"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.  

Established by the Centre for Sustainable Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, the world’s first Master’s programme in sustainable healthcare will address critical climate challenges, alongside a new Executive Fellowship for senior professionals. Applications are open today for the first batch of intake, set to begin in August 2025.