Home for the Holidays

Despite our understanding of the powerful homing instincts that guide thousands of species on remarkable journeys home, much remains a mystery. From Earth’s magnetism and ocean currents to visual landmarks and even scents, a range of cues help them navigate. Fully unraveling the secrets of animal navigation will require the combined insights of computational biologists, Earth scientists, archaeologists and environmental scientists — a challenge uniquely suited to USC Dornsife’s multidisciplinary approach.

Central to theories about human attachment and the development of secure relationships, home is more than just a physical space; it’s a feeling of belonging. “Children’s attachment relationships depend on a stable base, a safe space from which to roam and explore,” says Darby Saxbe, director of USC Dornsife’s Center for the Changing Family. “At its best, home provides this base of connection, belonging and support.”

This year, California met all its electricity needs through renewable resources for unprecedented daily periods — thanks in part to advanced sustainable energy technologies in homes. USC Dornsife chemists are driving this progress through research on nanocrystals and advanced organic materials to improve solar cell efficiency and stability. Their innovations help lower energy consumption, boost solar energy usage and reduce carbon footprints in households nationwide.

Many animals display remarkable architectural skills in the creation of their homes — think of elaborate silken spider webs, honey- combed beehives and intricately woven bird nests. Biological science students at USC Dornsife learn that these animal “homes” are not only mini-masterpieces of sophisticated design and construction but also critical for maintaining biodiversity and reducing habitat loss.

Home kitchens are often where family traditions are passed down. Abuelita’s Kitchen, a recent documentary series by Sarah Portnoy, professor (teaching) of Spanish, showcases grandmothers in their kitchens, cooking traditional recipes and discussing the importance of food in maintaining family bonds.

In ancient Rome, “home” included public spaces like baths and forums where citizens of all classes shared in the daily rituals of Roman life. At USC Dornsife, students studying classics explore how these communal spaces fostered a sense of belonging and unity, shaping our understanding of home as a place of connection and shared experience.

The notion of “home” as a fixed place is a relatively modern idea. “Many early human groups moved seasonally, so ‘home’ might be extended over a landscape or embodied in familiar, portable objects,” says Peter Redfield, professor of anthropology. Nomadic peoples in some parts of the world still practice this lifestyle, with intimate knowledge of the animals and plants around them.

Home in nature often takes remarkable forms, as mathematics students at USC Dornsife discover. The spirals of nautilus and snail shells, which provide protective homes to vulnerable creatures, are close approximations of the Fibonacci sequence — a series in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. Named after a medieval mathematician, this pattern appears in many natural structures, showcasing the intricate connection between math and the natural world.

Art has long been a window into the concept of home. French artist Jean-Edouard Vuillard is renowned for paintings that turn everyday domestic scenes into profound explorations of the psychological interior. “Vuillard’s use of vibrant colors in his depictions of women breakfasting or arranging flowers conveys feelings of tranquility and warmth — emotions deeply tied to the privacy of home,” says Hector Reyes, associate professor of art history.