In this issue, learn about the tremendous expansion of a research tool being used to measure the pulse of America, discover the science behind Doctor Who’s alien anatomy and find out the truth regarding mixed emotions.

The Understanding America Study (UAS) administered by USC Dornsife’s Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) will expand significantly and support new studies regarding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, thanks to $59 million in grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

In brief: The UAS provides researchers with data on American attitudes toward various topics such as health, work, politics and religion.

Why it matters: A $42 million grant will increase the number of study participants by over 40% and integrate new data sources like wearable technologies, including smart watches.

Two grants totaling $17 million will fund two novel research projects using UAS data.

In his words: “The UAS is already an unparalleled tool for giving researchers a broad, long-term view of what influences the daily lives of Americans. These grants will help us create a much more detailed picture for the research community, with important and unprecedented insight into Alzheimer’s disease and dementia that should help improve life for those needing care and their caregivers.” says Arie Kapteyn, CESR’s founder and director.

Doctor Who fan and USC Dornsife alumna Amelia Marvit wrote an article for Scientific American exploring the science behind the main character’s dual-heart physiology.

Why it matters: By combining her interests in hard science and science fiction, Marvit epitomizes the cross-disciplinary thinking that’s encouraged at USC Dornsife.

In brief: The protagonist of the long-running, popular television show Doctor Who comes from an alien species called the Time Lords, who travel through space and time and live for centuries.

Marvit analyzed data on cardiac incidents from 13 seasons of Doctor Who, looked over the cardiovascular literature on humans and other species and consulted experts.

A cardiovascular system with two hearts could be configured in two ways, she writes.

Earth creatures like cephalopods evolved multiple hearts to catch prey more effectively. Time Lords might have evolved two hearts for enhanced endurance and redundancy against cardiac injuries.

Did you know? Some humans have two hearts.

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 postdoc 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 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 help in understanding human psychology.

Multiple investors on “Shark Tank” offered deals to Samantha Coxe, a USC Dornsife psychology alumna, for her company Flaus, the “world’s first electric flosser.”

Open to all USC Dornsife alumni, the USC Dornsife Magazine Creative Writing Contest is looking for original fiction, poetry, memoir or essays on the theme of “California.” Enter by Sept. 15 and win a chance to be published in the magazine!

Calling Alumni — USC Dornsife Magazine wants to hear about your latest professional achievements. Just fill out this short form to share your news with us.

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“Perhaps we don’t need to feel emotions involved in a good joke to tell a good one.”

Drew Gorenz of psychology was quoted by CBS News about his research showing that AI-generated jokes are funnier than those created by humans.

“Inexpensive solutions grounded in evidence on human behavior can be powerful tools in our campaign against opioid addiction.”

Zachary Wagner of the Center for Economic and Social Research wrote an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times covering ways to reduce opioid overprescription by surgeons.

“This is saying to the people that hold the money, make the decisions and control the fossil fuels: ‘This is affecting you, too.’”

Shannon Gibson of environmental studies and political science and international relations was quoted in The Washington Post about climate activists who defaced Stonehenge.

Planning for your summer vacation? Be sure to check for special discounts available to USC alumni on entertainment tickets, hotels and car rentals. As a bonus, a portion of every booking made through USC directly supports the USC Alumni Association’s programs and services.