news releases

Dec 8, 2009

NC State Vets Lead Way in Disaster Response for Animals

Most people can picture the first responders who come to the rescue in the wake of a natural disaster. But who provides emergency help for the dogs, cats and horses that people love? And who takes care of the cows, poultry and hogs that form the backbone of animal agriculture? North Carolina State University’s College… 

Dec 3, 2009

New Data Support Use Of Instant Run-Off Voting

New data collected as part of a North Carolina State University study during the 2009 municipal election in Hendersonville, N.C., show that voters prefer instant run-off voting (IRV) to traditional voting – a finding that may build support for IRV. The use of IRV precludes the need for a second run-off election, saving voters time… 

Dec 2, 2009

Santa’s Sleigh: NC State Researcher Explains Science Behind St. Nick’s Christmas Magic

Santa skeptics have long considered St. Nick’s ability to deliver toys to the world’s good girls and boys in the course of one night a scientific impossibility. But new research shows that Santa is able to make his appointed rounds through the pioneering use of cutting-edge science and technology. 

Nov 30, 2009

NC State Research Indicates Need For National HIV Strategy

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that well over one million people in the United States are infected with HIV/AIDS. New research from North Carolina State University shows that many of those infected are minorities and do not have health insurance, and highlights the need for a national strategy to facilitate education… 

Nov 24, 2009

Nobel Laureate to Deliver Fall Commencement Address at NC State

Nobel Prize winner and NC State alumnus Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, a worldwide leader in the study of climate change, will deliver NC State‘s commencement address on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The commencement ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. During the ceremony, Chancellor James Woodward will confer honorary degrees on behalf of… 

Nov 23, 2009

Lose the Fat: Targeting Grease to Curtail Sewer Overflows

Sewer overflows are a nasty business, posing dangers to human health and the environment. North Carolina State University is launching a new project with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that targets the fat and grease that contribute to millions of overflows every year, and will give urban planners new tools to further… 

Nov 19, 2009

NC State’s Beichner Receives National, Statewide Teaching Awards

It’s been a busy month for Dr. Robert Beichner, professor of physics and director of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Initiative at North Carolina State University. Cementing his reputation as an innovative instructor, Beichner on Thursday was named North Carolina Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of… 

Nov 19, 2009

NC State, UNC Partner on Information Technology to Save Money, Improve Efficiency

North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will save money and improve efficiency by partnering on the human resources and finance components of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Both campuses use Oracle’s PeopleSoft software for their ERP systems – major administrative systems for student services, human resources, payroll… 

Nov 17, 2009

On Your Last Nerve: NC State Researchers Advance Understanding of Stem Cells

Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified a gene that tells embryonic stem cells in the brain when to stop producing nerve cells called neurons. The research is a significant advance in understanding the development of the nervous system, which is essential to addressing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological… 

Nov 16, 2009

NC State Research Shows Need To Address Hemophilia In Developing World

When modern medicine finds a way to treat a medical condition, people often think that the problem is solved. But we also have to find ways to get that treatment into the hands of those who need it. For example, new research from North Carolina State University shows that much more needs to be done… 

Nov 12, 2009

New Water Management Tool May Help Ease Effects of Drought

Continued improvement of  climate forecasts  is resulting in better information about what rainfall and streamflow may look like months in advance.  A researcher from North Carolina State University has developed  an innovative water management framework that would take advantage of these forecasts to plan for droughts or excess rain in order to make the most… 

Nov 11, 2009

Nanowires Pave Way For Nanodevices

Silicon nanowires are attracting significant attention from the electronics industry due to the drive for ever-smaller electronic devices, from cell phones to computers. The operation of these future devices, and a wide array of additional applications, will depend on the mechanical properties of these nanowires. New research from North Carolina State University shows that silicon… 

Nov 9, 2009

Failing The Sniff Test: Researchers Find New Way to Spot Fraud

Companies that commit fraud can find innovative ways to fudge the numbers, making it hard to tell something is wrong by just looking at their financial statements. But research from North Carolina State University unveils a new warning system that sees through accounting tricks by evaluating things that are easily verifiable, such as the number… 

Nov 4, 2009

Chart Junk? How Pictures May Help Make Graphs Better

Those oft-maligned, and highly embellished, graphs and charts in USA Today and other media outlets may actually help people understand data more effectively than traditional graphs, according to new research from North Carolina State University. 

Nov 3, 2009

NC State Research Shows Way To Block Stealthy Malware Attacks

The spread of malicious software, also known as malware or computer viruses, is a growing problem that can lead to crashed computer systems, stolen personal information, and billions of dollars in lost productivity every year. One of the most insidious types of malware is a “rootkit,” which can effectively hide the presence of other spyware…