The Devil's Tramping Ground is a clearing in the Chatham County woods where nothing has grown for as long as anyone can remember. The mysterious lack of plants inspired a legend that the Devil comes to that spot in the night, pacing in a circle as he plans how to tear down the hearts of men, trampling all the plants in the process. Scientists have yet to determine exactly why nothing grows there.

NC State researchers have developed a dog harness that includes a computer, video and audio to help in search and rescue missions. It was featured at the SmartAmerica Challenge in Washington, D.C. And could also be used to help pet owners train their dogs with positive reinforcement.

Duke University has launched The MURDOCK Study, an ambitious effort to track the long-term health of 25,000 North Carolinians and gain insight into aging, nutrition, Alzheimer’s, and other health issues over their life span.

A Duke physician was misdiagnosed after contracting Lyme Disease. He battled the disease for 4 years before being diagnosed, and eventually had to have a heart transplant after the illness destroyed his heart function. He is now campaigning for more research into the disease.

Some might call it the most important chair in the house, but for 2.5 billion people around the world, access to safe and sanitary toilets isn’t an option. Researchers at RTI International are reinventing a toilet that is self-sustaining and doesn’t require plumbing or a regular water source.

Water resilience is the goal of a team of experts planning water use in North Carolina. The goal is to find ways to share existing water more efficiently to avoid having to build expensive new reservoirs, as well as develop ways to better conserve water in the future and lessen the impact on the environment.

Researchers use the information gathered from tracking buoys in the surf to create computer models that will not only better predict rip currents but also teach swimmers how to avoid them.

Whether it's making carpet from plastic bottles or protective gear from high strength polymers, science allows North Carolina’s traditional textile industry to create new fibers to meet high tech needs.

When it comes to aging water infrastructure, North Carolina is in deep water. It's estimated we need to spend billions of dollars by 2030 to upgrade aging pipes and equipment throughout the state. But wastewater treatment is mostly invisible to us. How does it get treated and where is our money going? Kelley McHenry continues her series on water with a look at wastewater treatment.

Water is essential, but we don't think about it much until we have too much, in a flood, or too little, in a drought. But do you ever wonder where your tap water comes from? Kelley McHenry begins a series of reports tonight on one of society's most crucial needs--a clean, safe water supply.