Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
-
Climate Change Stopped the Next Ice Age
New research shows that 2,000 years ago, remnants of an Arctic ice sheet began growing again, marking the start of a new glacial period—what we commonly call an ice age. But by the 1960s, global warming had raised summer temperatures enough to reverse that growth.
-
Highlights From the 2026 Open House at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
More than 2,500 visitors explored hands-on activities, lectures and installations at Lamont’s campus on Saturday, October 17.
-
Discover Climate LIVE K12 Sessions for 2026-27
From October through June, Columbia Climate School researchers and students will host sessions exploring climate and sustainability topics including biodiversity, climate finance, climate action in professional sports and wildfire management.
-
Giant Canyon on Mars Is Still Tectonically Active Today
Scientists at Columbia University and Imperial College London have found that the largest canyon system in the solar system is still active and shaping Mars today, billions of years after it first formed.
-
Microplastics Are Chemically Active, and Could Cause Biological Harm
A new study found that when microplastics contact water, their surfaces can become chemically reactive. This could be how they get us sick.
-
Lamont Researchers Receive Major Earth Science Honors from the American Geophysical Union
Five Lamont scientists received major 2026 honors recognizing research on sea-level change, ocean carbon uptake, seafloor mapping and Earth’s deep interior. William B. F. Ryan receives the Maurice Ewing Medal; Jacqueline Austermann, Gisela Winckler and Galen McKinley receive AGU distinctions, while Renata Wentzcovitch is named a Distinguished Lecturer.
-
Study Links NYC Congestion Pricing Policy to Cleaner Air In Lower Manhattan
One year after NYC launched its congestion pricing policy, fine particulate pollution inside Manhattan’s congestion relief zone was 13 percent lower, according to a new analysis.
-
September Research Roundup: Select Papers
In this month’s edition of our research roundup, we look at the impact of suspending U.S. embassy reporting on air quality; why two extreme heatwaves had different impacts; and how to make vulnerable populations in smaller cities more visible.
-
Come Visit Us at Lamont Open House
Join Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY, on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a free, family-friendly event. Explore research facilities through lab tours, exhibits, hands-on activities and talks.
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.
