https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from North Carolina State University North Carolina's blueberry farmers may have a beetle problem. A new study from North Carolina State University has identified destructive beetles inhabiting North Carolina blueberry fields as Prionus imbricornus, a species of longhorn beetle. Known for their long antennae, the wood-boring beetles are an emerging pest in NC blueberries. Female adults typically lay their eggs in the soil near the roots of hardwood trees; their larvae, which can grow up to five inches long, then consume and destroy those roots, potentially killing the tree. Adults do not feed. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-scientists-mystery-beetle-blueberry-farms.html Ecology Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:20:03 EDT news699624248 Dogs with lower urine ammonia-to-creatinine ratios (UACR) may suffer from faster progression of kidney disease and higher fatality rates, according to new research from North Carolina State University. The work suggests that UACR levels may be a useful marker for identifying dogs that may benefit from certain kidney disease therapies. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ammonia-urine-marker-chronic-kidney.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 28 May 2026 18:40:02 EDT news699205021 Researchers have drawn inspiration from armadillos to create a protective structure that responds to external threats by curling into a protective ball to protect electronic devices or other payloads. The structure is designed to automatically respond when it detects strain and can be tuned to respond to anything from a delicate touch to a significant impact. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-armadillos-soft-robotic-shell-flips.html Engineering Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:05 EDT news699074152 A new study finds that when people engage in participatory science activities that involve awe-inspiring natural phenomena, such as an eclipse, they more closely identify with science and feel a greater sense of belonging. Participatory science, also called citizen science, refers to projects in which members of the public contribute to the scientific process. The paper, "Awe in Nature Fosters Science Identity and Belonging in Participatory Scientists During an Eclipse," will be published May 27 in the journal People and Nature. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-awe-nature-people-science.html Education Wed, 27 May 2026 01:00:01 EDT news699021481 Anesthesia makes life-saving procedures as painless and stress-free as possible for the animals we love and care for. But not a lot is known about the effects of anesthesia on animals that we don't typically consider pets—like butterflies and other invertebrates. Insects are often valuable members of nature centers, zoos and museums, but even if they're just being evaluated in the wild, they can need anesthesia during physical examinations and injury treatment. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-anesthetize-butterfly.html Plants & Animals Fri, 22 May 2026 07:33:54 EDT news698652062 A new framework allows AI models that have already been trained to learn new tasks without sacrificing performance when performing old tasks. The framework, called CHEEM, also improves an AI model's operating efficiency by using fewer computational steps to perform simpler tasks. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-ai-ability-tasks-sacrificing.html Computer Sciences Tue, 19 May 2026 15:40:01 EDT news698423761 Economists have identified—and resolved—a seeming paradox regarding how competition from China affects the price and volume of products that are exported from other countries into the United States. The findings shed new light on the complex dynamics of international trade and how the effects of trade competition vary drastically for poor nations compared to their wealthy counterparts. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-economists-mystery-involving-international-competition.html Economics & Business Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:01 EDT news698411522 Researchers have demonstrated a nondestructive way to collect cellular material from historical parchment manuscripts, allowing them to conduct genetic analyses that offer new insights into everything from trade routes to agricultural practices dating back 1,300 years—without harming the valuable manuscripts. The paper, "Adventures in the Animal Archive: New Techniques for the Genetic Analysis of Parchment Manuscripts," is published in the journal Manuscript Studies. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-nondestructive-dna-sampling-reveals-years.html Archaeology Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:05 EDT news698322298 Using food in the classroom can help preschoolers learn more about science and increase their vocabulary skills, according to new research from North Carolina State University and East Carolina University. It also might get preschoolers to taste, or at least touch, the green vegetables on their dinner plates. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-food-boosts-preschoolers-science-knowledge.html Education Mon, 18 May 2026 13:20:04 EDT news698322481 New research suggests electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining is likely to increase power costs in some parts of the country by up to 57% by 2030, with a national average increase of 6%-29%. Electricity demand related to data centers is also likely to increase CO2 emissions by up to 28% by 2030, relative to a future with no data center growth, according to the analysis from North Carolina State University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Toronto. The paper, "Power System Costs and Emissions from Data Center and Cryptocurrency Mining Expansion in the United States," is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-centers-power-bills-bad.