NCInnovation approved $5.2 million in funding for eight research projects at seven North Carolina public universities. One of the projects to receive funding is App State’s beehive improvement and monitoring system, developed by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, professor and chair in the Department of Computer Science. The Beemon system presents a unique and innovative tool for decreasing honeybee die-off and increasing hive production by allowing beekeepers to monitor hives with efficient and accurate data.

In this article in Fortune Well, health experts dive into the science behind trending hot and cold therapies, like saunas and cold plunges, and whether or not they are safe for children. Caroline Smith, associate professor in App State’s Department of Public Health and Exercise Science, helps explain the benefits of these types of therapies and how to manage the risks. Smith is director of App State’s Thermal and Microvascular Physiology Laboratory.

Home insurance rates in Florida have soared in recent years, making it the most expensive state to insure a house. Financial and environmental experts — including Dr. Lori Medders, professor and chair in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance — explain how multiple factors are contributing to high insurance rates in the state, including extreme weather, inflation and lack of options.

This feature in Marketplace explores a recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which finds that the biggest credit card issuers in the U.S. charge higher interest rates and fees than smaller banks and credit unions. Neel Das, professor in App State’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, explains how brand recognition is one of the main reasons why consumers choose certain credit cards, even if their interest rates are higher. Das advises consumers to consider the whole package, and not just a familiar name, when choosing a credit card.

This Q&A in Border Belt Independent features Jessica Cory, a lecturer in App State’s Department of English, who speaks about her interest in the Lumbee tribe and her inspiration to write about the significance of tribal history. Cory talks about her journey as a writer and what she hopes people will gain from reading her article, “The Politics of Recognition and the Power of Place in Lumbee Women’s Poetry,” which was published by the North Carolina Literary Review.

This feature in Vanguard Law Magazine highlights the dedicated work of App State General Counsel Paul Meggett and his team’s efforts to further the university's mission. Meggett speaks about the impacts of the launch of the App State Hickory campus, the development of App State’s Innovation District, the challenges in modern education related to artificial intelligence, and more.

More than 50 years ago, a crystal chandelier was delivered in a nondescript box to the North Carolina Executive Mansion. The chandelier was a gift from Karoline Horowitz, a state resident who settled in Western North Carolina in the 1940s with her husband, Peter, and six-year-old son, Bob, after a daring escape from Europe and the Nazis. On Dec. 12, Bob joined North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper at a special event at the Executive Mansion to share stories of his family’s history and the incredible journey of this chandelier. Dr. Chris Patti, a professor in the Department of Communication at App State who specializes in oral history interviews of Holocaust survivors, led the discussion.

In this article, WalletHub shares data and growth projections for 2023 holiday sales. Dr. Pia A. Albinsson, professor in App State’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, offers expert tips on how to avoid holiday overspending.

This article in The Conversation about glacial lake outburst floods cites a new study conducted by Dr. William Armstrong, an assistant professor in App State’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, which finds that of the 120 glacier-dammed lakes in Alaska, 106 of them have drained at least once since 1985. The study finds that due to globally rising temperatures, these lakes have decreased in volume over time. New lakes have the potential to develop in mountain valleys from glacier melt, resulting in new potential hazards.