In response to the increasing volume and accessibility of video content for youth on streaming channels and various online platforms, the American Psychological Association has issued its first ever set of recommendations to help parents, policymakers and tech companies empower teens to manage their viewing habits.

"Oh, nothing," is what historian Achim Landwehr often answers when asked what he is currently working on. He says it with a wink, but it's actually true. The professor of early modern history at the University of Konstanz is concerned with gaps and empty spaces in history.

Understanding the middle ear is essential. According to the National Institutes of Health, in the U.S., one in eight adults has hearing loss, and nearly 28% of those with moderate to severe loss face challenges in daily activities. Among children, five out of six experience ear infections, and recurring infections increase the risk of permanent hearing loss. 

Yet currently, doctors can only look at the surface of the eardrum, which makes it harder to detect deeper issues inside the ear until they advance.  

Instead, imagine if you could walk into a clinic, get a quick 3D scan of your ear, and the machine would immediately help your physician diagnose the problem. 

Fortunately, this might become reality sooner than later.  

At USC, a group of undergraduate students are working with Brian Applegate, a professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and biomedical engineering, to develop a machine learning model to quickly and accurately identify specific ear problems.