State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Earth Sciences47

  • Tiny Losses of Ice at Antarctica’s Fringes May Hasten Declines in Interior

    Tiny Losses of Ice at Antarctica’s Fringes May Hasten Declines in Interior

    A new study shows that even minor deterioration of ice shelves can instantaneously hasten the decline of ice hundreds of miles landward.

  • Understanding Earth’s Geologic History to Predict the Future

    Understanding Earth’s Geologic History to Predict the Future

    Organic geochemist Pratigya Polissar is developing new tools to look at the history of plants and ecosystems on Earth over the past 20 million years.

  • American Geophysical Union 2017: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    American Geophysical Union 2017: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    A chronological guide to key talks and other events presented by Columbia University’s Earth Institute at the American Geophysical Union 2017 meeting. 

  • Spring 2018 Earth Institute Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    By Chandler Precht The Earth Institute, Columbia University, is offering undergraduate students with research assistant opportunities during the spring 2018 semester. Undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard will be able to serve as research assistants on research projects related to sustainable development and the environment with distinguished faculty and researchers at the cutting edge of this…

  • Spring 2018 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    By Chandler Precht The Earth Institute is offering undergraduate, graduate and PhD students with opportunities to intern in various departments and research centers in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Interns work on a variety of sustainability-focused projects across The Earth Institute. These projects provide interns with hands-on workplace experience, allowing them to…

  • A Bit of Sun on an Antarctic Thanksgiving

    A Bit of Sun on an Antarctic Thanksgiving

    The Rosetta team made two big accomplishments this week: Our lidar returned some beautiful 3D images of the sea ice topography, which can be used to study small details of the ice. And our own Chloe Gustafson won first place in the Antarctic Turkey Trot. She now holds the honor of being the first woman…

  • Ear to the Ground, Listening for Nuclear Blasts

    Ear to the Ground, Listening for Nuclear Blasts

    Seismologist Lynn Sykes has been working for more than 50 years to halt the testing of nuclear bombs. In his forthcoming book, Silencing the Bomb: One Scientist’s Quest to Halt Nuclear Testing, Sykes provides an insider’s look at the science behind detecting explosions, and international efforts to establish a series of treaties.

  • Wind, Snow and Ice: Summer in Antarctica

    Wind, Snow and Ice: Summer in Antarctica

    The theme of the past week has been the weather. Weather is of course always happening, but in the lingo of McMurdo Station, ‘weather’ means ‘bad weather.’

  • What We Know About Medicanes—Hurricane-Like Storms in the Mediterranean

    What We Know About Medicanes—Hurricane-Like Storms in the Mediterranean

    They’re rare but can be dangerous, as demonstrated by Medicane Numa’s destruction in Greece last week.

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More

  • Tiny Losses of Ice at Antarctica’s Fringes May Hasten Declines in Interior

    Tiny Losses of Ice at Antarctica’s Fringes May Hasten Declines in Interior

    A new study shows that even minor deterioration of ice shelves can instantaneously hasten the decline of ice hundreds of miles landward.

  • Understanding Earth’s Geologic History to Predict the Future

    Understanding Earth’s Geologic History to Predict the Future

    Organic geochemist Pratigya Polissar is developing new tools to look at the history of plants and ecosystems on Earth over the past 20 million years.

  • American Geophysical Union 2017: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    American Geophysical Union 2017: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    A chronological guide to key talks and other events presented by Columbia University’s Earth Institute at the American Geophysical Union 2017 meeting. 

  • Spring 2018 Earth Institute Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    By Chandler Precht The Earth Institute, Columbia University, is offering undergraduate students with research assistant opportunities during the spring 2018 semester. Undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard will be able to serve as research assistants on research projects related to sustainable development and the environment with distinguished faculty and researchers at the cutting edge of this…

  • Spring 2018 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    By Chandler Precht The Earth Institute is offering undergraduate, graduate and PhD students with opportunities to intern in various departments and research centers in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Interns work on a variety of sustainability-focused projects across The Earth Institute. These projects provide interns with hands-on workplace experience, allowing them to…

  • A Bit of Sun on an Antarctic Thanksgiving

    A Bit of Sun on an Antarctic Thanksgiving

    The Rosetta team made two big accomplishments this week: Our lidar returned some beautiful 3D images of the sea ice topography, which can be used to study small details of the ice. And our own Chloe Gustafson won first place in the Antarctic Turkey Trot. She now holds the honor of being the first woman…

  • Ear to the Ground, Listening for Nuclear Blasts

    Ear to the Ground, Listening for Nuclear Blasts

    Seismologist Lynn Sykes has been working for more than 50 years to halt the testing of nuclear bombs. In his forthcoming book, Silencing the Bomb: One Scientist’s Quest to Halt Nuclear Testing, Sykes provides an insider’s look at the science behind detecting explosions, and international efforts to establish a series of treaties.

  • Wind, Snow and Ice: Summer in Antarctica

    Wind, Snow and Ice: Summer in Antarctica

    The theme of the past week has been the weather. Weather is of course always happening, but in the lingo of McMurdo Station, ‘weather’ means ‘bad weather.’

  • What We Know About Medicanes—Hurricane-Like Storms in the Mediterranean

    What We Know About Medicanes—Hurricane-Like Storms in the Mediterranean

    They’re rare but can be dangerous, as demonstrated by Medicane Numa’s destruction in Greece last week.