Translating Research Into Economic Growth

> For 125 years, North Carolina State University has linked scientific innovation to economic gains within the state and beyond.

‘Good Guy’ Germs Could Defeat HIV

> The word “bacteria” often conjures up images of germs and infections, but NC State researchers are trying to use beneficial bacteria to stop a deadly infection in its tracks.

Tuning in a Better Antenna

> The light bulb flashed in Dr. Michael Dickey’s head within days of his arrival on the NC State campus. The assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering was going through his faculty orientation in August 2008 when he heard a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering discuss his work on antennas.

Charting Hormonal Effects of Chemicals in Plastic

> Plastic is an integral part of the American consumer culture, but Dr. Heather Patisaul worries that its pervasive presence also poses risks.

Showing Heart in Fighting Viruses

> Humans are born with almost every heart muscle cell they will ever have. Yet the body doesn’t have a barrier to protect the heart similar to the one that blocks pathogens from getting to the brain.

Man-Made Reefs Bring Back Oysters

> Oystering has been the livelihood of generations of coastal North Carolina residents, but the industry has been in decline for decades. Giant steel-claw dredges used to harvest the shellfish around the turn of the 20th century destroyed much of the oyster habitat in the coastal sounds.

Genetic Variations are Keys to Diversity

> Fruit flies. Mice. Butterflies. Ongoing research on all three species helped NC State’s Department of Genetics land Recovery Act grants to study drug toxicity and complex traits such as sleep and wake cycles, as well as to purchase tools to decode genetic variations in those and other organisms.

Fuel From the Sea

> The sea has always been a source of food, travel and trade for humans. Now, researchers from NC State are trying to extract energy from the sea as well.

Using Engineering to Teach Thinking Skills

> Kindergarten students at Rachel Freeman Elementary School in Wilmington, like their peers everywhere, are full of energy. Staying in line, being quiet and keeping focused are daily struggles.

Breaking Down the Wall to Cellulose

> Humans have used plants to feed, clothe, house and warm themselves for millennia. Yet, scientists know very little about how plants build the cell walls that have become food, textiles, lumber and fuel for mankind.

Why It Sometimes Pours When It Rains

> Dr. Sandra Yuter got used to the rain while living in the Pacific Northwest for several years. “It’s mostly a duration issue. It might rain lightly for 18 hours instead of pouring down for an hour,” she says.

Specialized Plant Lab Moves into 21st Century

> Dr. Carole Saravitz has to step over a puddle to open a plant growth chamber inside the Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratory on NC State’s campus.

Understanding the Biology of Healthy Lungs

> As a marathon runner, Dr. Phil Sannes knows the value of strong, healthy lungs. As a professor in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, he knows the value of the scarred lung samples he obtained from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

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