Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory4
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What Really Happened on Easter Island? Ancient Sediments Rewrite the “Ecocide” Story
A new study challenges long-held narratives of societal “collapse,” instead showing that Rapanui communities adapted to profound climate stress with resilience and innovation.
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Earth’s Continents Stabilized Due to Furnace-Like Heat, Study Reveals
The new discovery has implications beyond geologic history, such as the search for critical minerals and habitable planets beyond Earth.
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Nine Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Researchers Honored by Leading Scientific Organizations
Scientists connected with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of the Columbia Climate School, received notable accolades from renowned national and international research societies this fall.
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As a Glacier Retreats, a Gold Mine Advances. Why Are Some Locals Angry?
A Canadian mining company is seeking approval to renew gold mining operations in northwestern British Columbia, but they face opposition from First Nations, environmental nonprofits and downstream Alaskan communities.
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Where Soil Meets Data: Yushu Xia’s Mission To Support a Healthier Planet
Xia discusses her research projects, mentorship goals, and the importance of staying ahead in a changing scientific landscape.
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Will New Areas Uncovered by Glacier Melt Boost Swiss Hydropower and Clean Energy Goals?
A Swiss government report reveals that efforts to locate major hydropower resources on land exposed by glacier retreat are entangled with ecological and legal challenges.
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Bridging the Gap: How AI Can Help—or Hinder—the SDGs
The issue is no longer whether AI matters for sustainable development, but how to apply it in ways that decrease costs, expand access, improve decision-making and avoid further deepening inequality.
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Archaeologist Kristina Douglass Named 2025 MacArthur Fellow
Douglass’s research uses lessons from the past to help communities understand how to adapt to climate change.
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Mercury Rising: Why Emissions of This Deadly Neurotoxin May Soon Increase
The EPA is proposing changes to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS), which would weaken mercury emissions limits from U.S. fossil fuel power plants by 70 percent.

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings“
