Turtles are threatened by traffic, lawn equipment and a shrinking habitat in North Carolina’s growing Research Triangle region. Students at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine bring the latest medical science to a volunteer team that rescues injured turtles.
Environment
Birds of prey need rehab too
Birds of prey are usually seen from afar. The Carolina raptor center brings visitors up close to engage in the natural world.
The research behind restoring scallops to NC waters
Researchers tether baby scallops in an experiment to understand how best to restore them.
How to prevent erosion using living shorelines
Living shorelines are an alternative to walls along the coast. Learn how they work.
Do retention ponds do what they're supposed to?
New research shows that although retention ponds may look nice above the water, they aren’t working the way they are supposed to underwater.
What we learned from Hurrricane Florence
Scientists warn that Florence was not just a storm for the history books. It is a glimpse into the future of hurricanes with climate change. Some thoughts what we need to learn from several experts.
Meet the Longleaf pine, NC's iconic tree
The Croatan National Forest is the only true coastal forest in the East and a remnant of the Longleaf pine forest, which once made up 90 percent of the forest in the Southeast. It is home to several endangered species.
How horseshoe crabs save lives
Every time you get a flu shot, you should thank a horseshoe crab. Most medical interventions—vaccines, drugs, devices—have been tested on horseshoe crabs. Their blood clots immediately when it's exposed to dangerous bacteria. The biomedical industry bleeds horseshoe crabs routinely in order to make sure their products won't poison patients. But horseshoe crabs are in decline, and an NC company is trying to figure out how to raise them sustainably.
How Fast do Weeds Grow?
My garden is living proof that plants need food, water and sunshine to grow. I provided water and fertilizer but the backyard was sunny for only a part of the day. This year, we moved the garden to the side of the house and WOW! It turns out a lot more sun spurs a lot more growth. Our plants are doing well. Unfortunately, so are the weeds. Which makes me wonder, why do weeks seem to grow so quickly?
“Actually weeds don’t grow faster than other plants, weeds just time things a lot better,” said Steve Bowe, a group leader in Biology Research and Development at BASF told me.
North Carolina’s Massive Problem With Giant Mosquitoes thanks to Hurricane Florence
It’s the kind of buzz you don’t want to generate. Some of the largest mosquitoes in the world are landing and biting in the Tar Heel state and it’s all thanks to Hurricane Florence. An outbreak of blood-sucking mosquitoes called Psorophora ciliata, or “gallinippers,” is being reported in parts of the state hit hardest by flooding generated by the hurricane. That species of mosquito can grow three times larger than regular mosquitoes.