college of sciences

Feb 19, 2014

New Satellite Images Reveal More About Interior Structure of Supernova

A new and powerful satellite has given researchers a way to see into the dark interiors of supernovae. Their observations of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A shed more light on the mechanics of these explosions. “The new Cas A images give us new information about not only the elements that are created in a supernova,… 

Feb 19, 2014

Math Prof Named Sloan Research Fellow

NC State mathematician Jonathan Hauenstein joins an elite group of young scientists honored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The early-career award cites his work with complex algorithms. 

Feb 4, 2014

NC State Ants Boldly Go Into Space

NC State is helping to colonize space. A group of pavement ants collected by postdoc Clint Penick in Western North Carolina is now orbiting the earth on the International Space Station. Find out about the final frontier of science. 

Jan 29, 2014

Q&A With Freeman Hrabowski

Influential educator Freeman Hrabowski led his university to prize chess over football. In an exclusive interview, he discusses his philosophy for sparking a culture change in higher education. Don't miss his lecture on campus Thursday afternoon. 

Jan 23, 2014

Officials Praise Climate Center at Opening

NC State celebrated the opening of the Southeast Climate Science Center this week at an event drawing an enthusiastic mix of university leaders, federal officials and students. 

Jan 9, 2014

In Memoriam: Wes Doggett

Retired physics professor and nuclear pioneer Wes Doggett died in December of lymphoma at 82. 

Nov 26, 2013

Iron Preserves, Hides Ancient Tissues in Fossilized Remains

New research from North Carolina State University shows that iron may play a role in preserving ancient tissues within dinosaur fossils, but also may hide them from detection. The finding could open the door to the recovery of more ancient tissues from within fossils. Mary Schweitzer, an NC State paleontologist with a joint appointment at the… 

Nov 22, 2013

Colossal New Predatory Dino Terrorized Early Tyrannosaurs

A new species of carnivorous dinosaur – one of the three largest ever discovered in North America – lived alongside and competed with small-bodied tyrannosaurs 98 million years ago. This newly discovered species, Siats meekerorum, (pronounced see-atch) was the apex predator of its time, and kept tyrannosaurs from assuming top predator roles for millions of… 

Oct 30, 2013

Listen Up: Oysters May Use Sound to Select a Home

Oysters begin their lives as tiny drifters, but when they mature they settle on reefs. New research from North Carolina State University shows that the sounds of the reef may attract the young oysters, helping them locate their permanent home. Larval oysters are planktonic, meaning that they cannot swim against or across currents. However, they… 

Oct 10, 2013

Mosquitofish Genital Shape Linked to Presence of Predators

When predators lurk nearby, male Bahamas mosquitofish (Gambusia hubbsi) change mating strategies, rejecting elaborate courting rituals for more frequent and sometimes forceful encounters with females. But as a recent North Carolina State University study shows, mating strategies aren’t the only things changing for G. hubbsi when predators abound. The shape and size of the male… 

Sep 18, 2013

Hanck Honored for Service

The Department of Chemistry honored assistant head professor Kenneth W. Hanck for his 43 years of service to the university by dedicating the Dabney 210 conference room in his name. 

Sep 16, 2013

Top Pay for Physical Science Majors

Looking for a big return on your college investment? Look no further than the physical sciences at NC State. A company that tracks salaries says our physical science majors are among the nation's top earners. 

Sep 5, 2013

Protecting 17 Percent of Earth’s Land May Preserve 67 Percent of Its Plant Species

Protecting key regions that comprise just 17 percent of Earth’s land may help preserve more than two-thirds of its plant species, according to a new study by an international team of scientists, including a biologist from North Carolina State University. The researchers from Duke University, NC State and Microsoft Research used computer algorithms to identify the… 

Jul 17, 2013

A STEM Leader

NC State is feeding the economy's fastest-growing fields better than any other land-grant university. A recent US News & World Report study NC State produces a higher percentage of science, technology, engineering and math grads than any other land-grant. 

Jul 10, 2013

Researchers Perform DNA Computation in Living Cells

Chemists from North Carolina State University have performed a DNA-based logic-gate operation within a human cell. The research may pave the way to more complicated computations in live cells, as well as new methods of disease detection and treatment. Logic gates are the means by which computers “compute,” as sets of them are combined in…