news releases

May 28, 2009

North Carolina State University engineers have created a non-toxic “wrinkled” coating for use on ship hulls that resisted buildup of troublesome barnacles during 18 months of seawater tests, a finding that could ultimately save boat owners millions of dollars in cleaning and fuel costs. The research conducted by Dr. Kirill Efimenko, research assistant professor in… 

May 20, 2009

Beneficial Plant ‘Spillover’ Effect Seen From Landscape Corridors

Research by a North Carolina State University biologist and colleagues shows that using landscape corridors, the “superhighways” that connect isolated patches of habitat, to protect certain plants has a large “spillover” effect that increases the number of plant species outside the conservation area. The study found that corridors caused such a wide range of “spillover”… 

May 20, 2009

NC State University Announces Construction of the Science Center Laboratory Building on Centennial Campus

North Carolina State University officials have broken ground on the next building to be developed on its Centennial Campus. The Centennial Science Center, a privately developed two-story facility, will house corporate partners and university laboratories, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems. 

May 19, 2009

New Tool To Help Researchers Identify DNA Patterns of Cancer, Genetic Disorders

A new tool will help researchers identify the minute changes in DNA patterns that lead to cancer, Huntington’s disease and a host of other genetic disorders. The tool was developed at North Carolina State University and translates DNA sequences into graphic images, which allows researchers to distinguish genetic patterns more quickly and efficiently than was… 

May 12, 2009

Heart Machine Expedites Research and Development of New Surgical Tools, Techniques

A new machine developed at North Carolina State University makes an animal heart pump much like a live heart after it has been removed from the animal’s body, allowing researchers to expedite the development of new tools and techniques for heart surgery. The machine saves researchers time and money by allowing them to test and… 

Apr 29, 2009

NC State’s John Kessel Wins Nebula Award for ‘Pride and Prometheus’

As a fledgling science fiction author in the early 1980s, John Kessel got a boost when he won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writing. Twenty-six years and eight nominations later, the North Carolina State University English professor has done it again – taking home one of the most highly esteemed awards… 

Apr 27, 2009

New Human Movement Model Can Aid In Studying Epidemic Outbreaks, Public Planning

Researchers have developed a new statistical model that simulates human mobility patterns, mimicking the way people move over the course of a day, a month or longer. The model, developed by scientists at North Carolina State University and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), is the first to represent the regular movement… 

Apr 22, 2009

Think Memory Worsens With Age? Then Yours Probably Will

Thinking your memory will get worse as you get older may actually be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that senior citizens who think older people should perform poorly on tests of memory actually score much worse than seniors who do not buy in to negative stereotypes about aging and… 

Apr 16, 2009

NC State Study Shows How To Deflect Asteroids and Save The Earth

You may want to thank David French in advance. Because, in the event that a comet or asteroid comes hurtling toward Earth, he may be the guy responsible for saving the entire planet. French, a doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, has determined a way to effectively divert asteroids and other… 

Apr 15, 2009

NC State’s Atkinson Wins UNC System Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Maxine P. Atkinson, professor of sociology and head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University, has been honored with an Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors. One educator from each UNC system campus wins the award, which comes with a… 

Apr 7, 2009

Tiny Super-Plant Can Clean Up Hog Farms and Be Used For Ethanol Production

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a tiny aquatic plant can be used to clean up animal waste at industrial hog farms and potentially be part of the answer for the global energy crisis. Their research shows that growing duckweed on hog wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per… 

Apr 6, 2009

States That Vote Early Can Reap Benefits If They Pick a Winner

The 2008 presidential campaign season had the earliest statewide primaries and caucuses in memory, starting with the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3. Now new research from North Carolina State University shows that states may have good reason to push for an early contest. States that hold early presidential primaries or caucuses get a larger share… 

Mar 27, 2009

NC State Announces Caldwell Fellows Class of 2012

The Caldwell Fellows program – North Carolina State University’s oldest university-wide merit scholarship program – has selected 21 first-year students for its Class of 2012. Click here to read more about these students, who join 81 other current Caldwell Fellows. The newest Caldwell Fellows were selected from a pool of 192 applicants and 45 finalists.… 

Mar 23, 2009

New Inhaler System Could Be Breakthrough for Disease Treatment

Two North Carolina State University engineers have developed a new inhaler system that could improve treatments for a host of diseases by targeting drugs onto diseased tissue without affecting healthy areas of the throat and lungs. 

Mar 17, 2009

Studies Show That Nice Guys Finish First in Business World

When it comes to leading a team tasked with developing new products and bringing them to market, new research from North Carolina State University shows that being nice and playing well with others gives you a very real competitive advantage. One new study shows that project managers can get much better performance from their team…