It’s official: The pumpkin spice latte is flowing. We hope you had a great Halloween, have fully adjusted to the move back to standard time, and are looking forward to the winter holiday break.

In this issue: 

Researchers led by Emilio Valadez of psychology found that using two types of brain imaging can better predict which teens may develop significant anxiety years down the line.

Why it matters: Finding risk earlier allows for timely, tailored support before anxiety takes hold.

How they did it: Brain scans from teens in a study that began in infancy were examined.

The big picture: Each scan type captures a different slice of brain function, and together they give a fuller read.

By the numbers: The combined brain signals offered real predictive power, not just statistical noise.

The goal: Determine which kids might benefit from support, before anxiety becomes a lifelong issue, by reading the brain’s early signals.

What’s next: The team plans to test if similar prediction models work even earlier — in children aged 8 to 9 — and to explore other brain functions (memory, attention, etc.) to sharpen forecasts.

Public Exchange (PX), USC Dornsife’s initiative connecting academic expertise with cities, nonprofits, private companies and others, is expanding to Washington University in St. Louis — its first university partner outside USC.

Why it matters: The expansion shows how the PX model can scale nationally to help governments and communities act on research more quickly.

The big picture: PX launched at USC Dornsife in 2020 to connect decision-makers with scholars capable of rapid, applied research.

What they’re saying: “Public Exchange provides a framework that allows faculty and researchers in the liberal arts and other fields to bring value to their communities and lean into one of the core purposes of institutions like ours: to improve lives and livelihoods through education, research and service,” said Dean James Bullock.

USC Dornsife plans to continue expanding Public Exchange to more universities and government partners, building a national network that puts research to work quickly for communities.

What happens when scientists, CEOs and lawmakers all agree on something? At USC’s Quantum Technologies Forum, they found common cause in a field that could reshape medicine, security and the economy — and it’s all happening right here in Los Angeles.

Jazlyn Mooney of quantitative and computational biology has found that referencing a closely related species’ genome rather than one from the same species can distort genetic research results — sometimes by as much as 60%.

The big picture: Many species lack their own reference genome, so scientists use the next best available, which can seriously skew findings.

Why it matters: Wrong genetic maps may lead conservationists to protect the wrong populations or miss real threats altogether.

By the numbers: Using the actual gray fox genome for research, instead of one from a dog or Arctic-fox, revealed up to 32% more genetic differences and about one-third more rare variants.

In her words: “It turns out the reference you use really changes the story you tell about a species,” Mooney said. “If you use the wrong reference, you can end up with misleading answers about a species’ history or health, and even its chances of long-term survival.”

What’s next: The researchers call for greater investment in high-quality, species-specific genomes and new computational methods.

Trojans have made their mark in the arena for more than a century. We’ve also been driving research that changes the worlds.

James Bullock shares his vision for the College and how a liberal arts education will prepare students for an unpredictable world.

The Pilgrims’ survival hinged on unexpected events and overlooked alliances — including a little-known chapter of Indigenous history that shaped their first winter in the “new world.”

The surprising truth is revealed in this fascinating story by historian and Distinguished Professor Peter Mancall.

The awards honor scholars from USC Dornsife who engage with the public to improve its understanding of issues, influence policy and/or raise the level of public discourse!

Attend a performance and guest lecture by Fang Wei and her team from the Kunqu Opera Society USA, including a live performance from two classic Kunqu pieces and an introduction to the tradition. 

The USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute Music Series invites you to join them for a free concert, “Renaissance Music from Saint Nicholas to Christmas.”

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

“Saturn’s rings are extremely bright and dust-free, seeming to indicate that they formed anywhere from 10 to 100 million years ago.”

Vahe Peroomian of physics and astronomy in EarthSky speaking on the age of Saturn’s rings.

“The writing of grief is unwritten; it bursts forth in spurts of silence, riddled with absence and ash.”

Vanessa Holyoak of comparative literature in an essay for the Los Angeles Review of Books about memory and loss after the L.A. fires.

“If we can design drugs that activate only part of this molecular machinery, we might be able to keep the good — pain relief — and lose the bad, like addiction.”

Cornelius Gati of biological sciences, chemistry and quantitative and computational biology in Scienmag on advancing toward safer opioids.

Cosmic Conversation. Students in freshman “Physics Discovery Series” (PHYS 190) enjoyed a visit from Dean James Bullock, a leading cosmologist, who spoke with instructor Kris Pardo, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and the class in a podcast-style format. Bullock stayed after the bell to chat with the first-year physics majors. (Photo: Vaidik Vadhavana/El Rodeo.)