USC Dornsife News

That the son of a brutal dictator has won shows how wedded the country is to dynastic politics — and image manipulation.

The Easter Bunny typically evokes memories of fun and colorfully painted eggs, but this mythical rabbit has prehistoric origins and is a longstanding cultural symbol that keeps returning each spring.

After decades of progress on nonproliferation, Russia’s new threats of nuclear strikes reminds us that convincing countries to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons has been a difficult road.

The US frequently chooses to put its own interest ahead of its professed values. That approach to foreign policy is called ‘realpolitik’ and it may lead to an unsatisfying peace deal in Ukraine.

A USC Dornsife scholar of physics and astronomy answers questions about Pluto and other dwarf planets. These celestial bodies in our Solar System are cold, dark, far away and full of surprises.

The Jesuits are among the Catholic Church’s most influential religious orders but no strangers to controversy. So who are the Jesuits? And what makes them distinctive? [5¼ min read]

The Irish government recently declared a national holiday for another patron saint of Ireland, St. Brigid. A USC Dornsife scholar and medieval historian explains her fascinating life and history. [6 min read]

Human behaviors often shift in response to factors such as changes in public policy and the arrival of new technologies. These changes are hard to predict, and they affect tomorrow’s costs. [5½ min read]

The hunger strike is a simple yet potent form of protest, and even those living under extremely restricted conditions can choose to forego eating. [6 min read]