State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

radiocarbon dating

  • Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Last week, just days before Central Park’s big Ivory Crush, a Lamont-Doherty geochemist and his colleague sawed off samples of the confiscated ivory for DNA testing and radiocarbon dating. Their results could determine where and when each elephant was killed—which could help catch the poachers responsible.

  • Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    A Toronto-based company has been convicted of selling illegal ivory in the first case to use a technique for dating ivory developed by a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • New Forensic Technique May Help Track Illegal Ivory

    Epic Elephant Slaughter Leads Scientists to Develop Dating Tool

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

  • Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Last week, just days before Central Park’s big Ivory Crush, a Lamont-Doherty geochemist and his colleague sawed off samples of the confiscated ivory for DNA testing and radiocarbon dating. Their results could determine where and when each elephant was killed—which could help catch the poachers responsible.

  • Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    A Toronto-based company has been convicted of selling illegal ivory in the first case to use a technique for dating ivory developed by a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • New Forensic Technique May Help Track Illegal Ivory

    Epic Elephant Slaughter Leads Scientists to Develop Dating Tool