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Decoding Deafness: USC Scientists Tune Into Hearing Regeneration

Lead Image: Rows of sensory hearing cells (green) next to supporting cells (red) in the inner ear of a mouse. Credit: John Duc Nguyen and Juan Llamas/Segil Lab An adult who becomes deaf cannot regain their hearing since the inner ear’s sensory cells, once damaged, don’t regenerate. In recent research, with partial funding from the National Institutes of Health and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences (PNAS), USC Stem Cell researchers delve into the reasons behind this and explore potential solutions. “In the non-sensory supporting cells of the inner ear, key genes required for conversion…

Tectonic Trouble: NASA Measures Sinking Land in American Samoa

Lead Image: Landsat image of American Samoa’s Tutuila Island, acquired on July 22, 2022, with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin An 8.1-magnitude earthquake in 2009 worsened land subsidence in American Samoa. NASA scientists introduced InSAR technology, revealing increased subsidence rates post-earthquake. This research underscores the need for accurate data in global coastal resilience planning. On September 29, 2009, an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck near American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga, triggering a tsunami that caused human casualties and $200 million in property damage on the islands. The earthquake also exacerbated another problem in American…

NASA Surprised by Cracks in Ancient Martian Mud Discovered by Mars Curiosity Rover

Lead Image: This panorama captured by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover shows a location nicknamed “Pontours” where scientists spotted preserved, ancient mud cracks believed to have formed during long cycles of wet and dry conditions over many years. Such cycles are thought to support conditions in which life could form. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/IRAP New research suggests the same conditions that created the cracks could have been favorable to the emergence of microscopic life. Scientists aren’t entirely sure how life began on Earth, but one prevailing theory posits that persistent cycles of wet and dry conditions on land helped assemble the complex chemical…

Brighter and More Efficient Next-Gen LEDs: Stanford Breakthrough Comes at a Cost

Lead Image: Eight green perovskite LED substrates in Congreve’s lab glow as researchers shine ultraviolet light on them. Credit: Sebastian Fernández / Stanford University A Molecular Additive Enhances Next-Gen LEDs – But Shortens Their Lifespans By tinkering with the material makeup of perovskite LEDs, a cheaper and more easily made type of LED, Stanford researchers achieved leaps in brightness and efficiency – but saw their lights give out after a few minutes of use. Chances are, the screen you’re reading from glows thanks to light-emitting diodes – commonly known as LEDs. This widespread technology provides energy-efficient indoor lighting and increasingly…

Science Reveals Sourdough Secrets: Unraveling the Tangy Mystery of Pandemic-Era’s Favorite Bread

Scientists have identified 21 pivotal chemical compounds that contribute to the unique taste and aroma of sourdough bread, a culinary favorite synonymous with San Francisco. Presented at the American Chemical Society’s fall meeting, this research sheds light on the distinct flavors derived from fermentation. Researchers have decoded 21 chemical compounds behind sourdough bread’s distinct taste and aroma. Using a “sensomics” approach, the team highlighted the importance of fermentation and proposed methods to reduce salt while preserving flavor. A few years ago, amid lockdown boredom, it seemed like everyone was perfecting their sourdoughs. A simple, fermented mixture of flour and water,…