Abstract Coral reef ecosystems have been suffering from the consequences of climate change. Coral bleaching, a result of warming ocean temperatures, has caused a mass die-off of coral reefs around the world, emphasizing the importance of protecting coral reefs to save marine ecosystems and coastal societies. Engineers have been experimenting
How You Can Vacation on Mars Without Rockets
Category: Aerospace Engineering, Issue I, Material Science, Space, Volume XX
Abstract A concept called the skyhook might revolutionize the way humans travel in space very soon. Functioning as cables thousands of kilometers (km) long that orbit the Earth, the skyhook can latch onto outbound spacecrafts at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere and move them away along the cable, bypassing the
The Websites Have Ears: Tracking and Privacy on the Internet
Category: Computer Science, Issue I, Volume XX
Abstract Much of what we do online is tracked. But how? There are two major web tracking techniques: cookies and browser fingerprinting. Cookies, which are data stored in a user’s browser by a website, come in the form of first-party and third-party cookies.First-party cookies, which compensate for weaknesses in how
How the Presidential Election Gave us the Technology to Plot the First Down Line in Football
Category: Computer Science, Issue I, Sports & Recreation, Volume XX
Abstract Football games and other sports broadcasts require a lot of information to help viewers understand what is happening as well as enhance their enjoyment of the game. A key portion of displaying this information comes from character generation (CG) graphics that are created during the live broadcast to display
Abstract The introduction and mainstream development of infant incubators has significantly impacted the life expectancy of babies that are born as early as 24 weeks into a pregnancy [1]. Despite the high infant mortality rate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many medical professionals were hesitant to adopt
Abstract Algorithmic art is on the rise, and it’s expanding our conception of technology and art. Programmers are creating new programs to generate unique visual masterpieces that are beyond their own imaginations. With the use of evolutionary, mathematical, and artificial intelligence algorithms, programmers are bringing computers into the forefront of
To Hear or Not to Hear
Category: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Issue I, Lifestyle, Physics, Volume XX
Abstract As the world seems to be getting louder and louder, noise-canceling headphones could be the potential answer to tuning noise out in many different situations. Born from the dissatisfaction of regular passive noise-reduction headphones, noise-canceling headphones utilize an internal speaker that actively produces a sound wave equal and opposite
Abstract Smart contacts are one of the newest platforms for smart technology. They couple a compact wearable device with equipment for health diagnostics and drug delivery, optimizing both the existing infrastructures of ophthalmology and general medicine. Smart contacts already have a wide potential customer base in patients who want improved
Holograms: Blurring the Lines of Reality
Category: Electrical Engineering, Entertainment, Issue I, Lifestyle, Physics, Volume XX
Abstract First appearing in popular movies like Star Wars, the idea of 3D holograms captured and confused the world. While the idea was born over seventy years ago, it wasn’t until recent advances in technology that holograms transitioned from the fantasy world of the movies to real life. In fact,
Fireworks Forever: The Story and Engineering of Fireworks
Category: Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Entertainment, Issue I, Volume XX
Abstract When you look at a firework sparkling in the night sky, you may wonder how this phenomenon occurs or how fireworks became a staple for special occasions. The creation of the modern firework underwent much experimentation to become the spectacle it is today. With gunpowder, fire, and “stars,” fireworks
(Traumerei – Schumann playing in the background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHlfNYY1YIY) Sixty thousand pounds is the weight of five fully-grown elephants and the amount of force contained within a concert grand piano. [1] Although it’s been around for over three centuries, the piano has evolved into one of the most versatile and complex
Setting the Curve: The Magnus Effect and its Applications
Category: Issue V, Sports & Recreation, Volume XIX
Introduction Throughout our daily lives, there are elements of design and engineering all around us, most of which go completely unnoticed. Whether it’s the chair you’re sitting on, your favorite pen, or the individual bricks in a building, they all needed to be engineered and designed to function. However, just
Introduction: In the 2005 movie rendition of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” five golden ticket guests were given a special tour of the factory. During the second half of the tour, they enter an elevator that Willy Wonka introduces by saying, “This isn’t just an ordinary up and down elevator.
Repetition is catching on
Category: Issue V, Music, Volume XIX
INTRODUCTION Just a year ago, the world’s radio waves were flooded with the chants of “Gucci Gang”, a viral sensation by Soundcloud rapper Lil Pump. With a runtime of just 2:04, it was the shortest song to ever hit the top of the Billboard Top 100 since 1975, a whole
Harnessing the Power of Waves
Category: Issue V, Sustainability, Volume XIX
As fossil fuels become less viable as a long-term energy solution and the effects of global warming continue to worsen, new renewable energy solutions are in high demand. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energies are now extremely popular and produce significant amounts of the world’s energy resources. Another budding form
Rising Above Agricultural Challenges with Vertical Farming
Category: Civil Engineering, Energy, Environmental Engineering, Food & Drink, Issue IV, Volume XIX
Written by: Tina (Hyunsu) Ryu About the Author: Tina is a senior majoring in computer science games. Before moving to California, she lived in Ohio and South Korea. After graduation, she hopes to go abroad to become a digital nomad! Abstract The conventional agricultural system fails to keep up with
Are Your Headphones 3D Enough?
Category: Electrical Engineering, Entertainment, Issue IV, Mechanical Engineering, Music, Volume XIX
Written by: Lauren Lawson About the Author: Lauren is a junior at USC, studying biomedical engineering. In her free time she volunteers for the Make-A-Wish USC chapter, participates in the executive boards of multiple on-campus organizations, and is in Alpha Gamma Delta. Introduction Imagine the ultimate headphone experience: just like
Written by: Annie Lee About the Author: Annie Lee is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California pursuing a progressive Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. Abstract The aim of physical stroke rehabilitation is to improve motor function in paralyzed or semi-paralyzed limbs. Although the problem is
The Making of Mario in 3D
Category: Art, Computer Science, Entertainment, Issue IV, Volume XIX
Written by: Rohan Tulsiani About the Author: Rohan Tulsiani is a 21-year-old undergraduate Computer Science student at the University of Southern California. Rohan works as a Teacher Assistant for ITP485, which is USC’s undergraduate Game Engine class. Abstract With the advent of Virtual Reality and other major advances in the
EE-101: Intro to Emoji Engineering
Category: Communication, Entertainment, Issue IV, Lifestyle, Volume XIX
Written by: Rajan Paul About the Author: Rajan is a junior studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California. His interests include beekeeping, ethnic cuisine, and travel. Rajan hopes to combine his hobbies and education into developing a smart beehive that will help save the bees. Abstract Emojis have
Man vs. Machine: Testing Machine Learning through Playing Video Games
Category: Computer Science, Entertainment, Issue III, Lifestyle, Most Popular, Volume XIX
Written by: Vicky Hui Competitive AI systems beat the best human players in chess, “Go,” checkers, and poker [1]. Over the last decade, innovation in AI learning has enabled computers to navigate more complex and chaotic problems in the real world, through soft-coded systems and reinforcement learning. Most recently, this
Written by: Augustine Au Augustine is a junior studying Business Administration at the University of Southern California. He is passionate about entrepreneurship and aspires to use his knowledge to positively impact his community. Abstract The development of bottled drinking water has revolutionized the way in which the world has acquired
Written by: Patrick Hennessey With every improvement to transportation, the world feels a little smaller, and people become more connected. Some of the world’s greatest inventions have been in the field of transportation, but we haven’t had a major innovation in over a century- a new system is long overdue.