research news

Sep 2, 2014

Asian Camel Crickets Now Common in U.S. Homes

Non-native species of camel crickets, known for their propensity for eating anything, including each other, have spread into homes across the eastern United States. 

Aug 27, 2014

Museum Specimens, Modern Cities Show How an Insect Pest Will Respond to Climate Change

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that century-old museum specimens hold clues to how global climate change will affect a common insect pest that can weaken and kill trees – and the news is not good. 

Aug 21, 2014

Researchers Develop Models to Study Polyelectrolytes, Including DNA and RNA

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a novel and versatile modeling strategy to simulate polyelectrolyte systems. The model has applications for creating new materials as well as for studying polyelectrolytes, including DNA and RNA. “Our new technique allows us to model much larger and more complex polyelectrolyte systems, and to do so much… 

Aug 20, 2014

New Framework Would Facilitate Use of New Android Security Modules

Researchers have created a framework for the Android operating system that helps developers and users take advantage of new security tools. 

Aug 20, 2014

Research Paves Way for Cyborg Moth ‘Biobots’

New methods for electronically manipulating the flight muscles of moths could lead to the creation of remotely controlled “biobots.” 

Aug 4, 2014

Researchers Develop Food Safety Social Media Guide

To help protect public health, researchers from North Carolina State University have developed guidelines on how to use social media to communicate effectively about food safety. 

Jul 28, 2014

Motivation May Explain Disconnect Between Cognitive Testing and Real-Life Functioning for Older Adults

A psychology researcher at North Carolina State University is proposing a new theory to explain why older adults show declining cognitive ability with age, but don’t necessarily show declines in the workplace or daily life. One key appears to be how motivated older adults are to maintain focus on cognitive tasks. 

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… 

Jul 25, 2014

NC State Sets Sponsored Research Record

NC State University surpassed $300 million in sponsored research funding for the first time during the 2013-14 fiscal year, spurred by success capturing federal awards along with record-setting funding from industry partners. NC State ended the fiscal year with a total of $304.5 million in sponsored awards, eclipsing the previous record of $286.4 million in the 2011-12… 

Jul 23, 2014

Urban Heat Boosts Some Pest Populations 200-Fold, Killing Red Maples

New research from North Carolina State University shows that urban “heat islands” are slowly killing red maples in the southeastern United States. One factor is that researchers have found warmer temperatures increase the number of young produced by the gloomy scale insect – a significant tree pest – by 300 percent, which in turn leads… 

Jul 8, 2014

When Faced With Some Sugars, Bacteria Can Be Picky Eaters

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Minnesota have found for the first time that genetically identical strains of bacteria can respond very differently to the presence of sugars and other organic molecules in the environment, with some individual bacteria devouring the sugars and others ignoring it. 

Jul 7, 2014

Science and Cookies: Researchers Tap Into Citizen Science to Shed Light on Ant Diversity

Scientists from North Carolina State University and the University of Florida have combined cookies, citizen science and robust research methods to track the diversity of ant species across the United States, and are now collaborating with international partners to get a global perspective on how ants are moving and surviving in the modern world. 

Jul 2, 2014

Inspired by Nature, Researchers Create Tougher Metal Materials

Drawing inspiration from the structure of bones and bamboo, researchers have found that by gradually changing the internal structure of metals they can make stronger, tougher materials that can be customized for a wide variety of applications – from body armor to automobile parts. 

Jun 23, 2014

‘Sensing Skin’ Quickly Detects Cracks, Damage in Concrete Structures

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Eastern Finland have developed new “sensing skin” technology designed to serve as an early warning system for concrete structures, allowing authorities to respond quickly to damage in everything from nuclear facilities to bridges. 

Jun 19, 2014

Researchers Develop Genetic Control Mechanism for Major Livestock Pest

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique to control populations of the Australian sheep blowfly – a major livestock pest in Australia and New Zealand – by making female flies dependent upon a common antibiotic to survive. Dr. Max Scott, professor of entomology at NC State, and his research team genetically modified lines…