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 18 May 2026 11:24:39 EDT news698322229 Plant diseases often arise when the pathogens that cause disease are introduced into new territories where native plants don't recognize the pathogen and therefore may have minimal defenses against it. But there's another option. https://sciencex.com/news/2026-05-strawberries-oceans-straight-ambush-underground.html Plants & Animals Mon, 11 May 2026 16:30:02 EDT news697717453 A new study suggests broad systemic problems play a significant role in disincentivizing corn growers from planting the refuge corn needed to keep pests from becoming resistant to the insect-killing traits in Bt corn. And social science can play a role in addressing this challenge. The paper, "Moving beyond grower compliance: why Bt corn resistance management depends on system-level coordination," is published in the Journal of Economic Entomology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-social-science-bugs-corn.html Agriculture Mon, 11 May 2026 09:40:01 EDT news697709882 New research finds that higher temperatures can actually benefit some bumble bee species—particularly those that make subterranean nests. However, periods of extreme heat appear to offset those benefits, and may contribute to declining bumble bee populations in the southeastern United States. The paper, "Nesting biology shapes climate vulnerability of social bees (Bombus spp.)," is published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-higher-temperatures-benefit-devastate-bumble.html Plants & Animals Wed, 06 May 2026 18:20:07 EDT news697292916 A new autonomous laboratory recently navigated through billions of potential material synthesis recipes to identify brighter, lead-free light-emitting nanomaterials in just 12 hours. The work could accelerate development of safer light-emitting nanoplatelets for use in applications ranging from photodetectors to the production of fuel from solar energy. A paper describing this work appears in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ai-powered-lab-brighter-free.html Nanomaterials Mon, 04 May 2026 18:20:02 EDT news697125962 In a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University show that itch sensations in the face are perceived differently from those in the body due to differences in signaling between trigeminal (located in the brain) and spinal pain pathways. The work could lead to the development of specific molecular targets for treating facial pain or itch. The study appears in Communications Biology. https://sciencex.com/news/2026-05-doesnt-itchiness-body.html Mon, 04 May 2026 17:20:01 EDT news697122895 Remote collaboration software tools, such as Zoom or Google Docs, have become essential for teamwork—but they often overlook the fact that people do not all approach collaboration in the same way. Researchers have now developed a new human-computer interaction (HCI) method called RemoteCollabEval (RCE) to identify barriers to collaboration and inclusivity, allowing designers and developers to build software features that better support diverse teamwork styles. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-remote-teamwork-tools-users-method.html Software Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:01 EDT news697117922 Engineering researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a mathematical framework that can be used to help hunger-relief organizations get food to households that need it more efficiently than conventional methods. The advance, which has already been incorporated into an app, could also lead to improved efficiency for other businesses that face logistical challenges associated with deliveries and volunteer assignments. The paper, "Anticipatory Monte Carlo Tree Search–Based Optimization for Stochastic Dynamic Routing with Time Windows," is published in the journal Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-tool-hunger-relief-groups-food.html Engineering Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:20:06 EDT news696769502 Researchers have developed a new methodology that uses artificial intelligence tools to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach can be used in applications such as pharmaceutical biomanufacturing. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-good-viruses-booming-industry-ai.html Biotechnology Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:40:01 EDT news696174301 A new North Carolina State University study examining the proteins found in fermented foods like yogurt, cheese and bread found that a surprisingly large number, and percentage, of microbial proteins contribute to their overall protein content. These microbes have long been used in traditional fermentation processes and are widely associated with the beneficial or probiotic nature of these fermented foods. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-microbes-contribute-large-array-proteins.html Biochemistry Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:20:08 EDT news696077582 A new gut microbiome study of bears in eastern North Carolina expands our understanding of microbial ecosystems in omnivores and contributes to the broader idea that bear feces could help scientists monitor changes in the environment. The study also found that bears may play an unexpected role in dispersing antibiotic-resistant pathogens. