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

Aerosol scientist Faye McNeill explains air purifier basics, why masks really do work, and how chemistry experiments and computer simulations in the lab translate to environmental policy.

Her background as an archivist enables her to see the full scope of the stewardship of rare collections.

In search of the mysterious transition between metallic and insulating states of matter, Columbia researchers find signatures of quantum criticality in a unique material.

One of 20 early-career researchers selected for the fellowship, Asenjo-Garcia is exploring how light and matter interact at the quantum level.

Executive Vice President Jeannette Wing writes to New York members of Congress expressing the university's support of the Build Back Better bill, which provides funding for scientific research. 

In a new study of Covid-19 survivors, Columbia University Irving Medical Center researchers show that the memory of the infection is primarily stored in T and B cells within the lung and its surrounding lymph nodes. 

A new study led by Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory sees a daunting outlook for year-round ice and its ecosystems.

Looking beyond the recent violent acts against Asian Americans, the researchers examined less apparent forms of prejudice against minority groups over the last two years.

The Columbia Neutrino Group co-led the photon analysis of the MicroBooNE neutrino experiment at Fermilab, which announced its results on Oct. 1.

This award builds on Columbia’s robust involvement in the NYC COVID-19 response and grants it a significant role in preparing the city for future public health emergencies.

The program aims to increase the number of Black researchers in tenure-track positions at Columbia and other top-tier biomedical research institutions by providing a link between young scientists at HBCUs and established researchers at Columbia.

The first woman to lead the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. Linda P. Fried, discusses lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, how public health has extended our lives, and what graduates need to know to confront the challenges ahead.