Researchers found three genetic variants associated with subjective wellbeing, two with depressive symptoms, and 11 with neuroticism. The study suggests that these traits are influenced by the same set of genes and may be studied jointly in future work.
A USC-led study found that Americans are living longer but with poorer health, as disability rates increased over a 40-year period. The average lifespan for men and women both increased, but the proportion of time spent living with a disability also rose.
A USC study found that improved air quality in the Los Angeles region has led to a significant reduction in respiratory symptoms among children, including bronchitic symptoms. The study tracked 4,602 children over 20 years and found a 16-32% decrease in these symptoms, even among those without asthma.
Researchers have identified six newly discovered proteins that may help prevent diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and other age-related illnesses. The tiny proteins are produced in the mitochondria of cells and play a significant role in metabolism and cell survival.
Researchers have created a new metallic glass with an unusual chemical structure that makes it incredibly hard and yet elastic. The material can withstand heavy impacts without deforming and retains most of its original strength.
Researchers at USC and JPL are launching fungi into space to explore their potential as novel therapeutics for use both in space and on Earth. The study aims to discover new compounds that could be used to develop medicines for astronauts and potentially address life-threatening diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
Researchers at USC found that just two sites on the mouse genome control about half of the size variation between bacula, a crucial discovery for understanding bone development and diseases. The study also suggests that only a few genetic tweaks can have an enormous impact on the overall size and shape of the baculum.
A new study published in Cancer Causes & Control found that Latinas who consume processed meats like bacon and sausage have an increased risk of breast cancer. The study also suggests that tuna consumption is associated with breast cancer risk in white women, but not significantly so among Latinas.
A new study reveals that algal blooms like 'red tides' are home to a complex war between microscopic organisms, with the dominant species changing daily. The research sheds light on the ocean's role in carbon fixation and climate change.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed a method for manufacturing nanoparticles on a large scale, using microfluidics technology. This innovation enables the cost-effective production of gold nanoparticles with unique properties, making them ideal for applications in medicine and other fields.
Researchers found that uninsured children have the lowest and most unstable medical home experiences, despite being in greatest need of constant, quality care. The study emphasizes the need for extra efforts to ensure all children have access to quality healthcare, even with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
A new study found that dietary and pharmaceutical interventions can have opposite effects on mortality rates in males versus females. The findings support the theory that the sexes age differently, with some interventions increasing longevity in females but decreasing it in males.
The locus coeruleus is a critical brain region that releases norepinephrine, regulating heart rate, attention, memory, and cognition. It is vulnerable to toxins and infection, making it the first place affected by late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
A new study found that behavioral interventions, such as peer comparison and accountable justification, significantly reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory infections. The study built upon prior research and resulted in a 16 percentage point reduction in prescription rates.
For the first time, researchers have directly converted carbon dioxide from the air into methanol at relatively low temperatures. This process uses renewable energy to transform the greenhouse gas into a clean-burning fuel for internal combustion engines and fuel cells.
A new study combining computer science, moral psychology, and sociology found that concerns about purity are the best predictor of social distance between people. The research team analyzed over 731,000 tweets and behavioral experiments to determine how five basic moral values affect social connections.
Researchers found that stories dealing with core values activate the default mode network in the brain, which was previously thought to be an autopilot system. The level of activation varied across cultures, with Iranians showing the greatest response.
Scientists at USC have discovered the Achilles heel of hepatocellular carcinoma, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Researchers identified the carcinogenic pathway of stem cell marker NANOG, which promotes cancer spread by rewiring metabolism in mitochondria.
A USC study surveyed 3,310 ninth-grade students and found that those with moderate mental health problems who vape e-cigarettes have emotional and behavioral issues midway between smokers and non-vapers. E-cigarette use has tripled among teens in recent years, with flavors like Skittles enticing young people.
A new study by USC researchers found that people with high anxiety levels have a 48% higher risk of developing dementia. The study analyzed data from the Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging and found that chronic anxiety is linked to damage in the brain, including the hippocampus and frontal cortex.
A study of fossil corals and mollusk shells reveals no connection between strong seasonal variations and El Niño, contradicting top nine climate models. The research provides insight into the fundamental physics of El Niño and highlights deficiencies in current climate modeling.
A new study reveals that Latinos from Mexico have the lowest chance of getting colorectal cancer, while those from Central or South America are diagnosed with the disease before age 50 at a higher rate. The research aims to pave the way for personalized cancer care and reduce disparities in treatment
A new study has found that combining the blood thinner warfarin with certain diabetes medications increases hospitalizations for falls, altered mental state, and insulin shock among Medicare patients. The study's findings have significant implications for patient safety and healthcare costs.
Researchers found that door holders who made a high effort were more likely to receive reciprocation, with recipients saying "thank you" more often. The study also showed that small favors can inspire reciprocal acts, but verbal thanking and helping are not inherently correlated.
Researchers at USC, University of Washington and University of Utah developed a machine-learning algorithm that detects high-empathy or low-empathy speech in therapist-patient sessions. The tool uses automatic speech recognition and natural language processing to analyze over 1,000 therapy sessions.
A newly discovered mechanism in worms suggests that mothers sacrifice their health for future generations, fueling egg cell development with fats. This phenomenon raises the possibility of a similar trait in humans, potentially impacting reproductive success and lifespan.
