think and do

Apr 4, 2016

Community Builder

Durham architect Phil Freelon designs buildings that tell stories — and unite communities. Since graduating from the NC State College of Design in 1975, Freelon has emerged as a go-to architect for structures that honor history and inspire the public, without sacrificing functionality. 

Mar 31, 2016

New Tools Allow Rapid ID of CRISPR-Cas System PAMs

CRISPR-Cas systems are widely heralded as a new generation of genetic tools. But development of these tools requires researchers to identify the protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs) that unlock each system’s functionality. A new set of techniques expedites PAM identification — and early testing finds that many CRISPR-Cas systems actually have multiple PAMs of varying strength. 

Mar 24, 2016

Microneedle Patch Delivers Localized Cancer Immunotherapy to Melanoma

Biomedical engineers have developed a technique that uses a patch embedded with microneedles to deliver cancer immunotherapy treatment directly to the site of melanoma skin cancer. 

Mar 22, 2016

Home Brew

A burgeoning beer business is brewing in North Carolina — and NC State is supporting it with innovative brewing techniques, hands-on training for future brewers and a project to jumpstart hops production in the state. 

Jan 11, 2016

New Tech Targets Cloud Computing Bugs

Computer science researcher Helen Gu has launched a start-up to help companies that use cloud computing improve the user experience for their customers. 

Jan 5, 2016

Start-Up Connects Micro-Entrepreneurs With Tourists

How an interdisciplinary team of researchers is helping small, locally owned businesses connect with tourists to create economic prosperity -- and amazing experiences. 

Dec 16, 2015

New Metamaterial Manipulates Sound to Improve Acoustic Imaging

Researchers have developed a metamaterial made of paper and aluminum that can manipulate acoustic waves to more than double the resolution of acoustic imaging, focus acoustic waves, and control the angles at which sound passes through the metamaterial. 

Dec 11, 2015

Student Project Evolves Into New Tool for the Biotech Industry

When Scott Vu started working on a computer science research project as a teenager, he didn’t realize he would end up launching a company designed to help the biotechnology industry operate more efficiently. 

Dec 2, 2015

Liquid Metal ‘Nano-Terminators’ Target Cancer Cells

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery technique that uses a biodegradable liquid metal to target cancer cells. The liquid metal drug delivery method promises to boost the effect of cancer drugs. To date, the technique has only been tested in an animal model. 

Nov 16, 2015

New Tech Helps Handlers Monitor Health, Well-Being of Guide Dogs

An interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers has developed a device that allows people who are blind to monitor their guide dogs, in order to keep tabs on the health and well-being of their canine companions. 

Nov 13, 2015

Student Research Offers the Inside Scoop on Dog Poop

Nobody knows the dog poop debate like Clodagh Lyons-Bastian. 

Nov 12, 2015

Toilets, Pit Latrines and Adventures in Human Waste

According to Francis de los Reyes III, the problem with World Toilet Day is that it focuses almost entirely on toilets. And he's working on that. 

Nov 10, 2015

Researchers Find Way to Create Wide Variety of New Holograms

Researchers have developed techniques that can be used to create ideal geometric phase holograms for any kind of optical pattern – a significant advance over the limitations of previous techniques. The holograms can be used to create new types of displays, imaging systems, telecommunications technology and astronomical instruments. 

Nov 9, 2015

Researchers Find Way to Make Metals Stronger Without Sacrificing Ductility

Researchers have developed a technique to make titanium stronger without sacrificing any of the metal’s ductility – a combination that no one has achieved before. The researchers believe the technique could also be used for other metals, and the advance has potential applications for creating more energy-efficient vehicles. 

Oct 21, 2015

From Exoplanets to Rainbow Station: Using Lasers to Print in Four Dimensions

In 2010, Michael Escuti received funding from NSF to study and make novel hologram technologies. He created a tool with applications from studying alien worlds to making cellphones more energy efficient.