Researchers discovered that mutagens induce errors in gene transcription, vastly outnumbering DNA mutations. This discovery opens new avenues of research into age-related diseases and sheds light on the role of the 'transcriptome' in aging.
A new USC study found that young adults who identify as Republicans are less likely to follow social distancing guidelines, with 24.3% of Republican respondents saying they don't frequently social distance from others compared to just 5.2% of Democrats.
Scientists have developed advanced imaging techniques to observe pancreatic beta cells packaging insulin and responding to drug treatments. The new methods provide a more complete picture of the cell's functions and components, shedding light on the mechanisms responsible for preventing diabetes.
A study by USC researchers found that working from home negatively impacts physical and mental health, increases distractions, and reduces productivity. Nearly 1,000 respondents reported experiencing one or more new physical health issues, with women and parents of toddlers and infants being disproportionately affected.
A new USC study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic could result in net losses of $3.2 trillion and up to $4.8 trillion in U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over two years. The study's findings depend on factors such as business closures, gradual reopening processes, infection rates, and fatalities.
USC researchers have developed a system that lets robots autonomously learn complicated tasks from a very small number of imperfect demonstrations. The system uses signal temporal logic to evaluate the quality of each demonstration, allowing robots to learn more intuitively and adapt to human preferences.
Researchers developed a computer vision tool to analyze facial images of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), revealing strong correlations between facial features and the condition. The study's findings could lead to improved phenotyping and treatment of CAH, a life-threatening genetic disorder affecting children.
A new USC study reveals that AI models lack common sense to generate plausible sentences, despite advances in natural language processing. The research challenges the effectiveness of current benchmark tests and finds that even the strongest models can make silly mistakes.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed an AI tool that analyzes movie scripts to predict violent, substance-abuse, and sexual content. The tool classifies sentences and phrases into three categories, providing instant feedback for filmmakers to design a desired rating.
A new study found that only a quarter of Medicare beneficiaries receive structured cognitive assessments during annual wellness visits. The researchers suggest that variations in wellness visits and cognitive assessments between Medicare coverage types are not well understood, and more research is needed to validate the differences.
USC researchers warn that COVID-19 could cause developmental difficulties and accelerated aging in the century ahead due to in-utero exposure. The study suggests that prenatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 may have long-term impacts on childhood development and adult health.
Cilia, tiny hairlike organelles, coordinate to push particles and fluid along, ensuring reproduction and defense against pathogens. Researchers identified mechanisms for effective cilia movement, which can inform diagnosis of diseases such as lung disease.
A new study from USC reveals that older people's behavior changed over time during the pandemic, with a notable increase in preventive behaviors by May. The researchers found that certain groups, including Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians, exhibited consistently higher preventive behavioral responses.
A new machine learning algorithm has been developed to isolate dynamic neural patterns in brain signals that relate to specific behaviors, such as finger movements. The algorithm resolves the challenge of isolating these patterns, which can be masked by other activities, and enhances the decoding of behaviors from brain signals.
A three-nation research project will examine the relationship between social factors and epigenetics, with a focus on how adversity and trauma affect gene expression and health. The study will use data from large longitudinal studies in the US, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland to investigate the impact of life circumstances on...
A recent USC study published in the Journal of Marketing found that people perceive pretty food as healthier and more natural, despite a lack of actual difference. The researchers suggested that advertisers' use of classical aesthetics in food presentation can skew perception and lead consumers to make unhealthy choices.
A USC study analyzed over 240 million election-related tweets, finding thousands of bots posting about President Trump and his opponent, spreading right-leaning conspiracies like QAnon. The researchers also identified significant partisan divides among humans, with users retweeting bots' messages aligned with their leanings.
A new study by a USC-led research team reveals that emissions from Chinese coal-fired power plants are fertilizing the North Pacific Ocean with iron and other metals, which could impact marine life. The researchers found peak iron concentrations in surface seawater corresponding to big wind events over east Asia.
The study reveals how information flows between neuronal network clusters and how these clusters self-optimize over time. The findings can open new research directions for biologically inspired artificial intelligence, detection of brain cancer and diagnosis.
A USC study found that the hunger hormone ghrelin affects animals' eating frequency and memory. Rats with disrupted ghrelin signaling to the vagus nerve ate more frequently and gained weight, indicating impaired episodic memory.
A new USC study found that individuals' behavior in response to the pandemic closely correlates with their trusted mass media outlets. Those who trusted left-leaning CNN reported more positive behaviors like wearing masks, while those who trusted right-leaning Fox News exhibited riskier behaviors.
A team of researchers from the University of Southern California discovered a highly fragmented network pattern within the Panama Papers, which makes it challenging to infiltrate or take down. The study revealed that this system is robust due to its disconnectedness, making it difficult for national or international bodies to intervene.
Researchers found that humans are more willing to employ deceptive negotiating techniques when using virtual agents, particularly those with prior experience or negative negotiation experiences. The study suggests that people may feel more comfortable relying on virtual agents to act deceptively, as they perceive it as less personal.
A new study found that middle-aged Americans without a college degree report higher levels of pain than older Americans. The research team analyzed data from over 2.5 million adults and found that each generation of less-educated Americans experiences more pain throughout their lives.
