research news

May 27, 2010

NC State To Develop Next Generation HazMat Boots

The rubber boots that emergency personnel wear when responding to situations where hazardous materials (HazMat) are present may be functional, but they’re not very comfortable. New research coming out of North Carolina State University hopes to provide a next generation HazMat boot that meets both criteria. 

May 19, 2010

New Microneedle Antimicrobial Techniques May Foster Medical Tech Innovation

A team led by researchers from North Carolina State University has developed two new approaches for incorporating antimicrobial properties into microneedles – vanishingly thin needles that hold great promise for use in portable medical devices. Researchers expect the findings to spur development of new medical applications using microneedles. 

May 17, 2010

Software Tool Helps Tap Into The Power Of Graphics Processing

Today’s computers rely on powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) to create the spectacular graphics in video games. In fact, these GPUs are now more powerful than the traditional central processing units (CPUs) – or brains of the computer. As a result, computer developers are trying to tap into the power of these GPUs. Now a… 

May 13, 2010

New Forensics Research Will Help Identify Remains Of Children

New research from North Carolina State University is now giving forensic scientists a tool that can be used to help identify the remains of children, and may contribute to resolving missing-persons cases, among other uses. Identifying skeletal remains can be a key step in solving crimes, but traditionally it has been exceptionally difficult to identify… 

May 12, 2010

Getting Enough Calcium in Early Life Could Be Key for Optimal Lifelong Bone Health

There’s no denying that people need calcium for strong, healthy bones. But new research from North Carolina State University suggests that not getting enough calcium in the earliest days of life could have a more profound, lifelong impact on bone health and perhaps even obesity than previously thought. During an 18-day trial involving 24 newborn… 

May 11, 2010

Better Enforcement Of Existing Migrant Worker Protection Laws Needed

A new paper from North Carolina State University argues that federal farm subsidies contribute to the migration of both legal and illegal farm labor into the United States and that, since federal actions are an impetus for the influx of migrant labor, the federal government should do a better job of enforcing laws designed to… 

May 10, 2010

Study Paves Way For New Biofuels Models, Technologies

Biofuels hold promise as environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy, but which ones should industry and policy leaders focus their efforts on developing? A new study involving researchers from North Carolina State University offers detailed insights into how biofuel chemicals react when burned. Their data and new computer models pave the way for development of… 

May 5, 2010

Get Back to Work: Unemployment Benefits Matter in Agriculture Job Displacement

Common sense suggests that workers without unemployment insurance will often grab the first job that comes their way, even if the new job is low-paying or not a good career match. Now, a North Carolina State University study suggests that this intuition is true: out-of-work agricultural laborers from small farms that do not provide unemployment… 

May 4, 2010

NSF Funds Engineering Prof

The National Science Foundation has committed $400,000 to Dr. Michael Dickey's research on micromoldable liquid metal. 

May 4, 2010

Bugging Out: NC State Researchers Help Track Wayward Pests Through Mapping

Tracking invasive pests around the world sounds like it would make for an interesting show on the Discovery Channel. However, the work that goes into tracking these species is less “Deadliest Catch” and more “Dirty Jobs.” Researchers at North Carolina State University partnered with scientists and analysts from around the globe to determine recommendations to… 

May 4, 2010

Survey: Hiding Risks Can Hurt Public Support For Nanotechnology

A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of the technology’s risks as well as its benefits – at least among those people who have heard of nanotechnology. The survey, which was conducted by… 

May 3, 2010

Disease Caused By Insect Bites Can Be Transmitted To Children At Birth, NC State Researcher Finds

A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas–and potentially ticks–can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects. Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences, is among the world’s leading experts on… 

May 3, 2010

“My Kid Wouldn’t Do That” – Study Shows Parents’ Difficulty With Teen Sexuality

It can be difficult for parents of teenagers to come to terms with the fact their kids may have sex, particularly given widespread concerns about the consequences of teen sexual activity. In fact, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that many parents think that their children aren’t interested in sex – but… 

Apr 30, 2010

NC State Wins ARPA-E Grant To Study Extremophile Production Of Biofuels

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) has awarded a grant for more than $2.7 million to North Carolina State University to support research into the creation of biofuels using microbial organisms, called extremophiles, that live in high-temperature environments. 

Apr 28, 2010

NC State Researchers to Evaluate Technology Use in K-12 Classrooms

School districts across the state are investing millions of dollars into instructional technology for K-12 schools in hopes of better preparing students to work and live in the 21st century. But are the technology and media programs helping students succeed? Researchers at North Carolina State University are evaluating the success of the North Carolina Department…