Research & Discovery

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

Research and discovery logo
twitter icon
@ColumbiaScience

Follow Columbia Science on X

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

New findings from Columbia Public Health could lead to advancements in early Alzheimer's detection and treatment strategies.

In the not-so-distant future, many cities will be powered by AI that continuously analyzes data to improve urban living. 

Astronomer Jane Huang is interested in the behavior of protoplanetary disks made of gas, dust, and ice.

Columbia computer scientists have developed a robot learning system that gives the machines a new level of dexterity.

Certain regions are seeing repeated heat waves that fall far beyond what any model of global warming can predict or explain.

Columbia researchers are using traditional knitting techniques to fabricate flexible, lightweight, textile antennas.

A study found that, after vaccination, the immune system stockpiles cells for long-term immunity in tissues around the body.

Columbia’s Dian Yang designs CRISPR-based molecular recorders to pinpoint when and how cells metastasize.

Ivan Corwin is using math to show that outlier particles do not follow Einstein’s theory. And he’s collaborating with his brother.

The Visualizing Science Symposium brought together scientists and artists to explore how the fields illuminate each other.

A team of astronomers including professor Jane Huang have shown that extreme astrophysical environments can foster new planets.

A graduate of Columbia College took part in the dig, which found evidence that female leaders in ancient Peru had more authority than known.