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college of agriculture and life sciences

Pinned bees in a collection.

Dec 11, 2023

Bee Species in Wake County: Are They Missing or Just Hard to Find?

Study shows no evidence that bee species richness is declining in booming area of North Carolina, but missing species could be a concern. 

close-up photo of a reddish ant's face

Nov 30, 2023

Rare Ant Species Rediscovered in North Carolina Trees

The discovery is the first time scientists have photographed or collected any males from the elusive species. 

more than a dozen tamales, wrapped in corn husks, sit inside a large metal pot

Nov 27, 2023

Don’t Make Loved Ones Barf: Holiday Food Safety Tips for Tamales

Tamales are a delicious holiday staple. Here are some tips to help you avoid foodborne illness when making them. 

Photo of a flower arrangement.

Nov 20, 2023

Consumers, Florists Differ on Floral Arrangements

Consumers don't necessarily pay attention to design elements used by florists. And consumers love roses - a lot. 

A Northern water snake

Oct 24, 2023

A Parasitic Haunting: When Snakes are Eaten From Within

Imagine a wormlike crustacean that eats snakes from the inside out. 

Mosquito-resistant textile

Oct 18, 2023

Study Elucidates Evolution of Mosquitoes and Their Hosts

Study creates a mosquito family tree to better understand disease transmission and host choice. 

photo shows two hands placing a loaf of sourdough bread onto a wooden board draped with a cloth

Oct 11, 2023

Using Different Flours for Sourdough Fosters Different Bacteria – and Flavors

Using different types of flour fosters distinct bacterial communities, which contribute to the variation of sourdough aromas and flavors. 

Researcher works with carrots to study pigmentation, domestication

Sep 28, 2023

What Makes a Carrot Orange?

Three recessive genes are required to give carrots their orange color - and the beneficial precursor of vitamin A. 

Photo of tobacco plants with and without pollen.

Sep 15, 2023

No Pollen, No Seeds: Genome Editing Technique Yields Useful Traits

Tweaks to the mitochondrial genome hold the potential for better hybrid seed production or to introduce seedless fruits. 

black bear sniffs the ground

Sep 14, 2023

Podcast: Guts

Erin McKenney talks palatial guts, six degrees of academic separation, and cecum envy on this episode of Audio Abstract. 

Tobacco budworm on a leaf.

Aug 1, 2023

Male Moth ‘Aphrodisiac’ Revealed

Study reveals for the first time a powerful pheromone chemical used by males moths to entice females. 

Photo of CRISPR-modified and wild trees in an NC State greenhouse.

Jul 13, 2023

Building a Better Forest Tree With CRISPR Gene Editing

Researchers reduce lignin levels and improve wood properties in poplar trees using the increasingly popular gene-editing system. 

Scanning electron microscopy image of a chigger.

Jul 12, 2023

Bacterium Associated With Disease Found in N.C. Chiggers

The disease, scrub typhus, presents symptoms similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. 

angular metal arch silhouetted against a cloudy sky

Jul 5, 2023

Is Our Phosphorus Use Sustainable? Most Stakeholders Doubt It

The study underscores the complex challenges facing efforts to ensure our continued access to a critical agricultural and industry resource. 

Picture of florescent flies.

Jun 12, 2023

CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene Drive Could Suppress Agricultural Pests

Researchers use for the first time a gene-drive system on an important agricultural pest.