Agriculture and Life Sciences

Jun 21, 2016

How Native American Agriculture Spread Bees in Pre-Columbian North America

Using genetic markers, researchers have for the first time shown how cultivating a specific crop led to the expansion of a pollinator species. In this case, the researchers found that the spread of a bee species in pre-Columbian Central and North America was tied to the spread of squash agriculture. 

Jun 7, 2016

Resistance Remedies

NC State researchers battle bacteria to show that resistance is futile. 

Jun 6, 2016

5 Things You Should Know About Grilling Burgers (To Avoid Getting Sick)

To help you avoid barfing this grilling season, a food safety expert gave us these five things to remember when it comes to making a delicious (and safe) burger. 

May 18, 2016

Bugs Bunny’s Knowledge Confirmed

The carrot genome sequence reveals information about the vegetable's evolution and how it accumulates health-beneficial carotenoids. Somewhere, Bugs Bunny is smiling. 

May 18, 2016

No Junk-Food Diet: Even in Cities, Bees Find Flowers and Avoid Processed Sugars

New research from NC State finds that bees in urban areas stick to a flower-nectar diet, steering clear of processed sugars found in soda and other junk food. 

May 17, 2016

Assessing the Positive and Negative Claims About Genetically Engineered Crops

Genetically engineered crops stir strong feelings from both critics and supporters. We talk to the researcher who chaired the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that just released a report, “Genetically Engineered Crops: Experience and Prospects,” which examines the evidence behind positive and negative claims about GE crops, and the research challenges that lie ahead. 

May 10, 2016

Why Do Strawberries Have Their Seeds on the Outside?

This is a tricky question because: one, those "seeds" aren't seeds; and, two, we're not really sure. 

Apr 14, 2016

Study Argues ‘Winner-Winner’ Behavior May Shape Animal Hierarchies

Researchers have developed a behavioral model that explains the complexity and diversity of social hierarchies in ants, and which scientists believe may help us understand the nature of other animal societies – from primates to dolphins. 

Apr 4, 2016

Study: Near-Shore Wind Farms Would Have Big Impact on Coastal Tourism

A study by economists at NC State finds that most people are unwilling to rent vacation homes that have a view of offshore wind turbines – and that those who will rent expect steep rental discounts unless the turbines are more than eight miles offshore. 

Mar 31, 2016

New Tools Allow Rapid ID of CRISPR-Cas System PAMs

CRISPR-Cas systems are widely heralded as a new generation of genetic tools. But development of these tools requires researchers to identify the protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs) that unlock each system’s functionality. A new set of techniques expedites PAM identification — and early testing finds that many CRISPR-Cas systems actually have multiple PAMs of varying strength. 

Mar 23, 2016

Modified Maggots Could Help Human Wound Healing

NC State entomologists genetically modify maggots to aid human wound healing. 

Mar 23, 2016

NC State’s Barrangou Wins Canada Gairdner Award

Rodolphe Barrangou wins prestigious Gairdner Award for pioneering the gene-editing system known as CRISPR. 

Mar 16, 2016

Shorebirds Ignore Aircraft, But Pay Attention to People, Off-road Vehicles

American oystercatchers studied on North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore were disturbed more by pedestrians and off-road vehicles passing their nests than by the U.S. military aircraft flying overhead. 

Mar 9, 2016

Barrangou Wins Warren Alpert Foundation Prize

Rodolphe Barrangou shares prestigious award for his pioneering work on the revolutionary gene-editing system known as CRISPR. 

Mar 9, 2016

Study Finds More Social Insects Have Weaker Immune Response, Highlights Role of Hygiene

Research finds that among eusocial insects – like ants, bees and termites – the more individuals there are in a typical species colony, the weaker the species’ immune response. The finding strongly suggests that hygiene behaviors, and not just immune systems, play a key role in keeping eusocial insects healthy.