solution-driven research

Feb 14, 2017

Pilot Project Offers Blueprint for Addressing Mental Health Needs of Homeless Children

Lessons learned from five-year pilot project to meet the mental health needs of children in homeless families could serve as a blueprint for similar efforts around the country. 

Feb 6, 2017

Playing (Video) Games With Decision Making

Video games can be pure fun — but they can also help us tackle complex problems. 

Jan 30, 2017

Researchers Develop Wearable, Low-Cost Sensor to Measure Skin Hydration

NC State researchers have developed a wearable, wireless sensor that can monitor a person’s skin hydration for use in applications that need to detect dehydration before it poses a health problem. 

Jan 1, 2017

NC State to Play Workforce Training Role in National Biopharmaceutical Initiative

NC State is part of a new, federal initiative aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in the biopharmaceutical sector. 

Dec 22, 2016

Study IDs Key Indicators Linking Violence and Mental Illness

New study finds a host of factors that are associated with subsequent risk of adults with mental illness becoming victims or perpetrators of violence. The work highlights the importance of interventions to treat mental-health problems in order to reduce community violence and instances of mental-health crises. 

Dec 8, 2016

Drug Use Strong Predictor for Postpartum Mental Health Problems

New research from NC State and the University of British Columbia finds that a woman’s lifetime history of drug use can help predict whether the woman will suffer from problems with stress and anxiety after childbirth. 

Nov 16, 2016

An Efficient Approach for Tracking Physical Activity with Wearable Health-Monitoring Devices

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an energy-efficient technique for accurately tracking a user’s physical activity based on data from wearable devices. 

Nov 9, 2016

New ‘Bottlebrush’ Electroactive Polymers Make Dielectric Elastomers Increasingly Viable for Use in Devices

A new electroactive polymer can change shape and size when exposed to a relatively small electric field. The advance overcomes longstanding challenges regarding the use of electroactive polymers to develop new devices, opening the door to a suite of applications ranging from microrobotics to designer technologies. 

Oct 21, 2016

Researchers Find Way to Tune Thermal Conductivity of 2-D Materials

Researchers have found an unexpected way to control the thermal conductivity of two-dimensional materials, which will allow electronics designers to dissipate heat in electronic devices that use these materials. 

Oct 10, 2016

‘Sensing Skin’ Detects Cracks, Harmful Chemicals in Structures

Researchers have developed a multi-layered “sensing skin” to detect corrosive or otherwise harmful substances in structures. The skin can also detect cracks and other structural flaws that are invisible to the naked eye. 

Sep 27, 2016

NSF-funded Afterschool Program Powering Up in Durham

Middle school students in Durham will have time to explore electrical engineering and computer science as part of a 3-year, National Science Foundation project NC State is leading. 

Sep 15, 2016

New Tech Promises to Boost Electric Vehicle Efficiency, Range

NC State researchers have developed a new type of inverter device with greater efficiency in a smaller, lighter package – which should improve the fuel-efficiency and range of hybrid and electric vehicles. 

Sep 14, 2016

Researchers Eye Gaming As Tool for Boosting Computer Science Skills, Diversity in Middle Schools

An interdisciplinary team of researchers is launching an initiative that will use a custom-designed video game to boost computational thinking in middle school science classrooms and foster diversity in the sciences. 

Sep 12, 2016

Lightweight, Wearable Tech Efficiently Converts Body Heat to Electricity

NC State researchers have developed a new design for harvesting body heat and converting it into electricity for use in wearable electronics. The experimental prototypes are lightweight, conform to the shape of the body, and can generate far more electricity than previous lightweight heat harvesting technologies. 

Sep 8, 2016

Simulation Highlights Potential For Low-Cost Security Imaging Device

NC State researchers have used computer models to demonstrate the viability of a low-cost security imaging device that makes use of inexpensive radio components. Functional prototypes are under development and would be orders of magnitude less expensive than existing imaging devices.