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Aug 31, 2015

Tail as Old as Time: How Ankylosaur Tail Evolved

How did the ankylosaur get its tail club? Researchers traced the evolution of the ankylosaur’s distinctive tail, finding that the handle arrived first on the scene, and the knot at the end of the tail followed. 

Aug 13, 2015

When Fruit Flies Get Sick, Their Offspring Become More Diverse

When fruit flies are attacked by parasites or bacteria they respond by producing offspring with greater genetic variability, evening the next generation's odds of survival. 

Jun 8, 2015

The Butterfly Effect: Insect’s Wings Key to Azalea Pollination

Butterfly wings, not bees, are key to pollinating certain azalea species, an NC State researcher finds. 

Jul 28, 2014

Social Network Research May Boost Prairie Dog Conservation Efforts

Researchers using statistical tools to map social connections in prairie dogs have uncovered relationships that escaped traditional observational techniques, shedding light on prairie dog communities that may help limit the spread of bubonic plague and guide future conservation efforts. The work was done by researchers from North Carolina State University and the National Evolutionary Synthesis… 

May 20, 2014

Researchers Sequence Genome of Primitive Termite

North Carolina State University entomologists are part of a research team that has for the first time sequenced the genome of a member of the termite order, the dampwood termite (Zootermopsis nevadensis). A paper reports the findings today in Nature Communications. The findings on the genetic blueprint of the dampwood termite, one of the world’s… 

Apr 1, 2014

‘Touched’ Female Cockroaches Reproduce Faster

To speed up reproduction, there’s no substitute for the tender touch of a live cockroach. That’s the major takeaway from a North Carolina State University study examining whether artificial antennae – in this case, duck feathers – can mimic a cockroach antenna’s capacity to hasten reproduction in cockroach females. Female cockroaches that get “touched” –… 

Mar 18, 2014

Analysis of 50 Years of Hit Songs Yields Tips for Advertisers

Researchers from North Carolina State University have analyzed 50 years’ worth of hit songs to identify key themes that marketing professionals can use to craft advertisements that will resonate with audiences. 

Mar 11, 2014

New Technique Uses ATP as Trigger for Targeted Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery

Biomedical engineering researchers have developed a new technique that uses adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP), the so-called “energy molecule,” to trigger the release of anti-cancer drugs directly into cancer cells. Early laboratory tests show it increases the effectiveness of drugs targeting breast cancer. The technique was developed by researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of… 

Jan 15, 2014

NC State Chancellor’s Statement on Announcement by President Obama

The following is a statement from NC State University Chancellor Randy Woodson regarding today’s on-campus announcement by President Obama that NC State will lead the new Next Generation Power Electronics National Manufacturing Innovation Institute. This $140 million initiative includes a $70 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) – the largest single grant in NC State history.… 

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… 

Nov 6, 2013

Researchers Re-create Landmark 17th Century Cathedral, Speech in Virtual Space

Researchers at North Carolina State University have combined scholarship and new technologies to re-create the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London as it stood in 1622, as well as a historic sermon made by poet John Donne in the courtyard. The project, which is a significant research tool for history, literature and religion scholars,… 

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 23, 2013

Study Finds Natural Compound Can Be Used for 3-D Printing of Medical Implants

Researchers from North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Laser Zentrum Hannover have discovered that a naturally-occurring compound can be incorporated into three-dimensional (3-D) printing processes to create medical implants out of non-toxic polymers. The compound is riboflavin, which is better known as vitamin B2. 

Oct 16, 2013

Software Uses Cyborg Swarm to Map Unknown Environs

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed software that allows them to map unknown environments – such as collapsed buildings – based on the movement of a swarm of insect cyborgs, or “biobots.” 

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…