Science News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

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Study: Bonobos can play make-believe, like humans

New research suggests bonobos can engage in pretend play, a behavior long thought to be uniquely human.

Leftovers get new life as jet fuel

Researchers are trying to convert excess food waste into biofuels

Kids ask questions about new dino discovery at NC Museum of Natural Sciences 🦖

Scientists at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences have found that what was believed to be a juvenile T.rex skeleton is instead a distant relative, the first of its kind to be found in a full skeleton.

Dino discovery: Distant T.Rex relative found in NC museum fossil

Scientists at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences have found that what was believed to be a juvenile T.Rex skeleton is instead a distant relative, the first of its kind to be found in a full skeleton. Their work has also raised new questions about what is know about that popular predator.

The Nobel Prize in medicine goes to 3 scientists for work on the human immune system

Groundbreaking research on the human immune system has earned three scientists the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Their pioneering studies have revolutionized our understanding of immune responses, paving the way for innovative treatments.

Triangle research lab helping stop mosquito-borne outbreaks in NC

WRAL's Eric Miller got an inside look at the program trying to spot and swat outbreaks as they happen.

NC State paleontologist finds 'shockingly beautiful,' complete dome-headed dinosaur fossil

Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University, didn't have to travel far on the day he made what may be the most important fossil discovery of his career. As he stepped out of his tent in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to start his day of fossil hunting, he noticed something small and spherical protruding from a nearby hillside.

Annie Roth, New York Times

NC State paleontologist finds 'shockingly beautiful,' complete dome-headed dinosaur fossil

IMAP will study the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) is being launched later this month to study the outer reaches of the heliosphere which defines where our solar system ends and interstellar space begins.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

IMAP will study the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space

The science behind school bus yellow

Chosen nearly 100 years ago, the science says the more-orange-than-yellow color is close to the perfect choice for the job.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Why Tuesday could be one of the shortest days of your life

As the Earth spins faster this summer, the days are just slightly shorter. But those milliseconds are adding up.

Duke scientists celebrate release of space photos from the largest digital camera ever built

Duke researchers helped build a powerful new telescope now capturing the most detailed images of the universe ever taken. The Vera Rubin Observatory unveiled its first images Monday, with Duke scientists watching from Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.

Total lunar eclipse to be visible early Friday morning

WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell spoke with NASA ambassador Tony Rice to discuss the rare celestial event.

NC scientists, supporters rally against federal funding cuts

All across the country on Friday, scientists and their supporters held rallies. They called it "Stand Up for Science Day."

Scientists rally to make clear impact of federal cuts

In Raleigh, several hundred people gathered on Halifax Mall to call attention to funding cuts being made to federal research by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on behalf of the Trump administration.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Scientists rally to make clear impact of federal cuts

Mom was right: How bundling up in the cold helps protect your health

Science supports mom's advice to bundle up in the cold. A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that even a small drop in temperature weakens the immune system by reducing extracellular vesicles (EVs), which help defend against viruses and bacteria.

Climate censorship? Scientists react to federal website purges

The Trump administration orders the removal of climate data from federal websites, sparking backlash from scientists who warn that restricting information won't stop climate change's growing impacts.

We could see Tuesday's SpaceX launch in NC

SpaceX is set to launch another Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Tuesday, and you might be able to see it here in North Carolina!

Duke researchers one step closer to HIV vaccine

Researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute are one step closer to creating a vaccine for HIV.

Tips for talking to your children about science

From hands-on activities to understanding the real-world applications of scientific concepts, this article provides parents with actionable tips to spark curiosity and communication.

Durham to be headquarters for CHIPS manufacturing institute, President Biden announces Tuesday

Durham will be the home of the first-of-its-kind CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute, a federal program to speed up development and reduce manufacturing costs for semiconductor technology, the computer chips that power most consumer electronics.

Monica Casey, WRAL Durham reporter

Durham to be headquarters for CHIPS manufacturing institute, President Biden announces Tuesday

Durham to be HQ for new chip maker, research

On Tuesday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) are entering negotiations for the department to provide SRC $285 million to establish and operate a Manufacturing USA institute headquartered in Durham.