State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

behavior

  • Sustainability Culture and Rebuilding Consensus on Environmental Policy

    Sustainability Culture and Rebuilding Consensus on Environmental Policy

    The only way out is by learning to listen to each other and forging compromises. The alternative is too dire to contemplate.

  • Changing Household Behavior to Reduce Carbon Emissions

    Changing Household Behavior to Reduce Carbon Emissions

    Actions by individuals and households to reduce carbon-based energy consumption have the potential to change the picture of U.S. energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the near term by integrating insights from the behavioral and social sciences.

  • The Male Seahorse – Supermom?

    The Male Seahorse – Supermom?

    The term, male-pregnancy, may seem to border on oxymoronic, but seahorses will prove to you otherwise.

  • Wondrous Wildlife of The Week – The Pebble Toad

    Wondrous Wildlife of The Week – The Pebble Toad

    Organisms in the natural world are constantly striving to avoid predation. Some prey depend on morphological characters to outsmart a worthy predator, utilizing camouflage or mimicry to avoid detection; others must engage in battle, relying on agility or strength. The Venezuela pebble toad, however, has an extremely peculiar defense mechanism: it rolls itself into the…

  • Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge recently found that elephants understand and can display complex levels of cooperation to reach a common goal.

Blue banner with kids and Earth photos. Text: "Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am-4pm.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10am to 4pm, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House—our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year—will take place on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY. Mark your calendar and join us for this free, family-friendly celebration of science! RSVP Today!

  • Sustainability Culture and Rebuilding Consensus on Environmental Policy

    Sustainability Culture and Rebuilding Consensus on Environmental Policy

    The only way out is by learning to listen to each other and forging compromises. The alternative is too dire to contemplate.

  • Changing Household Behavior to Reduce Carbon Emissions

    Changing Household Behavior to Reduce Carbon Emissions

    Actions by individuals and households to reduce carbon-based energy consumption have the potential to change the picture of U.S. energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the near term by integrating insights from the behavioral and social sciences.

  • The Male Seahorse – Supermom?

    The Male Seahorse – Supermom?

    The term, male-pregnancy, may seem to border on oxymoronic, but seahorses will prove to you otherwise.

  • Wondrous Wildlife of The Week – The Pebble Toad

    Wondrous Wildlife of The Week – The Pebble Toad

    Organisms in the natural world are constantly striving to avoid predation. Some prey depend on morphological characters to outsmart a worthy predator, utilizing camouflage or mimicry to avoid detection; others must engage in battle, relying on agility or strength. The Venezuela pebble toad, however, has an extremely peculiar defense mechanism: it rolls itself into the…

  • Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge recently found that elephants understand and can display complex levels of cooperation to reach a common goal.