Hummingbirds have returned to NC

Time to refill those sugar water feeders sitting in your garden! The annual hummingbird spring migration to North Carolina has begun. Hummingbird migration generally begins in early March and ends in mid-May. Once here, the hummingbirds will stay until August. Dr. Jeremy Hyman, professor and department chair of biology at Western Carolina University, received his […]

Whee Life: Artemis missions and taking humans back to the Moon

NASA accomplished something historic in April. We are step closer to stepping again to the Moon. Artemis II mission to orbit the moon and come back in 10 days was successful and as NASA says on their website “the first crewed Artemis flight marks a key step toward long‑term return to the Moon and future […]

Women’s History Month expands how women’s impact is understood

Women’s History Month is often used to highlight figures who fought for equality and changed history. Historian Elizabeth McRae said that focus only tells part of the story.  McRae, an associate professor of history and the author of “Mothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy,” spoke at Western Carolina University […]

Whee Life: Scams, fraud and how technology can help or hurt

Scams are not new and happen all over the world. But with advancements in technology, it has become shockingly easier to fall victim to a scam. From email and online scams to bank fraud, technology has helped thieves steal from seasoned professionals and even it employees.  Technology has also helped many professionals through shortening projects […]

Learn how to spot a scam

The story was published in The Sylva Herald, April 1 edition Pretty much everyone has been called on the phone by someone telling us we have won a big white Mercedes – the latest model, but first we need to wire the company a processing fee of $500 immediately while they wait on the phone.  […]

Battle of the bots: WCU engineering students compete in robot showdown

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers at WCU has some end-of-midterm season fun with a competition between handmade robots.  The SME president, Chloe Stewart, says the robot showdown creates not only a learning opportunity for students but also allows them to be creative within their engineering discipline.  “The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is an organization where […]