This video provides an overview of the particle robotics concept, describing the capabilities and experimental results. Credit: Richa Batra, Shuguang Li, Jane Nisselson, Kyle Parsons/Columbia Engineering

Defying the Laws of Physics? Columbia Engineers Demonstrate Bubbles of Sand. New study is first to show how two types of sand can behave like light and heavy liquids, shedding light on geological processes from mudslides to volcanos and potentially enabling new technologies from pharmaceutical production to carbon capture.

Every day at Columbia we build nano devices by stacking atomically thin 2D materials into complex structures -- one atomic layer at a time. This new building method opens a whole new realm of possibilities from flexible electronics to implantable biomedical devices to spray on applications. In this video, Professor James Teherani explains the differences between 2D and 3D materials by comparing molecular models of two materials you’re familiar with: graphite (pencil lead) and diamond. Both of these materials are made entirely from carbon atoms. However, they look and behave differently because of their different molecular bonding configurations. Next, take a look at Part 2, where we go into the lab to show you how we manipulate 2D materials that are a few billionths of a meter thick and stack them into structures with new functionalities.

The emerging field of synthetic biology—designing new biological components and systems—is revolutionizing medicine. Through the genetic programming of living cells, researchers are creating engineered systems that intelligently sense and respond to diverse environments, leading to more specific and effective solutions in comparison to current molecular-based therapeutics. Teaming up with the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Columbia Engineering has addressed this challenge by engineering a strain of non-pathogenic bacteria that can colonize solid tumors in mice and safely deliver potent immunotherapies, acting as a Trojan Horse that treats tumors from within. The therapy led not only to complete tumor regression in a mouse model of lymphoma, but also significant control of distant, uninjected tumor lesions. Their findings are published in Nature Medicine.