Dr. Daniel Caton, professor in App State’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, speaks to WFDD about the negative effects of light pollution and the importance of preserving dark skies for educational and environmental purposes. Caton is the director of App State’s Dark Sky Observatory, a research facility equipped with multiple telescopes that is open to the public once a month.

In this article from The Washington Post, experts say that in the days ahead of a race, runners should consume extra carbohydrates to improve endurance. Dr. David Nieman, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, offers advice on how runners can avoid “hitting the wall” in a marathon. Nieman is the director of App State’s Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a team of astronomers observed a centaur that led to the discovery of new, previously unknown jets of gas, which is helping inform theories about how centaurs and planets are formed. Dr. Adam McKay, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and co-author of the study, explains how looking at these jets over time can improve the understanding and evolution of our solar system.

Many homeowners in North Carolina won’t be insured against flooding or landslides from Hurricane Helene due to the fragmented way in which disasters are covered. Dr. David Marlett, professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, breaks down property insurance markets for homes and the many factors that can have negative impacts on policies.