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Devin Griffiths

Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
I write about the relation between literature, science, and the environment. My work has appeared in various academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, English Literary History, Studies in English Literature, Victorian Studies, and Book History. My first book, "The Age of Analogy: Science and Literature Between the Darwins," published in 2016 by the Johns Hopkins University Press, examines how historical novels shaped both the life sciences and the humanities, by means of a new comparative method that established our modern, relational understanding of history. It was shortlisted for the British Society of Literature and Science’s book prize, and was runner-up for the first book prize of the British Association for Romantic Studies. I am also the co-editor of "After Darwin: Literature, Theory, and Criticism in the Twenty-First Century," which was published by Cambridge University Press in 2022. The collection gathers an international roster of scholars to ask what Darwin’s writing offers future of literary scholarship and critical theory, as well as allied fields like history, art history, philosophy, gender studies, disability studies, the history of race, aesthetics, and ethics.

I am now working on a new book project, “The Ecology of Power,” which examines how Marxist and Darwinian philosophy offer alternative models for ecocriticism and the energy humanities.

How ‘Dune’ became a beacon for the fledgling environmental movement

Mar 18, 2024 09:06 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

Dune, widely considered one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, continues to influence how writers, artists and inventors envision the future. Of course, there are Denis Villeneuves visually stunning films, Dune:...

Economy

Oil Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Disruption

Oil prices climbed on Friday as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to unsettle global energy markets. Efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict involving Iran remain stalled, with Tehran maintaining its...

Asian Stock Markets Rise Amid Wall Street Rally and U.S.-Iran Tensions

Asian stock markets edged higher on Friday in thin holiday trading, following record-breaking gains on Wall Street, while investors remained cautious about escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Trading...

Gold Prices Hold Steady as Iran War and Interest Rate Outlook Weigh on Markets

Gold prices stabilized during Asian trading on Friday, showing slight gains after two consecutive months of losses. Investors remain cautious as uncertainty surrounding the Iran war and its impact on global inflation and...

Yen Weakens After Intervention Spike as Dollar Stabilizes Amid Global Tensions

The Japanese yen slipped on Friday after a sharp surge in the previous session, which was widely attributed to suspected currency market intervention by Tokyo. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar stabilized following notable losses...

Tokyo Inflation Slows Despite Energy Pressures and BOJ Policy Outlook

Tokyos latest inflation data showed mixed signals in April, highlighting the complex balance between rising global energy costs and domestic government intervention. Japan inflation trends remain a key focus for investors,...

Politics

U.S. Flags Vietnam as “Priority Foreign Country” Over Intellectual Property Concerns

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has officially designated Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country in its latest annual intellectual property (IP) report, signaling heightened concern over the...

Japan Eases Arms Export Rules, Opening Door for Potential Ukraine Defense Support

Japans recent relaxation of its weapons export rules could pave the way for future discussions on supplying military equipment to Ukraine, according to Kyivs ambassador to Tokyo. The policy shift, led by Prime Minister...

FEMA Reinstates Employees After Dissent Letter, Signaling Shift in Workforce Stability

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reinstated more than a dozen employees who were placed on administrative leave in August 2025 after signing a public letter criticizing agency leadership and...

Iran Threatens Prolonged Strikes as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Drives Global Oil Surge

Iran has warned it will launch long and painful strikes against U.S. positions if Washington escalates military action, intensifying tensions in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran. The situation has...

Lula Plans New Supreme Court Nomination After Historic Senate Rejection

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is preparing to submit a new nominee for the Supreme Federal Court after the Senate rejected his initial choice, marking a historic political setback. According to...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Surge as iPhone 17 Sales Drive Record Revenue

Apple delivered a strong fiscal Q2 2026 performance, reporting record-breaking revenue and profit growth fueled by robust iPhone sales and expanding services. The tech giant posted earnings of $2.01 per share on $111.18...

FBI Warns of China’s Expanding Hack-for-Hire Network Amid Extradition Case

The Chinese governments alleged hack-for-hire ecosystem is rapidly expanding and becoming increasingly difficult to control, according to a senior FBI official. Speaking on Thursday, FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...

Amazon Stock Dips Despite Record Earnings as AI Infrastructure Spending Surges

Amazon (AMZN) shares slipped 2.6% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, even after the company delivered record-breaking quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The decline reflects investor concerns over...