The USC-Buck Nathan Shock Center will explore the biology of aging and its impact on disease, with a focus on cellular senescence, genomic translation, and geroscience technology. The center aims to translate basic research into effective preventions and therapies to extend healthspan.
New USC research reveals that rock-melting forces deep within the Earth's crust are responsible for tremors along a notorious segment of California's San Andreas Fault. The study suggests that these underground excitations can lead to instability and ruptures in the fault, generating anomalous seismic waves.
Using tattoo ink and food dyes, researchers have developed new imaging contrast agents that can illuminate cancers, allowing for better differentiation between cancer cells and normal adjacent cells. This breakthrough aims to improve early cancer detection and localization.
Researchers at USC Viterbi develop a method to upcycle carbon dioxide emissions into polymers and other materials using sunlight, breaking the need for energy-intensive processes. High school student researcher Samantha J. Gomez contributes to the study, which aims to reduce environmental impacts.
A new tool, DeepTrust, generated automatic indicators of data and prediction trustworthiness in neural networks, addressing the need for trust in AI. The researchers used subjective logic to assess neural network architectures, providing insights into testing reliability and maximizing accuracy.
Researchers at USC Viterbi have discovered a new kind of dynamic light structure that can rotate around its center and revolve around another axis. This innovation has potential applications in sensing, imaging, manufacturing, and metrology, offering tailored light with novel dynamic motion.
Researchers found that COVID-19 symptoms progress from fever, cough, and muscle pain to nausea and vomiting before potentially leading to diarrhea. This knowledge can help doctors diagnose patients earlier and reduce hospitalization time.
Researchers studied Backpage.com accounts and discovered linked activities among them, which may help identify illegal trafficking activity. The study found common behaviors in ads placed by these accounts, including evasive tactics used by sex trafficking organizations.
A new study by USC researchers found that El Niño cycles are an unreliable predictor of droughts in the American West. Instead, Earth's dynamic atmosphere plays a significant role in wet and dry cycles, making drought forecasting challenging.
Countries in US, Europe struggle with funding, workforce shortages, and technology limitations to address growing demand for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Despite these challenges, initiatives like telehealth models and memory clinics are being implemented to improve access to care.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have created a novel memory device that exceeds previous performance while offering promising prospects for integration with silicon electronics. The device uses asymmetric metal and semi-metallic graphene materials to achieve record-breaking speed and efficiency.
A USC-led team found a fasting-mimicking diet combined with hormone therapy may increase the power of cancer hormone drugs and delay resistance in small clinical trials and mouse studies. Researchers observed reduced insulin, IGF1, and leptin levels, leading to potential anti-cancer activity.
USC researchers created SpolinBot, an improv agent programmed with yes-and research collection data to build a witty and engaging chatbot. The chatbot can refine its responses to take users on a safe or funny journey, generating multiple response options to continue the conversation.
A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found a strong association between natural gas flaring and an increased risk of preterm birth. Exposure to high levels of flaring was linked to a 50% higher odds of preterm birth compared to no exposure, with women living near flaring sites facing the greatest risks.
A new forensic approach aims to gauge the strength of witness memory and minimize unwitting bias in police lineup processes. The technique, which uses neuroscience and psychology, assigns a probability value to witness testimony and scores responses based on paired comparisons of photos.
A new analysis reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in nearly 1.22 million Americans losing a close relation, with young people and Black Americans disproportionately affected. The study found that each death corresponds to approximately 9 bereaved individuals, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the crisis on families.
Researchers found that the drug mifepristone blocks inflammation and reduces health decline in female fruit flies after mating, leading to longer lifespans. This effect is similar to what happens in women who take the drug, suggesting it may also extend human lifespan.
A new study by USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found that COVID-related discrimination increased from 4% to 10% among US residents in March to April 2020. Asian Americans were the first racial/ethnic group to experience substantial discrimination, followed by African Americans.
A new USC study has created a hate speech classifier that is more context-sensitive, reducing errors that amplify racial bias. The algorithm considers context and specific features of hate speech to improve accuracy.
A new study found higher metal concentrations in the Moon's craters, which could change our understanding of its formation. The researchers used radar to image and characterize fine dust at the bottom of craters, revealing a potentially richer subsurface.
Researchers found that a gene's checkpoint mechanism can sometimes allow cells to divide abnormally, leading to worse damage. This discovery has important implications for treating cancer and understanding the inner workings of cells.
A new USC-led study demonstrates that the peptide humanin, found in mitochondria, is closely correlated with longer lives and better health in both animals and humans. Higher levels of humanin have been observed in organisms with lower risk for age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Researchers have gained detailed insights into how a key protein receptor interacts with GABA, providing a clear target for new therapeutic drugs. The study's findings offer promise for improved treatments of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and muscle spasticity.
Researchers at USC Viterbi's Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science have discovered a fatal vulnerability in many cancer cells: their inability to adapt to alternative sugars like galactose. The discovery could lead to new metabolic treatments for cancer, targeting cells with specific genetic mutations.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have successfully created metallic ammonia, allowing for a clearer understanding of the behavior of delocalized electrons. The study's findings open up new possibilities for synthesizing important organic compounds using this unique solution.
Researchers discovered that an old antibiotic, rifabutin, is highly active in fighting multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The antibiotic uses a unique strategy to trick the bacteria into importing the drug inside itself.