Our Research
From genomes to ecosystems and from planets to the cosmos, Carnegie Science is an incubator for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that is expanding our knowledge of all that is around us.
Astronomy represents humanity’s scientific quest to discover the origins and evolution of the cosmos.
Our Earth scientists explore the physics and chemistry of planetary materials.
Our ecologists research how human activity is impacting our planet’s dynamic systems.
Our researchers are revealing processes that shape both human health and ecosystem resilience.
We use sophisticated laboratory techniques to mimic the depths of our own and other planets.
Our scientists have been looking for and discovering exoplanets since the field's inception.
Plant science will be crucial for solving many of society’s most-pressing demands in a changing climate.
Science Across Scales
On a scale encompassing the entire natural world and at myriad intersections across disciplines, our investigators are tackling the biggest questions of our time like: What are the origins of our universe? How did life emerge? How can we combat the devastation of climate change?
Explore science at scaleStrategic Scientific Initiatives
We are meeting the urgency of the moment by bringing together researchers from across all three Carnegie Science divisions with a broad range of technical and scientific expertise that is critical for tackling challenges in climate, resilience, and sustainability.
Learn MoreThe search for life in the Solar System and beyond has been identified by NASA as its top strategic priority. Carnegie Science is positioned to draw on expertise and equipment from astronomers, planetary scientists, plant biologists, cellular and molecular biologists, astrobiologists, geophysicists, and geochemists to probe this most fundamental question. By revealing the factors that enabled life to arise and thrive on ancient Earth, our scientists can identify exoplanets that are good candidates for hosting life.
Learn MoreFrom revealing fundamental physics underpinning the cosmos to advancing our ability to study the atmospheres of distant worlds, the Giant Magellan Telescope, which is under construction at Carnegie's Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, stands poised to provide insights into some of humanity's biggest questions and ring in a renaissance of ground-based astronomy.
Learn MoreCarnegie Science astrophysicists and planetary scientists continue to showcase their creativity and propensity for bold research ideas using JWST. Over three cycles of telescope-time allocation, 13 projects headed up by Carnegie-affiliated astronomers have been selected to use JWST to study objects ranging from exoplanet atmospheres to the earliest generations of stars and galaxies.
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