A new national study by the University of Southern California's Race and Equity Center found that 94% of professional athletes believe they should be allowed to engage in political activism. The study highlights the power of pro athletes' platforms and encourages them to use their influence to promote racial justice and activism.
A new USC Rossier study emphasizes the importance of early intervention in addressing housing instability among students. Key findings reveal that existing efforts focus on already homeless students, and that upstream interventions supporting at-risk families can prevent stability disruptions. The report highlights promising approaches...
Researchers at USC's Kanso Bioinspired Motion Lab discovered that sea stars' tube feet respond independently to changing loads, enabling local control strategy. This decentralized approach can optimize robot locomotion and adapt to environmental changes.
A study found that ocean bacteria SAR11, which thrive in nutrient-poor waters, are more vulnerable to environmental change than thought due to cellular dysregulation. This discovery challenges common assumptions about microbial growth and has broader implications for understanding climate change and marine ecosystems.
A new USC white paper reveals that PBMs' reported profit margins are influenced by accounting practices, making it challenging for policymakers to understand the true cost drivers. The researchers suggest requiring financial transparency from PBMs to develop a better picture of their operations and costs.
A new study found that shingles vaccination is associated with lower inflammation, slower epigenetic aging, and overall slower biological aging in older adults. Vaccination showed benefits even four years after the initial dose.
New research simulates 10,000 years of seismic activity to show how underground temperature and sediment patterns control where earthquakes start, spread, and stop. This study provides a more accurate picture of the Main Marmara Fault's behavior, essential for building codes, emergency planning, and infrastructure decisions.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences discovered that neurons can rapidly adjust their signaling using a fast, physical mechanism. This system relies on structural cues rather than electrical signals to maintain balance between neurons, which is essential for muscle control, learning, and overall brain health.
A new study found that less educated and lower-income neighborhoods are consistently farther away from cultural institutions, such as elite universities and museums. The researchers measured straight-line distances and expected travel times between neighborhoods and eight amenities of cultural capital to quantify the geographic barriers.
A USC Dornsife team of scientists visualized how opioids like loperamide and naloxone engage a key brain receptor, revealing new avenues for developing painkillers. The study also showed that Narcan blocks the receptor by interrupting the signaling process, providing insight into designing longer-lasting or faster-acting antidotes.
A new study by USC researchers reveals that short-term 'dynamic instability' in blood pressure is linked to loss of brain tissue and nerve cell injury in older adults. This phenomenon, where blood pressure fluctuates wildly from one heartbeat to the next, may be a key risk factor for brain shrinkage and neurodegeneration.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed artificial neurons that physically embody the analog dynamics of biological brain cells. These innovations will allow for significant reduction in chip size and energy consumption, potentially advancing artificial general intelligence.
A new study suggests reducing prescription sleep medications among older adults could provide substantial health and economic benefits. Avoiding these medications would reduce falls by 8.5% and cognitive impairment by 2.1%, increasing life expectancy by 1.3 months.
A USC Dornsife study found that combining two types of brain scans improves predictions of future anxiety in teens, shedding light on how the adolescent brain responds to mistakes and identifying at-risk youth sooner. The research may eventually lead to earlier, more personalized mental health interventions.
The USC team created the first optical device that follows the emerging framework of optical thermodynamics, introducing a fundamentally new way to route light in nonlinear systems. The device uses simple thermodynamic principles to guide light naturally, without switches or digital addressing.
The 340B program has grown into the nation's second-largest drug purchasing program, with significant revenue generated from spread pricing, which disproportionately benefits providers with more commercially insured patients. Eliminating this distorted incentive is essential to ensuring safety-net providers receive benefits.
A new study published in Cell found that relying on stand-in reference DNA from similar but different species can significantly distort research findings for vulnerable species. Using the wrong genome can miss up to a third of genetic variations and lead to misleading conservation decisions.
A team of scholars from USC, UC Riverside, and Carnegie Observatories will develop computer models to simulate the birth of structure in the universe, testing theories about galaxy formation. The Lyman-Alpha forest Research Collaboration aims to reveal quantum properties of dark matter and neutrino particles.
A new white paper from the USC Schaeffer Center recommends FDA reforms to streamline clinical trials, provide clearer guidance on newer technologies, and improve agency efficiency. This could reduce development time and costs, pushing down prices and improving patient access.
Only 4 in 10 US retail pharmacies carry buprenorphine, a highly effective opioid addiction treatment, with disparities persisting in minority neighborhoods. Tight pharmacy regulations discourage pharmacies from carrying the treatment, limiting access to vulnerable communities.
A new study from the University of Southern California has found that measuring brain blood flow dynamics may be key to understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease. The research team developed a novel 'physio-marker' called the Cerebrovascular Dynamics Index (CDI) using non-invasive Doppler ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy.
Researchers discovered a unique partnership between two microbes that work together as a living electrical network to consume methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The finding sheds light on how microorganisms naturally reduce methane emissions and could lead to innovative strategies to control methane release in various environments.
A modest gift card significantly increased enrollment of low-income individuals in a patient registry designed to accelerate Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials. Targeted outreach may be more cost-effective than offering larger prizes.
A new study by USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology researchers finds that Americans with less education are aging faster, with the gap growing over 30 years. The study measured biological aging, which looks at how well organs and systems work, and found that people with more education have slower biological aging.
