Smarter bionic leg turns brain and muscle power into motion. Raleigh News and Observer, January 27, 2014. For many amputees, doing everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car takes concentration and conscious effort. Now, researchers are building a smarter bionic leg that ‘listens’ to the user’s body and figures out what they have in mind before they take their next step.
Category Archives: Raleigh News and Observer
Make the most of Carolinas’ planetarium shows
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Make the most of Carolinas’ planetarium shows. Raleigh News and Observer, January 14, 2013. It may be the coldest and darkest time of year, but you don’t have to brave the elements to enjoy the winter night sky. Thanks to planetarium shows now playing across the Carolinas, you can take a virtual tour of the heavens and more — no matter what the weather — all from the cushioned comfort of your seat.
Your big date with Venus
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Your big date with Venus. Raleigh News and Observer, May 28, 2012. It’s a sight you’ll never see again. On Tuesday June 5, those with equipment for safely looking at the sun will see a small black dot slowly inching across its face. That dot is the planet Venus, passing between Earth and the sun in a rare celestial event that won’t happen again until December 2117.
Genes from undersea creature may help crops prosper
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Genes from undersea creature may help crops prosper. Raleigh News and Observer, April 16, 2012. The bottles of amber liquid perched on the bench in Dr. Amy Grunden’s research lab at N.C. State University don’t look like much. But floating within are billions of sea-dwelling microbes – too small to see with the naked eye – that researchers hope will one day help plants survive in space, or produce hardier crops and better biofuels in stressful environments here on Earth.
Why caffeine? It’s human nature
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Why caffeine? It’s human nature. Raleigh News and Observer, January 2, 2012. Why do some people need 10 cups of coffee just to make it through the day, while others feel wired from just one cup? Part of the answer may be in your genes.
Tracking touch-the-ground running
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Tracking touch-the-ground running. Raleigh News and Observer, November 7, 2011. Some argue that running barefoot – or close to it – improves form and reduces injury. Could they be right?
Microbe-managing your life
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Microbe-managing your life. Raleigh News and Observer, September 19, 2011. Can gut parasites be good for you? It may sound far-fetched. But for those with off-kilter immune systems, scientists are finding hope in some unlikely allies.
The future of a fog oasis
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The future of a fog oasis. Scientific American Guest Blog, August 19, 2011. In a fast-disappearing desert oasis, scientists are trying to bring a forest back to life – and discovering the imprint of a lost civilization amidst the vanishing trees.
Building a better strawberry
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Building a better strawberry. Raleigh News and Observer, June 27, 2011. Scientists and chefs team up to breed a hardier, tastier North Carolina strawberry.
Eat your fruit; it’s good for you
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Eat your fruit; it’s good for you. Raleigh News and Observer, May 16, 2011. Plant scientist Mary Ann Lila hopes to pinpoint the natural compounds in blueberries and other fruits that explain their medicinal powers.
The secret life of yeast bread
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The secret life of yeast bread. Raleigh News and Observer, January 31, 2011. Have you ever wondered why bread rises? Why sourdough bread tastes different from French? A chemist demystifies the science and craft behind one of our most familiar foods.
Scientists look at crops, bugs and animals
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Scientists look at crops, bugs and animals. Raleigh News and Observer, November 8, 2010. When most people think about genetic engineering, they usually think of genetically modified crops like corn and soybeans. Now, the debate over transgenics is turning from plants to mosquitoes and other pests.
N.C. Zoo works without borders
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N.C. Zoo works without borders. Raleigh News and Observer, September 20, 2010. Researchers at the NC zoo use high tech tracking tools to save wildlife and wild places far beyond the park gates.
Ants forecast forests’ future
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Ants forecast forests’ future. Raleigh News and Observer, June 28, 2010. Ants and other insects may not be the first things you spot on a walk in the woods, but N.C. State biologist Rob Dunn believes they have something important to say about the future of forests under climate change.