The study found that cancer metastasis is neither random nor unpredictable, with survival depending on the location of the first metastatic site. Breast cancer patients who developed metastasis in specific organs had significantly different chances of long-term survival.
Researchers at USC discover enzyme MMP-20 that can regrow tooth enamel, reducing lesions by up to 70%. The breakthrough could lead to a new treatment option for tooth decay and sensitivity.
Research finds men carrying ApoE4 gene suffer more tiny brain bleeds and memory loss than women with similar diagnoses. The study provides new insights into the effects of ApoE4 on Alzheimer's disease in humans.
Researchers at USC and Sangamo BioSciences have developed a more efficient method for editing genes in blood-forming stem cells (HSPCs), which could potentially treat diseases such as HIV and other blood disorders. By combining two delivery methods, the team achieved unprecedented efficiency rates ranging from 15 to 40 percent.
A new study by Emilio Ferrara and Zeyao Yang found that positive emotions spread virally through Twitter feeds, with about 20% of users deemed highly susceptible to 'emotional contagion'. These users were four times more likely to produce positive tweets than negative ones.
A newly discovered fossil sea urchin has been found in Texas, pushing the evolution of this type of sea urchin back by 10 million years to the Roadian age. The discovery provides valuable insights into the processes that occur during major evolutionary changes.
A new study by researchers at USC, Harvard and Stanford universities found that spending more on patients lowers doctors' malpractice risk. The study analyzed Florida physician and claims data and found an inverse correlation between adjusted hospital spending per physician year and malpractice claim rates.
Scientists have discovered a new function of the nuclear membrane: repairing catastrophically broken DNA strands. The membrane fixes heterochromatin breaks, preventing chromosome aberrations and potentially fatal cancer formation. This study may reveal how organisms become more predisposed to cancer as they age.
A new study suggests that variations in complex carbohydrates found in breast milk, called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), are associated with variations in infant growth and obesity. Higher levels of certain HMOs at 6 months of age were linked to greater fat mass, while others were protective against obesity.
A new study led by USC researcher Cleopatra Abdou found that people who encountered negative stereotypes in healthcare settings reported adverse effects, including hypertension, depression, and poor self-rated health. The researchers highlight the need for inclusive policies to reduce healthcare stereotype threat and promote health dis...
Researchers mapped the human brain's experience of gratitude using Holocaust survivors' testimonies, revealing areas responsible for feelings of reward and moral cognition. The study also showed that gratitude enhances empathy and understanding of historical events.
Research found that people who experience cultural disfluency, such as encountering wrong holiday plates or non-traditional wedding photos, perform better on cognitive reasoning tests and are less likely to engage in mindless consumption. This shift to systematic thinking reduces stress levels and increases brainpower.
A new study from USC Viterbi School of Engineering identifies key factors that influence email response times. The study found that younger people respond faster, but write shorter replies, while older individuals take longer to respond. Additionally, the researchers discovered that platform usage and timing also impact response time.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Center has been awarded an $8 million grant under the White House Materials Genome Initiative to develop new nanomaterials. The center will use open-source software, experimental data, and immersive visualizations to accelerate innovation in materials science.
Researchers at USC and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have developed a brain prosthesis that mimics how memories are translated from short-term to long-term storage. The device has shown high accuracy in predicting neural signals with about 90% accuracy in hundreds of trials conducted with nine patients.
The study found that critical backup generators were built in low-lying areas at risk for tsunami damage despite warnings from scientists. The researchers identified arrogance, ignorance, design flaws, and regulatory failures as key factors leading to the disaster.
Research suggests that children who focus on their possible future selves and have strategies to attain these possibilities perform better academically and emotionally. In contrast, children who dwell on difficulties without planning for the future experience a negative impact on their optimism and fatalism.
A new study reveals that climate change will irreversibly force key ocean bacteria into high-speed reproduction, producing 50% more nitrogen. This accelerated growth can't be reversed and may lead to catastrophic die-offs of the microorganism and dependent species.
A USC study reveals inaccuracies in CPR depictions on TV, including lower survival rates and incorrect patient demographics. The findings highlight the need for improved physician-patient communication and discussions around advance care planning decisions.
Researchers have identified a key factor driving intraplate seismicity: convective currents of semi-liquid rock beneath the Earth's crust. This process interacts with surface motion, influencing earthquake locations and frequency. The study's findings offer new insights into seismic hazard mapping in plate interiors.
A recent study using fecal sampling and genetic analysis found hundreds of eastern chimpanzees inhabit a region of rapidly shrinking forest fragments in Uganda. The population is estimated to be between 250-320 individuals, three times larger than previously suspected.
A new MRI study found that having the opportunity to learn from failure can turn it into a positive experience. The study showed that certain circumstances can prompt the brain's reward mechanism instead of avoidance learning, leading to improved understanding and behavior.
Researchers have developed a yeast model to investigate a gene mutation that causes massive DNA damage and allows cells to continue dividing. The study reveals how cells ignore genetic damage and form micronuclei, which are commonly found in cancer cells.
A new study by USC researchers reveals that residential exposure to near-roadway pollutants can cause a significant burden of heart disease, particularly among older adults. The study's findings emphasize the need for zoning buffer areas between busy roadways and new housing developments.