stem

Sep 29, 2010

NC State Works To Increase Interest In STEM Careers For Minority, Rural Students

Students who grow up in small, rural towns do not have the same exposure to high-tech jobs as their “big city” counterparts and  may not be aware of what it takes to be a rocket scientist or video-game programmer. With an increasing need for workers to fill science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers in… 

Sep 29, 2010

Research Lays Foundation For Building On The Moon – Or Anywhere Else

The key to the stability of any building is its foundation, but it is difficult to test some building sites in advance – such as those on the moon. New research from North Carolina State University is helping resolve the problem by using computer models that can utilize a small sample of soil to answer… 

Sep 15, 2010

Virtual Tutors: NC State Receives Grant To Study Artificial Intelligence In The Classroom

While some students might dream of having a robot to help them with their homework, researchers at North Carolina State University are getting closer to making it happen. NC State recently received a four-year, $3.5 million grant to explore using artificial intelligence as a learning tool inside fourth- and fifth-grade science classrooms. Artificial intelligence is the… 

Aug 25, 2010

Microneedle, Quantum Dot Study Opens Door To New Clinical Cancer Tools

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed extremely small microneedles that can be used to deliver medically-relevant nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into skin – an advance that opens the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including skin cancer. 

Apr 23, 2010

Science Olympiad Invites Best and Brightest to Compete at NC State

North Carolina State University will host more than 2,500 egg-launching, bridge- and vehicle-building students from 150 middle and high schools across the state for the finals of the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) on Saturday, April 24. Media are invited to attend the event, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in… 

Apr 20, 2010

Materials Research Advances Reliability Of Faster Smart Sensors

In military and security situations, a split second can make the difference between life and death, so North Carolina State University’s development of new “smart sensors” that allow for faster response times from military applications is important. Equally important is new research from NC State that will help ensure those sensors will operate under extreme conditions… 

Apr 12, 2010

Study Shows That Size Affects Structure of Hollow Nanoparticles

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that size plays a key role in determining the structure of certain hollow nanoparticles. The researchers focused on nickel nanoparticles, which have interesting magnetic and catalytic properties that may have applications in fields as diverse as energy production and nanoelectronics. 

Apr 7, 2010

NC State Research May Revolutionize Ceramics Manufacturing

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new way to shape ceramics using a modest electric field, making the process significantly more energy efficient. The process should result in significant cost savings for ceramics manufacturing over traditional manufacturing methods. 

Apr 6, 2010

Automobile Control Research Opens Door To New Safety Features

Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a computer program that allows a car to stay in its lane without human control, opening the door to the development of new automobile safety features and military applications that could save lives. 

Mar 31, 2010

Electroactive Polymer Design Opens Door To ‘Full Screen’ Displays For The Blind

Imagine if your computer only allowed you to see one line at a time, no matter what you were doing – reading e-mail, looking at a Web site, doing research. That’s the challenge facing blind computer users today. But new research from North Carolina State University is moving us closer to the development of a… 

Feb 3, 2010

Smart Coating Opens Door To Safer Hip, Knee and Dental Implants

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a “smart coating” that helps surgical implants bond more closely with bone and ward off infection. 

Dec 22, 2009

Shape Shifters: NC State Creates New Breed Of Antennas

Antennas aren’t just for listening to the radio anymore. They’re used in everything from cell phones to GPS devices. Research from North Carolina State University is revolutionizing the field of antenna design – creating shape-shifting antennas that open the door to a host of new uses in fields ranging from public safety to military deployment. 

Dec 2, 2009

Santa’s Sleigh: NC State Researcher Explains Science Behind St. Nick’s Christmas Magic

Santa skeptics have long considered St. Nick’s ability to deliver toys to the world’s good girls and boys in the course of one night a scientific impossibility. But new research shows that Santa is able to make his appointed rounds through the pioneering use of cutting-edge science and technology. 

Nov 23, 2009

Lose the Fat: Targeting Grease to Curtail Sewer Overflows

Sewer overflows are a nasty business, posing dangers to human health and the environment. North Carolina State University is launching a new project with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that targets the fat and grease that contribute to millions of overflows every year, and will give urban planners new tools to further… 

Nov 19, 2009

NC State’s Beichner Receives National, Statewide Teaching Awards

It’s been a busy month for Dr. Robert Beichner, professor of physics and director of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Initiative at North Carolina State University. Cementing his reputation as an innovative instructor, Beichner on Thursday was named North Carolina Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of…