engineering

May 17, 2011

Researchers Develop Hardware Encryption For New Computer Memory Technology

Security concerns are one of the key obstacles to the adoption of new non-volatile main memory (NVMM) technology in next-generation computers, which would improve computer start times and boost memory capacity. But now researchers from North Carolina State University have developed new encryption hardware for use with NVMM to protect personal information and other data. 

May 12, 2011

Study: Most At-Risk Patients Don’t Adhere To Statin Treatment, Despite Real Benefits

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that the vast majority of patients at high risk for heart disease or stroke do a poor job of taking statins as prescribed. That’s especially unfortunate, because the same study shows that taking statins can significantly increase the quality and length of those patients’ lives. 

May 2, 2011

Paging Han Solo: Researchers Find More Efficient Way To Steer Laser Beams

For many practical applications involving lasers, it’s important to be able to control the direction of the laser beams. Just ask Han Solo, or the captain of the Death Star. Researchers from North Carolina State University have come up with a very energy-efficient way of steering laser beams that is precise and relatively inexpensive. 

Apr 26, 2011

Wetlands: Cleaning Stormwater, Killing Blood-Suckers

Developers most often use “wet ponds” to minimize stormwater runoff pollution at new real-estate developments. Now they may have to start rethinking their options. Research shows that building wetlands does a better job than wet ponds of removing pollutants – and could also help limit mosquito populations. Researchers from NC State have weighed a range of… 

Apr 26, 2011

Four NC State Faculty Will Receive Prestigious Holladay Medals

The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees will award the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence to four faculty members in recognition of their outstanding careers at NC State. The Holladay Medal is the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the trustees and the university. This year’s honorees are Dr. William R. Atchley,… 

Apr 22, 2011

Smart Transformers Among Top 10 Emerging Technologies

Note: This post was guest-authored by Nate DeGraff, of NC State’s College of Engineering. The smart solid-state transformers being developed by the NSF FREEDM Systems Center at North Carolina State University have been named to MIT Technology Review’s 2011 list of the world’s 10 most important emerging technologies. Smart transformers, which are more efficient and adaptive… 

Apr 21, 2011

Earth Day: Global Research Challenges

For more than 40 years, Earth Day has been a call to arms to appreciate and protect our natural environment. In order to accomplish that mission, we must first understand the challenges threatening our environmental health and sustainability. 

Apr 21, 2011

Researchers Find Fat Turns Into Soap In Sewers, Contributes To Overflows

Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered how fat, oil and grease (FOG) can create hardened deposits in sewer lines: it turns into soap! The hardened deposits, which can look like stalactites, contribute to sewer overflows. 

Apr 18, 2011

Earth Day: Research Challenges

For more than 40 years, Earth Day has been a call to arms to appreciate and protect our natural environment. Improving our understanding of the environment is an essential component of that mission. With that in mind, we have asked researchers in fields ranging from wildlife ecology to meteorology to political science to briefly outline… 

Apr 14, 2011

Researchers Create Elastic Material That Changes Color In UV Light

Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a range of soft, elastic gels that change color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light – and change back when the UV light is removed or the material is heated up. 

Apr 13, 2011

Software Creates Privacy Mode To Help Secure Android Smartphones

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed software that helps Android smartphone users prevent their personal information from being stolen by hackers. 

Apr 6, 2011

Researchers ID Microbe Responsible For Methane From Landfills

Researchers have long known that landfills produce methane, but had a hard time figuring out why – since landfills do not start out as a friendly environment for the organisms that produce methane. New research from North Carolina State University shows that one species of microbe is paving the way for other methane producers. 

Apr 4, 2011

Crash-Test Dummy For High-Performance Computing

When you’re trying to solve large-scale problems, sometimes you’ve got to experiment with changes to the fundamental building blocks of whatever is involved. That means things can break. And when you’re talking about the fastest computers in the world, that would be very expensive. Solution? Build your own high-performance computing (HPC) system – then you… 

Mar 31, 2011

New Tool Makes Programs More Efficient Without Sacrificing Safety Functions

Computer programs are incorporating more and more safety features to protect users, but those features can also slow the programs down by 1,000 percent or more. Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a software tool that helps these programs run much more efficiently without sacrificing their safety features. 

Mar 30, 2011

‘Spincasting’ Holds Promise For Creation Of Nanoparticle Thin Films

Researchers from North Carolina State University have investigated the viability of a technique called “spincasting” for creating thin films of nanoparticles on an underlying substrate – an important step in the creation of materials with a variety of uses, from optics to electronics.