This month, we shine a spotlight on Earth sciences and the wide range of topics the field encompasses, including climate change and the understanding of celestial bodies beyond Earth.
In this issue, learn how an ancient mass extinction event connects to current climate change, discover what microbes can tell us about how oil spills affect an ecosystem and find out how important it is for Earth scientists to study more than just the Earth.
NEWS
1 Big Thing: Study of the Earth and Beyond
Earth scientists sometimes use their knowledge to study other planetary bodies in the solar system.
Why it matters: The expertise of Earth scientists is crucial in space exploration, offering insights into extraterrestrial conditions and aiding in the quest to answer one of humanity’s most profound questions: “Are we alone in the universe?”
W. Bruce Banerdt ’83, who dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, studied the Earth as a geological sciences PhD student at USC Dornsife. A fateful summer internship studying the moon kicked off a remarkable career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
“To use the skills and knowledge I had acquired in physics and geology but in connection to space, well, it seemed too good to be true,” says Banerdt.
During his 45-year career at JPL, he worked on projects investigating Mars, Venus and Jupiter’s satellites.
Banerdt directed the Mars InSight Mission, which designed, built and landed a seismometer on Mars.
In his words: “The same tools we use to study Earth can be used to study other planets and, similarly, we can use the study of other planets to inform our understanding of Earth,” explains Banerdt.
Maya Yanez, a PhD candidate in Earth sciences, studies Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, one of our solar system’s most Earth-like bodies.
Studying Titan as it is now provides insights into what Earth might have been like eons ago.
Two USC Dornsife Earth sciences alumni, Laurie Barge ’09 and Scott Perl ’19, lead JPL’s Origins and Habitability Lab, which explores the origin of life on Earth as well as if — and how — life could have started on other worlds.
Professor of Earth sciences Frank Corsetti receives funding from NASA for his research into the evolution of life on Earth and the necessary parameters to create and sustain life.
His work supports the search for signs of life on Mars.
The bottom line: Earth scientists bridge the gap between our planet and the cosmos. Their work, rooted in geological expertise, is crucial in deciphering the mysteries of the solar system and seeking answers to the enduring question of life beyond Earth.
A study about Earth’s fourth mass extinction event by USC Dornsife Earth sciences researchers sheds new light on how to survive a major extinction event fueled by climate change.
What’s new: Their unique “ecospace framework” categorizes animals by their ecological roles and behaviors, such as flying predators or soil-dwelling herbivores.
This framework, unlike traditional analysis of different species, offersa more comprehensive view of the end-Triassic mass extinction’s impact on ecosystems.
In his words: “We wanted to understand not just who survived and who didn’t, but how the roles that different species played in the ecosystem changed,” said David Bottjer, professor of Earth sciences, biological sciences and environmental studies at USC Dornsife and a study senior author.
Why it matters: Analyzing how ancient ecosystems recovered from significant loss of biodiversity provides vital information to better address modern climate change challenges.
“Understanding past mass extinctions helps us to predict and possibly soften the impacts of current and future environmental crises,” says Kiersten Formoso, co-lead author and vertebrate paleobiologist.
The mass extinction event that occurred 200 million years ago has been attributed to rapid global warming caused by a significant increase in greenhouse gasses resulting from volcanic activity.
Land animals faced severe devastation — 96% of species groups went extinct.
Sea life was slightly more resilient — about 71% of species groups went extinct.
What’s next: Future research will explore how species and ecosystems recovered post-extinction and identify the parallels to current biodiversity loss.
USC Dornsife Earth scientist Roman Barco had a unique opportunity to analyze microbial populations in an area before and after an oil spill, shedding light on how microbes can be used as indicators of the health of an ecosystem.
Why it matters: His research findings provide valuable information for decision-makers working to mitigate the destructive consequences of oil spills.
“This information can help gauge the extent to which a spill has impacted the environment, serving as an additional metric to assess the habitat,” says Barco
An oil spill near the wetlands of Huntington Beach in 2021 gave Barco the opportunity to compare environmental conditions with samples he had gathered a year before the spill for earlier research.
Havingsamples of the area before an oil spill is a rare opportunity due to the unpredictable nature of spills.
Barco and his team collected more than 100 samples during the two years after the spill.
The research will analyze the DNA, RNA and protein of the microbes in the sediment and water samples from the area.
A grant provided by USC Sea Grant based at USC Dornsife will allow researchers to continue monitoring the area until 2026.
Bonus: Studying the microbes that survive an oil spill can also help identify those capable of breaking down oil, potentially reducing environmental damage from future spills.
The bottom line: Barco’s research could help experts get a better idea of when an ecosystem has fully recovered from an oil spill and find ways to minimize the damage from future spills.
What Caused the Last Major Extinction Event
Findings from the La Brea Tar Pits suggest human-caused wildfires and climate changes led to the loss of the area’s large mammals.
Open to all USC Dornsife undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni, the
USC Dornsife Magazine Creative Writing Contest is looking for original fiction, poetry, memoirs or essays on the theme of health and well-being.
The winning entry will be published in USC Dornsife’s award-winning alumni magazine this spring. Entry deadline is March 15.
What can you do with a degree in Earth sciences? Your options run the gamut!
A curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and professor of Earth sciences, walks us through fascinating career options related to pharmaceuticals, art, earthquakes and beyond.
USC students can get free admission to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, located across the street from the University Park Campus. Experience fascinating exhibitions about animals, dinosaurs, gems and more.