Most Channel Islands foxes developed larger brains to adapt to survival demands in isolated conditions, defying the assumption that island animals have smaller brains. Brain size appeared to be shaped more by local habitat conditions than isolation or island size alone.
A new study finds reported conflicts of interest on CDC vaccine panels had been at historic lows for years before Kennedy's dismissal. The type of conflict typically considered most concerning, income from vaccine makers, was virtually eliminated among panel members.
A new study demonstrates how a single type of 'neglecton' particle can make Ising anyons universal, enabling any quantum computation through braiding alone. The breakthrough uses non-semisimple topological quantum field theories to overcome unitarity issues and unlock the full power of Ising-based systems.
A large study found that Medicare beneficiaries with multiple sclerosis who received broader coverage of MS treatments had significantly lower risk of developing new or worsening symptoms. Researchers warn that formulary exclusions for specialty drugs could lead to worse health outcomes.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found that empathy can be trained by associating someone's happiness with personal reward. This effect was subtle but meaningful and lasted even when no rewards were involved.
A new study by USC researchers reveals that social media susceptibility clusters among users' friends, leading to a phenomenon called the Susceptibility Paradox. This pattern is strongest in influence-driven sharing, where users are more likely to post content if their friends have done so before.
ShadeLA aims to reduce heat risk by expanding tree canopy and shade infrastructure in key public spaces, targeting major sporting events and heat waves. The initiative builds on USC's Urban Trees Initiative and engages community-based organizations to create locally driven solutions for a more comfortable L.A.
Researchers at USC have developed a new understanding of how the human brain organizes its visual memories by sorting them into categories. The study, published in Advanced Science, used human patient brain recordings and machine learning to decode the category of visual image being recalled from precise neural timing.
A new analysis finds that delinking PBM compensation from list prices could lower US annual drug spending by nearly $100 billion. Shifting to a transparent payment model would reduce costs without undermining pharmaceutical innovation, according to USC Schaeffer Center Director Geoffrey Joyce.
A wearable sensor could revolutionize lithium monitoring for people with bipolar disorder by tracking medication levels through sweat. The USC-made device, which is the first of its kind, eliminates the need for blood draws and offers a personalized and easily accessible monitoring system.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed AI model Allegro-FM, simulating billions of atoms simultaneously. This enables simulations 1,000 times larger than previous models, accelerating materials design and discovery.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed AI model Allegro-FM to simulate behavior of billions of atoms simultaneously, enabling simulations 1,000 times larger than previous models. This breakthrough accelerates development of carbon-neutral concrete with unprecedented scalability.
A team of physicists has developed a tiny device that can detect and control antiferromagnetic resonance, enabling ultrafast and energy-efficient electronics. The breakthrough allows for a compact, electrically tunable platform to manipulate electron spins.
A new study from the University of Southern California reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control. The study demonstrates that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements, particularly in reaction speed.
Researchers investigate whether language alone is sufficient to understand color metaphors and find that hands-on experiences using color unlock deeper conceptual representations in language. ChatGPT generates consistent color associations but struggles with novel metaphors and embodied explanations.
A USC-developed shipboard system using limestone and seawater can remove up to half of carbon dioxide emitted from shipping vessels, cutting maritime CO2 emissions by 50%. The process mimics a natural chemical reaction in the ocean, where CO2 is absorbed into water pumped onboard and then neutralized through a bed of limestone.
A new device created by USC biomedical engineers could help sufferers avoid the need for opioids. The UIWI stimulator is designed to provide real-time, personalized pain management through machine learning algorithms and wireless power supply.
Most Medicare beneficiaries will likely see their drug costs go up due to Part D plans' shifting cost-sharing burden. The new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket limit won't reach most beneficiaries, leading to higher deductibles and coinsurance for many.
A USC study found that high levels of iron in the brain contribute to cell damage and oxidative stress, accelerating Alzheimer’s symptoms in individuals with Down syndrome. This connection could lead to targeted treatments and improved outcomes for those at risk.
A new study by USC researchers demonstrates an unconditional exponential quantum scaling advantage on IBM quantum processors, solving Simon's problem with a significant performance gap over classical computers. The team achieved this through optimal circuit design and error correction techniques.
A new laboratory earthquake model connects the microscopic real contact area between fault surfaces to earthquake occurrences, offering insights into earthquake mechanics and potential prediction. Continuous monitoring of physical properties could provide new tools for short-term systems and reliable prediction.
Researchers discovered that Nup98 forms droplet-like structures to protect broken DNA in tightly packed zones, allowing for accurate repairs and reducing genetic mistakes. This finding has implications for cancer and aging, with potential applications for therapies that mimic Nup98's protective functions.
A study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals how AI can help combat global wildlife trafficking by identifying key airport nodes. Researchers analyzed nearly 2,000 airports and predicted 307 potentially involved airports, including two US airports that had not been previously flagged. The model also identified signif...
A new USC-led study finds that a focused intervention combining storytelling, peer support, and provider incentives can reduce provider bias in family planning clinics and improve care for young women. The intervention expanded contraceptive access for the most marginalized groups.
Gold mining in the Amazon depletes land of its water, creating harsh conditions where replanted seedlings can't survive. Researchers suggest flattening sand piles and filling in ponds could improve moisture retention and boost regrowth.
A new study reveals that even weak tropical cyclones significantly increase infant deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The researchers analyzed nearly 1.7 million child records from seven economically disadvantaged countries, finding an average increase of 11% in infant mortality rates.