Cover Story
Sparking Creative Solutions
Energy. It’s the fork of silver lightning slicing through a stormy sky. It’s a thundering waterfall, the warming rays of the sun, a crackling log fire. It’s a tiny seedling pushing through damp earth toward the sunlight. It’s the rippling muscles of a tiger chasing its prey, a dolphin arching out of the waves, an eagle wheeling high in the sky.
It’s what we humans expend, mentally and physically, as we learn, work, exercise and play — juggling life’s myriad demands. We are made of energy; it flows through us and around us. We need it to stay alive and to fuel the demands of our complex world — to keep us warm, to keep us cool, to transport us, to power our lives.
As we face the challenges of climate change, the energy choices we make now have never been more crucial. In this issue ofUSC Dornsife Magazine, we look at energy through the diverse lenses of our scholars’ research — from finding nature-inspired solutions to meet our future energy needs to weighing the pros and cons of nuclear power. We report how ancient technology is shaping advances in cooling technology, we explore natural and esoteric energy, and we delve into the unique demands of our own “body electric.”
In this issue, we aim to help you discover how USC Dornsife sparks the intellectual and creative energy to forge new connections and find innovative solutions to create a brighter future. As Aristotle astutely observed more than 2,300 years ago, “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” We hope that reading this issue leaves you feeling energized to make truly thoughtful choices when it comes to powering your own life. — S.B.
