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.
What geology reveals, and obscures, about North Korea’s nuclear weapons
A USC PhD candidate explains how geological knowledge of North Korea’s nuclear test site could provide deeper insights into the nation’s weapons capability.
A Trojan Takes the Helm of the Mars InSight Lander Mission
Geophysicist W. Bruce Banerdt of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab embarks on a 300-million mile journey to uncover the secrets of Mars.
Tiny sponge fossil predates the Cambrian explosion
The finding questions accuracy of long-standing evolutionary theory, paleontologists say.
USC geologist looks below solid ground to study little-known faults
San Andreas gets all the attention, but James Dolan studies the faults directly beneath us — and the dangers they pose.
The winner in climate change? It might be way down the food chain
Frank Corsetti’s research into rocks is a time machine back to the primeval world and, possibly, our future.
Investigations into life’s footprint on the planet spurs future reseachers
Camaraderie, calcium carbonate and classwork combine in summer field program that satisfies the scientifically curious.
Computer models solve age-old mountain mystery
The team’s 3-D models suggested a likely answer to a question that has long plagued geologists.
Computer models solve age-old geologic riddle
The team’s 3-D models suggested a likely answer to a question that has long plagued geologists.
Moroccan mountains float on superhot rock, study finds
A well-established model for the Earth’s lithosphere suggests that the height of the Earth’s crust must be supported by a commensurate depth.
Shaking it up in Morocco
The dusty Land Cruiser bumped and rumbled along the Moroccan desert floor as our caravan approached the village of Merzouga under the light of a waxing moon.
An inspirational look at poetry
Like it or not, most people take work home with them. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a neuroscientist and educational psychologist at USC, takes inspiration from home to work.