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

Beqaj will graduate this spring with both a medical degree and a master’s in biomedical sciences.

A new research technique zeroes in on the little-explored world of nanoplastics, which can pass into blood, cells, and the brain.

A new computational facility will be used by the University and six other research institutions to promote responsible research and development.

A Columbia neurobiologist fishes for an aggression gene.

The study also asserts the need for clear standards for what evidence gets used in policy decisions.

Researchers found a mechanism that could explain how neurons in mammal noses become tailored to detect a specific odor chemical. 

Columbia physicians treated patients with the therapy in the clinical trials that led to FDA approval.

The University put out major studies in climate science, public health, neuroscience, and quantum mechanics this year.

A new study shows that people use facial appearance to make sentencing decisions, and finds an intervention to counter the bias.

In a new op-ed, Professor Shunichi Nakagawa argues for the importance of advance care planning. 

The findings highlight the potential of couple-based health screening, skills training or joint participation in programs.

A new study indicates that more flexible, take-home methadone policies could help close a gap in care.