 19, 2023 MSN

The World Bakes Under Extreme Heat

High-pressure heat domes that bring sweltering temperatures have occurred during the past few summers, but having four of them over land at the same time is still surprising to Carl Schreck, a tropical climatologist at North Carolina State University who works with NOAA. 

Jul 18, 2023 Indiana Ag Connection

Is the U.S. Prepared for an African Swine Fever Outbreak?

As the specter of African swine fever (ASF) continues to cast a shadow over the swine industry, researchers from North Carolina State University have delved into the potential consequences of an outbreak in the southeastern U.S. Utilizing a computer model, they examined the transmission routes and evaluated existing response plans, shedding light on the readiness… 

Jul 18, 2023 Chem Europe

Researchers create highly conductive metallic gel for 3D printing

“3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing, but we’re not aware of previous technologies that allowed you to print 3D metal objects at room temperature in a single step,” says Michael Dickey, co-corresponding author of a paper on the work and the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University.… 

Jul 18, 2023 New Atlas

CRISPR tweaks tree genetics to make paper more sustainably

For the new study, the NC State team experimented with CRISPR to lower lignin levels in poplar trees, and increase the ratios of carbohydrates to lignin (C/L) and syringyl to guaiacyl (S/G), two molecules that make up lignin. These properties in just the right combo – 35% less lignin than wild trees, and C/L and S/G… 

Jul 18, 2023 WFAE

Poop scoop: NC State and Zoo researchers find new clues for rhino conservation

To counter that precarious status, a team of scientists from North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Zoo is probing an unexpected source to better understand the link between those gut microbes and fertility: rhino poop. 

Jul 17, 2023 WRAL

Raleigh residents are dealing with tiny, red bugs that leave horrendously itchy bites

A team of researchers from NC State University, including Micheal Roe and UNC-Greensboro, have found that chiggers in North Carolina carry bacteria that can cause the potentially fatal disease scrub typhus. 

Jul 17, 2023 WFXR

How and why do lightning bugs glow?

North Carolina State University says these insects are not flies or bugs; they are actually soft-winged beetles that really produce light, an ability called bioluminescence. The university says this is relatively rare in living organisms. 

Jul 17, 2023 Sci Tech Daily

CRISPR Gene Editing Used To Build a Better Forest Tree for Sustainable Fiber Production

Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have successfully applied CRISPR gene-editing technology to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, a significant barrier to the sustainable production of wood fibers. The research, which offers potential for more efficient, eco-friendly fiber production, was published in the journal Science. The findings hold promise to make… 

Jul 17, 2023 Yahoo! News

Scientists create genetically modified fruit fly that could save farmers billions of dollars: ‘We’re really excited about this’

Researchers at North Carolina State University have been developing a genetically modified fruit fly to stop these pests from destroying produce. The scientists’ method involves modifying flies to have infertile female offspring and slowly reduce the population of the insect, reported Phys.org. 

Jul 14, 2023 Inverse

Can This Genetically Engineered Tree Help Solve Climate Change?

Scientists like Rodolphe Barrangou and Jack Wang of North Carolina State University (NC State) weren’t looking to reshape a fruit or vegetable. They had their eyes and genetic engineering tools on the trillions of organisms that make up the very fabric of nature: Trees. 

Jul 14, 2023 Popular Science

Genetically modified trees could mean more sustainable wood

To do that, they are delving into trees’ genetic makeup. “I don’t think the general public fully understands or appreciates the impact trees have on our society and in reducing carbon emission. Understanding the genetics of this critical resource is important, especially for producing fibers that’s important in our buying economy,” says Daniel Sulis, a… 

Jul 14, 2023 New Scientist

CRISPR-edited trees reduce the energy and water required to make paper

Making paper is both energy and water intensive, says Jack Wang at North Carolina State University. In 2021, the industry’s global carbon footprint was estimated to be 190 million tonnes – a figure that is expected to rise until 2030, when paper production is projected to peak. One of the biggest energy drains in the… 

Jul 14, 2023 Chemical & Engineering News

Gene editing trees for more sustainable wood fiber production

Rather than just removing lignin from logs, researchers at North Carolina State University sought to lower the proportion of it from the outset. Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR on poplar trees, they modified some of the genes that produce the chemicals that eventually form lignin. Using seven gene-editing strategies, each modifying three to six genes,… 

Jul 13, 2023 USA Today

Dramatic flooding was rare in Vermont’s capital. Expect it more amid climate change.

These big increases in rainfall events, such as those with more than an inch of rainfall, aren’t just happening in the northeast, said Ken Kunkel, an atmospheric sciences professor at North Carolina State University. They’re happening in much of the eastern half of the U.S., as well as in other parts of the world. 

Jul 13, 2023 Huffington Post

4 Ingredients Food Safety Experts Never Order At A Restaurant

Ellen Shumaker, director of outreach and extension for Safe Plates at North Carolina State University, explained of raw milk, “Because it has not been pasteurized, bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter and listeria have a high likelihood of being present.”