In this issue, we welcome USC Dornsife’s interim dean, learn that “mixed emotions” are a real thing and discuss the promise and challenges of carbon capture technology.

Moh El-Naggar, formerly divisional dean for physical sciences and mathematics, has been appointed interim dean. His appointment, announced by USC Provost Andrew T. Guzman, follows the departure of Dean Amber D. Miller, who led the College for eight years and will become president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

In his announcement, Guzman noted that El-Naggar is a “highly respected academic leader who was instrumental in the development and implementation of USC’s Quantum Information Science Strategy that has been transformative to the university’s Frontiers of Computing Initiative.”

“I am more than confident that his strong dedication to Dornsife will make him an excellent leader during this transitional period,” said Guzman, “and look forward to working with him until a new permanent dean is named.”

In Pixar’s latest film, Inside Out 2, complex feelings like nostalgia make an appearance, but USC Dornsife research on “mixed emotions” could help give them a bigger role.

What’s new: USC Dornsife neuroscientists recently found that brains display distinct neural activity when experiencing mixed emotions like bittersweetness.

Why it matters: Experiencing mixed emotions is common, yet the phenomenon has not been studied much.

Key findings:

In his words: “You’re not ping-ponging between negative and positive. It’s a very unique, mixed emotion over a long period,” says Anthony Vaccaro, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at USC Dornsife’s Neuroendocrinology of Social Ties Lab.

How they did it: Study participants viewed an animated short film that simultaneously evoked feelings of happiness and sadness while researchers monitored their brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Opportunity: The study lays out groundwork for scientific research into this understudied area, research that study co-author Jonas Kaplan of psychology says would also be beneficial for understanding human psychology.

Capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere is a challenging but potentially powerful way to counter climate change, and USC Dornsife scholars have developed an innovative way to do it.

Why it matters: Carbon capture can help some industries, such as agriculture, that can’t quickly lower their carbon output. Also, existing emissions continue to impact the climate even as new emissions are curbed.

Nature performs carbon removal through trees and oceans, but these processes can’t keep pace with climate change.

What’s new: Berelson is developing a carbon removal system that captures CO₂ produced by the shipping industry.

Yes, but: Some critics, like Joe Árvai, director of USC Dornsife’s Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability, say carbon removal technologies could disincentivize efforts to end reliance on fossil fuels by offering a perceived quick fix.

Go deeper: Experts gathered during a Dornsife Dialogues event to explore these issues in depth.

Forbes is seeking nominations for outstanding students, recent alumni, postdoctoral scholars and other members of the USC Dornsife community under the age of 30 to be considered for its prestigious 30 Under 30 list.

To nominate someone, visit Forbes’ nomination webpage >>

Travel with tortoise researcher Charles Lehnen, a PhD candidate in integrative and evolutionary biology, to the Galapagos Islands. Learn about tortoises, their surrounding ecosystem and how Lehnen’s research could inform the study of other endangered species.

Sign-up to receive NewsRound, a weekly listing of news stories featuring USC Dornsife scholars.

“We know these big faults have generated very large earthquakes in the past, and will do so again in the future.’”

The Los Angeles Times interviewed James Dolan of Earth sciences for the article “String of earthquakes rattles L.A.: Are they telling us something bigger?”

“The degree to which President Sheinbaum’s policies differ from Andrés Manuel López Obradors’ will depend on the amount of autonomy she enjoys as Mexico’s president.”

Latinvex interviewed Pamela Starr of political science and international relations for the article “Mexico: What to Expect From Sheinbaum.”

“Listening to nostalgic music not only elicits the traditional memory networks of the brain, but it also involves the reward, narrative and self-processing systems of the brain.”

Neuroscience News quoted Assal Habibi of psychology for the article “Nostalgic Music Affects the Brain and Memory.”

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