Could alien worlds hold life? This USC alum aims to find out
Laurie Barge, an astrobiologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, investigates the origins of life on Earth to make sense of how life could form on other planets.
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.
Earthquake prediction becomes a top priority for USC-based research center
As the new director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, Yehuda Ben-Zion wants to advance quake forecasting to a place where we can see the “big one” coming.
California appears to be in for a dry, warm winter
La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean may lead to sandals and sunglasses at Christmastime. USC experts explain what such warm weather means for the state’s water supply and wildlife.
Metals from Chinese coal plants are ending up in the Pacific Ocean, with uncertain consequences
Though marine life may benefit from the influx of iron, USC scientists reinforce that the pollution from burning coal will have an adverse effect on human health.
Behind the scenes with an earthquake scientist
Sylvain Barbot shares why he studies temblors and what needs to happen before we can forecast quakes.
Superheated rocks deep underground help explain earthquake patterns
By researching tremors under the infamous San Andreas Fault, USC scientists are seeking out what’s brewing beneath a quake’s surface.
Predicting drought in the American West just got much more difficult
A new, USC-led study of more than 1,000 years of North American droughts and global conditions found that forecasting a lack of precipitation is rarely straightforward.
Was there life on Mars? USC experts explore the upcoming NASA mission
With the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover about to launch, USC professors explain what we know about the planet already and what this latest mission can teach us.
Earth scientist uncovers mineral mysteries while promoting academic equity
Emily Cooperdock, professor of Earth sciences at USC Dornsife, is building a lab aimed at revealing new information about the planet’s history.
Happy Leap Day: The fun and folly of having a birthday every four years
USC Dornsife faculty and alumni born on Feb. 29 share stories about this rarest of birthdays.
Earth scientists and AI researchers join forces to better predict our climate future
Paleoclimatology data — which contains the details of our climate history — can be messy. That’s why USC’s scientists and AI experts have teamed up on a new platform to standardize it for research, analysis and prognostication.
Why Are USC Students Going to the Bottom of the Sea?
A USC Earth science doctoral candidate goes deep to see how oceans are reacting to climate change.
What Will Our World Look Like in 2050?
USC researchers say confronting reality and taking local action may help humanity cope — and even spur economies and innovation.
Renowned seismologist joins USC to lead Southern California Earthquake Center
With three decades of experience studying Earth science, John Vidale’s research focuses on anything related to seismic waves and earthquakes.
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.
L.A. will see a partial solar eclipse Monday, but experts see a total opportunity for rare research
Scientists eagerly await “The Great American Eclipse” — and remind us to be sure to view it safely.
Wax on: How wheat plants shield themselves during drought
As water supplies decline in major agricultural states, scientists explore how to generate plants that are more drought-resistant.
Rusting pyrite — ‘fool’s gold’ — in glaciers a sign of increased carbon
Widely varying CO2 levels are nature’s way of self-regulating against future runaway glaciation, USC researchers say.
In memoriam: Alfred Fischer, 96, prominent geologist
Professor emeritus became a world leader in sedimentary geology and a devoted teacher whose 1952 book on paleontology endured for more than six decades.
‘Geologic Detective’ Unearths L.A.’s Seismic Secrets
The Southland is being torn apart in ways we are only beginning to understand. Just ask James Dolan.
The Secret Life of Bacteria
In memoriam: Robert Douglas, 78
Professor emeritus of Earth sciences was instrumental in building the department and its scholarship as a revered educator and administrator.
Current climate models misrepresent El Niño
Clues to the fundamental physics of the irregular climate pattern come from millennia-old corals and clams.