research news

Dec 2, 2014

Study Finds Insects Play Important Role in Dealing with Garbage on NYC Streets

In the city that never sleeps, it’s easy to overlook the insects underfoot. But that doesn’t mean they’re not working hard. A new study shows that insects play a significant role in disposing of garbage on the streets of Manhattan. 

Dec 1, 2014

Unhappy Hour: Non-Drinkers Devise Strategies to Navigate Booze-Centered Work Events

From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers and clients often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position: they don’t want to drink, but they do want to take part in events they feel are important to networking and career advancement without making drinkers feel bad. That perceived tension leads non-drinkers to develop techniques to fit in socially without taking a drink. 

Nov 24, 2014

Environmental ‘Tipping Points’ Key to Predicting Extinctions

Depending on a population’s adaptive strategy, even tiny changes in climate variability can create a “tipping point” that sends the population into extinction. 

Nov 21, 2014

Researchers Study Impact of Power Prosthetic Failures on Amputees

Powered lower limb prosthetics hold promise for improving the mobility of amputees, but errors in the technology may also cause some users to stumble or fall. New research examines exactly what happens when these technologies fail, with the goal of developing a new generation of more robust powered prostheses. 

Nov 20, 2014

New Technique Allows Ultrasound To Penetrate Bone, Metal

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique that allows ultrasound to penetrate bone or metal, using customized structures that offset the distortion usually caused by these so-called “aberrating layers.” 

Nov 19, 2014

Warmer Temperatures Limit Impact of Parasites, Boost Pest Populations

Research shows that some insect pests are thriving in warm, urban environments and developing earlier, limiting the impact of parasitoid wasps that normally help keep those pest populations in check. 

Nov 13, 2014

Researchers Find New Way to Move Atomically Thin Semiconductors for Use in Extremely Flexible Devices

Researchers have developed a new way to transfer thin semiconductor films, which are only one atom thick, onto arbitrary substrates, paving the way for flexible computing or photonic devices. 

Nov 12, 2014

Inhabit(ants) of New York City: High Diversity Underfoot in Urban Environments

Cities have more species diversity than you’d expect. A study of ants in Manhattan found not only a wide range of species, but also significant differences in the levels of biodiversity in different urban areas. 

Nov 10, 2014

New Materials Yield Record Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells

NC State researchers have found that temperature-controlled aggregation in a family of new semi-conducting polymers is the key to creating highly efficient organic solar cells that can be mass produced more cheaply. 

Nov 6, 2014

Cockroach Cyborgs Use Microphones to Detect, Trace Sounds

NC State researchers have developed technology that allows cyborg cockroaches, or biobots, to pick up sounds with small microphones and seek out the source of the sound. The technology is designed to help emergency personnel find and rescue survivors in the aftermath of a disaster. 

Nov 4, 2014

Mosquitofish Genitalia Change Rapidly Due to Human Impacts

Rapid changes in the genitalia of Bahamian fish appear to be caused by human-induced environmental changes. 

Oct 30, 2014

A Decade of Genes, Chemicals and Human Health: The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database Turns 10

A Decade of Genes, Chemicals, and Human Health: the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database Turns Ten 

Oct 30, 2014

New Tech Aims to Improve Communication Between Dogs and Humans

NC State researchers have developed a suite of technologies that can be used to enhance communication between dogs and humans, which has applications in everything from search and rescue to service dogs to training our pets. 

Oct 29, 2014

Harnessing Crowds to Analyze Clouds

Citizen scientists are helping to categorize 30 years' worth of tropical hurricane and cyclone data. 

Oct 28, 2014

New Technique Uses Bacteria’s Own CRISPR-Cas System to Turn Off Genes

NC State researchers have developed a technique that co-opts an immune system already present in bacteria and archaea to turn off specific genes or sets of genes – creating a powerful tool for future research on genetics and related fields.