State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

black holes

  • The Most Astonishing Thing

    The Most Astonishing Thing

    The most astonishing thing about the universe, in my eyes, Is not merely its gargantuan, unfathomable size, But the way its vastness ferries gorgeous, primordial light, So that as we look up into the night, The farther afield our gaze penetrates, the higher we climb, The farther we can see back in time.

  • Black Holes

    Black Holes

    In most observed galaxy hearts, Massive black holes reside, Formed from dark-baryon parts, As huge stars collapse or collide.

Columbia Climate School Giving Day on October 28, 2026, featuring students and renewable energy imagery

October 28, 2026 is Columbia Giving Day! Your gift to Columbia Climate School helps advance interdisciplinary research, educate the next generation of leaders, and transform bold ideas into real-world solutions for climate, Earth, and society.

  • The Most Astonishing Thing

    The Most Astonishing Thing

    The most astonishing thing about the universe, in my eyes, Is not merely its gargantuan, unfathomable size, But the way its vastness ferries gorgeous, primordial light, So that as we look up into the night, The farther afield our gaze penetrates, the higher we climb, The farther we can see back in time.

  • Black Holes

    Black Holes

    In most observed galaxy hearts, Massive black holes reside, Formed from dark-baryon parts, As huge stars collapse or collide.