Was any of the scientific data collected on Columbia's last mission saved?

Answer 1

30 percent of the data collected during the mission was downloaded before re-entry.

Amazingly, canisters of tiny worms were found alive weeks after the tragedy in debris, although this did not contribute directly to the experiments done as the data needed to be collected within hours of landing. Also found were dead moss cells used in an experiment to determine the effect of lack of gravity on growth. Again, the experiment had to be interpreted soon after landing for results to be meaningful.

The experiments done during the flight on treatments for cancer successfully produced microscopic drug capsules that could be used to attack tumors or infections. The canister containing these crystals was also recovered, as was one with tin crystals sent up by school students.