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-black-emerging-roaming-reservoirs-antibiotic.html Plants & Animals Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:03 EDT news695986212 A new study finds the proteins responsible for controlling which genes are expressed in a genome do more than simply turn a gene on or off. Essentially, each type of protein that interacts with a gene produces different behaviors—a finding with ramifications for everything from biomedical therapeutics to biological computing. A paper on the study, "Epigenome Regulators Imbue a Single Eukaryotic Promoter with Diverse Gene Expression Dynamics," is published in the journal iScience. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-protein-epigenome-pattern-gene.html Biotechnology Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:40:06 EDT news695909641 Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving. With performance comparable to sensors already on the market, the new technology can be made using existing manufacturing processes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-heart-material-term-ecg.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:20:01 EDT news695917801 Researchers have developed a technique for detecting and measuring the concentration of many rare-earth elements in plants, without destroying the plant. The technique can be used to optimize "plant mining" efforts, in which plants take up and concentrate these critical materials so that they can be harvested for practical use. The paper is published in the journal Plant Direct. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-technique-rare-earth-metals.html Biochemistry Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:50:01 EDT news695575922 Researchers from North Carolina State University have successfully synthesized bacteriochlorophyll a, which is a photosynthetic pigment found in bacteria that absorbs infrared light. The work represents the first chemical synthesis of this molecule and could give scientists deeper insights into photosynthetic function and photosynthetic energy. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-photosynthetic-molecule-bacteria.html Materials Science Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:40:02 EDT news695475122 Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new AI-assisted tool that helps computer architects boost processor performance by improving memory management. The tool, called CacheMind, is the first computer architecture simulator capable of answering arbitrary, interactive questions about complex hardware-software interactions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-cachemind-chip-tuning-conversation-exposing.html Computer Sciences Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:40:02 EDT news695470804 Researchers have demonstrated a new training technique that significantly improves the accuracy of graph neural networks (GNNs)—AI systems used in applications from drug discovery to weather forecasting. GNNs are AI systems designed to perform tasks where the input data is presented in the form of graphs. Graphs, in this context, refer largely to data structures where data points (called nodes) are connected by lines (called edges). The edges indicate some sort of relationship between the nodes. Edges can be used to connect nodes that are similar (called homophily)—but can also connect nodes that are dissimilar (called heterophily). https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-harmonygnn-boosts-graph-ai-accuracy.html Computer Sciences Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:20:05 EDT news695318401 A team of university and Tribal researchers has developed a blueprint for creating research agreements that enable respectful research with Tribes and on Tribal lands. The guidance was developed to address shortcomings in most research policies that are written without Tribal input, often leaving Tribes with unclear protections, data vulnerabilities, and limited control over how information about their lands and people is used. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-guidance-aims-collaboration-scientists-tribal.html Environment Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:50:02 EDT news694777382 A new study finds teachers tend to provide assistance to similar subsets of students when using AI-powered educational tools, rather than touching base regularly with everyone in their classes. The findings could be used to develop tools that help teachers track their classroom interactions to ensure they are giving each student the attention they need. The paper is published on the arXiv preprint server. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-teachers-tend-kids-ai-powered.html Education Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:10:01 EDT news694788175 Electrons have three intrinsic properties: spin, charge and orbital angular momentum. Researchers have long studied how to use spin to more efficiently create an electrical current. But the field of orbitronics—which is based upon using an electron's orbital angular momentum, rather than its spin, to create a current flow—remains relatively new. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-door-efficient-orbitronic-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:00:03 EDT news694425997 Biomedical researchers have designed an injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In an animal model, the engineered microgel reduced bleeding by at least 50%. The paper, "Hemostatic B-Knob Triggered MicroGels (BK-TriGs) to Address Bleeding in Neonates," is published in the journal Science Advances. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-particle-surgery-safer-infants.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:00:02 EDT news694280882