Laura Oleniacz - NC State

  • A bird stands on top of a birdhouse.
    birds

    Light pollution may lower survival for some backyard birds

    Light pollution at night may lower survival for two backyard bird species. But for one, the American robin, it's the opposite.
  • A girl with a magnifying glass looks down into some grass.
    citizen scientists

    Citizen science motivates Girl Scouts to tackle problems

    After taking part in citizen science programs, Girl Scouts were motivated to tackle science or environment problems in their own communities.
  • A wild turkey hen walks through a forest during autumn.
    climate change

    Climate change may not alter turkey nesting much

    Wild turkeys are relatively inflexible when it comes to when they begin nesting. That could make them vulnerable to future shifts in climate.
  • clothing tag says "34.5% cotton 62.5% polyester 3% spandex" in red, lacy garment
    enzymes

    Enzymes split cotton from polyester in fabric blends

    A new way to separate cotton and polyester with enzymes could lead to better textile recycling, say researchers.
  • A forest with deep green trees fading into fog in the background.
    climate change

    Warming could lead to a 23% US timber tree loss by 2100

    The availability of trees used for timber in the continental US could decline by as much as 23% by 2100 under more severe climate scenarios.
  • A spotted lanternfly with brown wings with black spots on them stands on a budding flower.
    invasive species

    Tweets could track the spread of invasive insects

    Twitter and online news articles could help track the timing and location of spreading invasive insects in the US and around the world.
  • A sewing machine with embroidered letters stitched into a piece of fabric.
    sensors

    Embroidery stitches make low-cost wearable sensors

    Embroidering power-generating yarns onto fabric could offer a low-cost, scalable way to make wearable devices.
  • A young girl sits at a laptop with only a headband with cat ears on it visible over the screen.
    children's health

    Teachers have 5 areas of concern for kids’ online safety

    To be effective, digital safety education has to be ongoing and reinforced, "not only for the kids, but also for teachers and parents."
  • A shark swims underwater with its left eye looking at the camera.
    conservation

    Fewer people blame sharks for bites after watching positive videos

    After watching positive videos about sharks, fewer people blamed them for bites and more approved of nonlethal response strategies.
  • A person wears an adjustable wrist brace.
    assistive technology

    Reviews show aesthetics matter for assistive devices

    People who use assistive devices care about the way they look, feel, and even smell, a new study of user reviews shows.
  • A vial of blue liquid next to a vial of clean, totally clear liquid.
    polymers

    Polymer removes dye from wastewater

    A new synthetic polymer can remove certain dyes, like those used in cosmetics, paper, and medicine, from wastewater. It's also reusable.
  • The fire shelters look like shiny foil covering trees and people in a burnt out forest.
    firefighters

    New shelter designs boost firefighters’ survival chances

    "For the wildland firefighter, deploying a shelter is the last thing they want to do—it's the final resort, the last line of defense," says Roger Barker.