Here at the North Carolina Science Trail, we want to take a special minute to thank all of you who contributed to help raise money for girls coding clubs in rural North Carolina counties. We are continuing to work toward our goal, but your contributions on Giving Tuesday have given us a great start in…
Written By Michele Miller Houck Trolls are mythical creatures from Scandinavian folklore, first recorded in the 13th century. Traditionally, they’re described as large, ugly, dim-witted beings who live in isolation in mountains or caves. Hostile toward humans and associated with darkness, trolls vary in form—from lumbering giants to magical or human-like beings. But Danish artist…
Michele and Charles visited the Corpse Flower…at midnight…on a lark. Read on for some insane science and an unknown number of people willing to smell death. Written By Michele Miller Houck from the NC Science Trail: A few weeks ago, my husband and I were doing what all great adventurers do before a major expedition:…
Many thanks to Jim Hoffman, Executive Director for the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium, for sharing this information about their new conservation and education venture. North Atlantic Right Whales are some of the most endangered whales on the planet. This program gives scientists hope that we can bring them back from the brink…
I had the pleasure this week of learning about some of the fascinating oyster research being done along the North Carolina coast. I mention this for two reasons. (1) It’s Oyster Month(!), and (2) Steph’s research is quintessentially intertwined with North Carolina’s coastal economy and the oyster farms that help fuel it. Join me hear…
You are about the enjoy the final blog post in Sara Gagné’s Urban Ecology Nature Neighborhood Series for 2025, and I want you to know up front that this is probably my favorite post that she has done for us. While there are many different types of scientists, I think most people expect all scientists…
If you haven’t heard, let me share the good news: October is Oyster Month in North Carolina! And since it’s October 2nd already, you have wasted two days of oyster-eating deliciousness, my friend. It’s time to kick it in gear! This is the third anniversary of October being officially declared Oyster Month in our state…
It’s October and the Citizen Science NC Mushroom Quest is on! We told you about the Mushroom Quest recently in this blog post, and your opportunity to do the Mushroom Quest through our fun scavenger hunt on Goosechase. We hope you’ll take advantage of that this month. As I was reading through some interesting new…
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve is a truly unique bit of North Carolina nature. With relics from an ancient past and evidence of North Carolina’s formation and ecological evolution, there’s a story to be told around every curve of the path. Come explore this incredible State Nature Preserve as it was meant to be experienced:…
When my family was camping in Tennessee a few years back the forests surrounding our campsite were packed full of some of the most beautiful mushrooms I have ever seen. In terms only a scientist could love – it was a decomposers’ paradise. 🙂 I am not a fungi expert, but adore the variety of…