Research & Discovery

This page highlights the astonishing amount of scientific discovery happening at Columbia, one of the world’s leading research universities. 

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Clockwise from top left: An iceberg stranded on a submerged rock in northwest Greenland (Karl Zinglersen); homo erectus crania from the Turkana Rift (John Rowan); a mosquito feeding (Alex Wild); a shell of thick gas and dust (red) expelled from the outer layers of a star as its core collapses into a black hole. The inner regions show a heated ball of gas (white) continuing to fall into the central black hole. (Keith Miller, Caltech/IPAC - SELab)
Columbia University Discoveries in 2025-26 to Know About

Here are some of the top scientific research findings of the past academic year.


 

RECENT STORIES

Mehtaab Sawhney, who joined Columbia last year, enjoys the thorny work of proving a seemingly straightforward statement of fact.

New Columbia research found that people’s brain activity varies more when viewing abstract art than representational art.

New observations upended scientists' standing hypothesis about how a star would engulf a planet, causing its demise.

The event explored how data ascience is being used in health care, infrastructure, energy, media, and beyond.

The unique construction that makes plastic so useful also makes it prone to forming hazardous micro- and nanoscopic shards.

The center aims to accelerate the development of fusion energy technology to provide a sustainable, scalable new energy source.

Little had been known about how the tiny energy processors influence brain health.  

AI systems are limited by energy inefficiency and data transfer bottlenecks. Columbia engineers have found a new solution.

New research is challenging longstanding beliefs about why we don't retain the memories we form in early life.

Columbia researchers are using AI to unravel genetic mysteries behind cancer, Alzheimer’s, and more. 

The American Association for the Advancement of Science honored them for scientific excellence and service to their communities.

Brody, a Public Health graduate, conceived the center, which will focus on preventing mental illness and promoting well-being.