News
Scientists examining evidence across the world from New Jersey to North Africa say they have linked the abrupt disappearance of half of earth’s species 200 million years ago to a precisely dated set of gigantic volcanic eruptions.
When an estimated 7,000-ton meteor exploded in Earth’s atmosphere on Feb. 15, showering Siberia with debris, it put a spotlight on the fact that Earth is constantly bombarded with the detritus of the solar system. Caleb Scharf, director of astrobiology in Columbia’s Astrophysics Laboratory, says these materials once formed planets and come in every size imaginable—from microscopic grains to giant asteroids that may be miles across. “The bigger they are, the rarer they are and the less and less likely it is for their orbits to ever intersect with ours,” he recently wrote in his Scientific…
Irish author Colm Tóibín is known for his novels and short stories narrated from the perspective of women and mothers. Now the professor of English and comparative literature has taken on the mother of all mothers in his latest work, a play about the Virgin Mary.
“Fear,” one informant told Studs Terkel when the latter conducted an oral history of the 1930s, “unsettled the securities, apparently false securities that people had. People haven’t felt unfearful since.”
In his most recent book, "Fear Itself: The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time" Ira Katznelson analyzes the period from several new perspectives and hones in to an unprecedented degree on the influence of Southern Democrats in shaping the historic legislation.
Continuing their family’s multigenerational connection to Columbia and support of its leadership in medicine, Philip (CC ‘71) and Cheryl Milstein (Barnard ‘82) have made a $20 million commitment to Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC).
Columbia University announced today that two acclaimed works will be awarded the 2013 Bancroft Prize: a gripping and eloquent history of the human impact on the ocean, and a persuasively argued history of the idea that conflict among nations can be regulated by law.
Every animal has its own specializations—hawks can spot their prey a mile away. Human beings, among other things, have the rare capacity to appreciate language and music.
That specialty was on display last month, when Sarah Woolley, a neuroscientist and associate professor of psychology, recruited her friend, singer/songwriter Jill Sobule, to join her for an evening of science and singing at Craft’s private dining room.
The idea was for the scientist to talk about her own work studying vocal communication and auditory perception—a question Woolley has pursued over her almost seven years…
Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger today announced his appointment of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Coll as the new Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism, effective July 1, 2013.
New study finds yes for actors and no for politicians and ballplayers.
After a comprehensive review of the nation’s top universities and research institutions, the National Science Foundation has awarded $3.74 million to Columbia University, City University of New York, and New York University for a three-year research-to-startup initiative.
Four accomplished alumni will be presented with 2013 John Jay Awards for distinguished professional achievement at the annual John Jay Awards Dinner on Wednesday, March 6, at Cipriani 42nd Street.