Thanks to scientific observations with telescopes, satellites and mathematical calculations, we not only understand what happens during a solar eclipse but we can also predict when they will occur and where they will be seen well into the future.
That hasn’t always been the case.
Take, for example, the origin of the word eclipse. It’s derived from the ancient Greek word ekleipsis, meaning "abandonment." You get the idea. The folks back then thought the Sun had just turned off. It had, in effect, abandoned the Earth.
North Carolina Science Now
A Deadly Day at Sea: The Fateful Battle of the Atlantic
To understand the Battle of the Atlantic, you need to go back one day before the actual armed conflict.
On July 14, 1942, a convoy of 19 merchant ships and five military escort ships set sail from Hampton Roads, Virginia. The convoy was named KS-520, with the “KS” indicating they were moving south along the coast heading to Key West, Florida.
The Deeper Impact of Poor Air Quality in the Smokies
One can easily understand how air pollution could affect visibility throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What’s not as easy to see, but is just as devastating, is how the concentrations of nitrogen and sulfur in the air are impacting water chemistry, aquatic life and even vegetation.
Why are certain small bodies of water called 'sounds?'
Before doing any reporting on Currituck Sound, I had to answer the most basic of questions: just what is a sound?
It turns out there are a couple of ways to define a sound.
One type of sound is a relatively narrow passage of water between the mainland and an island. It's also an inlet, bay or recessed portion of the ocean. Currituck Sound certainly fits those definitions. So does Pamlico Sound, as well as Puget Sound in Washington.
Revealing camera traps help with wildlife conservation
The camera trap—long a tool for hunters wanting to see what game inhabits anarea and for amateur photographers looking for a unique photo—is coming into its own as a conservation tool.
A Durham Organization Uncovers New Clues to the Lost Colony
Sometimes the simplest question leads to major discoveries.
This is certainly true in the search for the Lost Colony.
But first, a little background.
Back in 1585, British explorer John White traveled to Roanoke Island and produced an excruciatingly accurate map of the North Carolina and Virginia coast and other drawings of the island. Two years later, White led a colony of 116 English settlers to the area.
An Aspirin History that Won't Cause a Headache
You may have heard the phrase, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”
It’s been a joke about doctors for years. But it turns out aspirin has been used as a cure for pain and fever since the time of Hippocrates and ancient Greece. He used to prescribe it to patients, even back then.
Raleigh's new cathedral gives old stained glass new life
Raleigh’s new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral will not only feature a sound system designed for the best quality, it will also feature amazing stained glass windows.
Fifty of those windows are newly created for the church. But 42 of the stained glass windows are finding a new life in the Diocese of Raleigh’s new cathedral.
In December 2012, the Diocese of Raleigh acquired stained glass windows from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The windows are being removed from Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in the Archdiocese that was closed several years ago.
Why physics matter in a tackle
Bone-jarring tackles almost always make the highlight reel in a National Football League game. And those tackles happen more than 100 times per game.
They may not always look pretty; a big linebacker engulfing a smaller running back. But the play is actually employing some pretty elegant physics, including p=m*v.
Drones give better view of the 'Ghost Fleet'
Marine Corps Base Quantico is one of the most famous military bases in the world. The base covers 58,000 acres in Prince William County, Virginia. The U.S. Marine Corps’ Combat Development Command, which designs and develops strategies for U.S. Marine units, is based at Quantico. The FBI Academy, the main research and training facility for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is also located at the base. So is the main training facility for the Drug Enforcement Administration.