Brain stimulation, which utilizes a low dose of electric current, could lead to new therapies for neurologic and mental illnesses.
Technology
3-D Frontiers
The new frontier for design and manufacturing is in three dimensions. What has become known as 3-D printing, or additive manufacturing, opens a new world of design never before possible.
Pharma Quest
New compounds under development at NC Central University’s Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) could be key to creating a better treatment for diabetes.
A Model Foot
Diabetes patients often suffer from problems in their feet, including sores and loss of feeling. East Carolina University researchers are using sonograms to see the foot in a new light in an attempt to help.
Seeking Sea Power
The winds along North Carolina’s Outer Banks are some of the strongest and most sustainable on the East Coast. Scientists are working on ways to harvest that energy by constructing wind turbines far enough offshore so that beachgoers won’t see them, but near enough for the generated power to be brought to shore economically.
Sensational Singing Mice
Mice are known to squeak, but Duke researchers have discovered male mice can sing at very high frequencies. The male mice use those ultrasonic sounds to woo female mice, and the song can change depending on the context.
Shark Tagging
More than a dozen different types of sharks live off the North Carolina coast. Researchers with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences have caught and studied them since 1972, creating one of the largest databases of coastal sharks in the nation.
Tracing the Coastline
Before you can know what coastline is lost to hurricanes and sea level rise, you need to know what land is there. Researchers have finished the most complete mapping of the NC coast including oceanside, bayside, and all of the estuaries. Now they can track what happens next.
A Long Look at Longevity
Duke University has launched the MURDOCK Study, an ambitious effort to track the long-term health of 50,000 North Carolinians and gain insight into aging, nutrition, Alzheimer’s, and other health issues over their life span.
Futuristic Fibers
Whether it's making carpet from plastic bottles or protective gear from high strength polymers, science allows North Carolina’s traditional textile industry to create new fibers to meet high tech needs.