Darrin S. Joy
Darrin S. Joy writes for the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Stories by Darrin S. Joy:
5 ways the ancient Olympics differ from the modern games
The games that begin July 23 in Tokyo will be quite different from their ancient counterparts.
USC Dornsife chemist named to prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Hanna Reisler joins luminaries including civil rights attorney Kimberlé Crenshaw, neurosurgeon and CNN correspondent Sanjay Gupta and Oprah Winfrey in being elected to the academy’s Class of 2021.
Microbiologist brings his photography skills to support a global research effort
Christopher Corzett of USC Dornsife’s Department of Biological Sciences documents efforts to study and preserve gut bacteria of people around the globe.
2 USC faculty members named Guggenheim Fellows
Art historian Lisa Pon is recognized for exploring Renaissance artist Raphael’s collaborations, while composer Nina C. Young is known for her genre-defying work.
Drinking sugary beverages early in life could mean memory trouble later
The study by a team of researchers at USC, UCLA and the University of Georgia, Athens, finds a direct connection between particular bacteria in the gut and impaired brain function.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a wave of anti-Asian violence has risen
USC experts discuss the recent murders in Atlanta, a surge in violence against people of Asian descent throughout America and what can be done about it.
Mars rover Perseverance will look for signs of life backed by USC research
USC Dornsife’s Ken Nealson and a team of researchers helped develop SHERLOC, the ultraviolet laser technology that will probe the red planet for chemicals produced by living organisms.
2 Trojans receive prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship to study in Beijing
The accomplished USC duo will learn about Chinese culture and study with top professors as part of a one-year master’s program in global affairs.
USC biological imaging innovator Scott Fraser elected to National Academy of Medicine
Provost Professor Fraser is recognized for developing technology that provides “unprecedented views of … live organisms, from embryonic development to old age.”
Natalia Molina named 2020 MacArthur Fellow
The professor of American studies and ethnicity at USC Dornsife receives the prestigious fellowship in recognition of her work on race and citizenship in the U.S.
Researchers may have found a path to longer life
USC Dornsife scientists are investigating if a drug that extends the lives of female flies who’ve mated could also have an effect on humans.
‘Rock-breathing’ bacteria are electron spin doctors, study shows
Scientists at USC Dornsife determine that electrons traveling through proteins between bacteria and solid surfaces outside the cell tend to adopt a particular quantum spin. The finding that could impact future electronic technologies, including “spintronics.”
Scientists discover how a protein that calms brain activity works
The findings from USC researchers provide a clear path to uncovering new drugs to control addiction, pain and neurological disorders such as epilepsy and muscle spasticity.
A system for reusing recyclable plastic trash takes home 2020 sustainability prize
Three teams of entrepreneurial USC students competed for $15,000 in awards during the fourth annual Wrigley Sustainability Prize contest.
Four USC undergraduates named 2020 Goldwater Scholars
The USC Dornsife students — with majors that range from chemistry to linguistics and cognitive science — were chosen from more than 1,300 undergraduates nationwide.
Pioneering USC chemist named to prestigious engineering academy
USC Dornsife’s Mark Thompson, a leader in organic LED displays and photovoltaic technologies, has been elected by his peers to the National Academy of Engineering.
Discovery of ancient trees buried underwater adds new twist to the carbon cycle
Geology researchers at USC Dornsife have found evidence that rivers can carry fresh wood from far inland to deep in the ocean.
Can tinkering with gut microbes really improve our health?
The human microbiome is a complex system; a probiotic that works for one person might not work for another. USC Dornsife scientists are looking to better understand our microbes and help people harness their health.
In memoriam: Nobel Prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, 89
The pioneering scientist who won the Nobel Prize in 1969 is known for his creative insights into the particles that comprise the universe.
USC junior earns prestigious Truman Scholarship
Environmental studies and international relations double major Kayla Soren is recognized for founding a nonprofit that aims to raise awareness about global climate issues.
Viet Thanh Nguyen elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and USC professor joins Barack Obama, Sonia Sotomayor and Tom Hanks in being elected to the academy’s 238th class.
How the brain maintains moderation could offer answers to schizophrenia, other diseases
USC Dornsife neuroscientist studies the way nerve cells maintain normal levels of communication, giving insight into how some diseases arise — and might be treated.
High schoolers get early glimpse of a career in science
USC grad students give juniors and seniors hands-on research experience and a taste of what a career in STEM fields could bring.
USC research could lead to new ways of treating stroke and spinal cord injuries
Neurobiologist Samuel Andrew Hires wants to know how the brain learns to understand what we touch.