Science & Technology

Shearon Harris Shutdown Likely To Come Up At Annual Assessment

Will Michaels — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:49:07 +0000

An annual public meeting about the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant will likely raise questions about the recent decision to shut down the reactor.

The Centennial Anniversary Of Winston And Salem Becoming "Winston-Salem"

Shawn Wen and Frank Stasio — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:42:33 +0000

The Rhino Times has been the signature conservative newspaper in the Triad since January of 1992. But it’s recently announced its closing, after 21 years of service. In other news, today marks the centennial anniversary of the joining of Winston and Salem, to become Winston-Salem.

Scientists And Musicians Collaborate To Explore The Underwater World Of Biomusic

Shawn Wen and Frank Stasio — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:37:33 +0000

Music production is often considered a very “human” creation. But scientists have recently discovered the songs of mice, elephants, and other animals that human ears are unable to capture. Scientists and musicians in Greensboro have been exploring the world of biomusic, music produced by nature, beneath the ocean surface.

NC State Uses Herbs And Spices To Clean Produce

Will Michaels — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Researchers at N.C. State say oils extracted from herbs and spices could act as a natural disinfectant for fruits and vegetables.

A joint project with the University of Tennessee aims to find an alternative to chlorine used on produce grown for mass consumption. Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie is a horticultural science professor at N.C. State's research campus in Kannapolis. She says pungent spices tend to be best at fighting harmful germs.

"They have a very distinct odor, like cinnamon, for instance," Perkins-Veazie says.

Teenage Entrepreneur Wins Big In Tech Market

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:43:15 +0000

In the late '90s the Internet was king and everybody wanted a piece of it. Jud Bowman was a student at the North Carolina School of Science and Math when he had an idea for an Internet start up. It was called Motricity, and he managed to get investors onboard before things went south in the Internet market.

Connecting Hog Farms To Pipelines Could Streamline Methane Gas Energy

Will Michaels — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:26:07 +0000

Researchers at Duke University say they have shed more light on the prospects of using hog waste to produce energy.

Bayer CropScience Is Deepening Its Roots Raleigh

Leoneda Inge — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:05:56 +0000

Bayer CropScience joined renowned astronaut Mae Jemison in southeast Raleigh Thursday to announce a new urban revitalization initiative. A big part of the green space near the Brown Birch housing development will be turned into a community garden – thanks to a $600,000 grant from the Bayer USA Foundation.

A New App Challenges Wake Tech To Be More Sustainable

Catherine Brand — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:24:30 +0000

Wake Tech Community College is backing up its commitment to sustainability with the launch of a new partnership with JouleBug, a mobile app customized for its students. The free JouleBug app was created in Raleigh and gives users points, pins, and rewards for making sustainable choices – like taking shorter showers, recycling, or eating on campus to reduce vehicle emissions.

Conference Explores North Carolina’s Energy Future

Isaac-Davy Aronson and Frank Stasio — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:24:12 +0000

North Carolina companies are in the midst of a sustainable energy boom. Solar farms have bloomed, wind farms could be on their way, and local entrepreneurs are experimenting with biofuels and solar power. But cheap natural gas and new legislation could slow sustainable energy growth.

Experts are discussing these advancements at the North Carolina Department of Commerce's 10th Annual Sustainable Energy Conference in Raleigh today. Keynote speaker Marilyn Brown is a professor from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She said today on The State of Things that many people are looking to fracking for natural gas to solve our energy needs.

Where Can You Watch A Trash Bin Explode With Ping Pong Balls?

Laura Candler — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +0000

At the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC Chapel Hill this morning! The experiment is one of many happening this week and next as a part of the North Carolina Science Festival, a statewide series of science-related happenings that began on April 5. Today, the Festival is encouraging people to participate in Experi-Minute, an attempt to engage all North Carolinians in some kind of science-related activity for at least one minute on Friday morning.