Cambridge's finest recognised in 2022 New Year's Honours
Academics and other staff associated with the University of Cambridge feature in the 2022 New Year's Honours List.
Clues to treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder found in recently evolved region of the ‘dark genome’
Scientists investigating the DNA outside our genes - the ‘dark genome’ - have discovered recently evolved regions that code for proteins associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Omicron may be significantly better at evading vaccine-induced immunity, but less likely to cause severe disease
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 may be significantly better than previous variants at evading vaccine-induced antibodies, according to new research from Cambridge – but preliminary evidence suggests it is less likely to cause severe COVID-19 illness in the lungs.
Public health experts urge government to put health at centre of levelling up agenda
Health needs to be at the heart of the Government’s levelling up agenda, say researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Newcastle. The team has published practical guidance on how to reduce health inequalities.
Cambridge coronavirus vaccine enters clinical trial
Safety trials are underway for a Cambridge-led vaccine that could be used as a booster targeting COVID-19 virus variants and relatives that threaten future coronavirus pandemics. The first volunteer is expected to receive the vaccine today at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility.
Community of ethical hackers needed to prevent AI’s looming ‘crisis of trust’
A global hacker “red team” and rewards for hunting algorithmic biases are just some of the recommendations from experts who argue that AI faces a “tech-lash” unless firm measures are taken to increase public trust.
Effective tech innovators programme aims to help corporates foster intrapreneurship
The renowned University of Cambridge Impulse Programme, created to nurture the brilliant minds of international academia, business and research organisations, is now offering its entrepreneurial course to help organisations develop an intrapreneurial ethos and accelerate innovative change.
Half of all drinkers risk exceeding legal driving limit by underestimating how drunk they are
As many as a half of all drinkers underestimated how drunk they were, judging themselves still safe to drive despite having exceeded the legal driving limit, in new research published today.
Colour-changing magnifying glass gives clear view of infrared light
By trapping light into tiny crevices of gold, researchers have coaxed molecules to convert invisible infrared into visible light, creating new low-cost detectors for sensing.
Interactive tool helps people decide how best to protect themselves and others from COVID-19
Is it risky to sing in a choir? What are the risks of eating in a small restaurant? How much difference does it make to open windows or clean surfaces? New interactive tool helps people make decisions on COVID-19.
Miniature grinding mill closes in on the details of ‘green’ chemical reactions
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new approach for observing mechanochemical reactions — where simple ingredients are ground up to make new chemical compounds and materials that can be used in anything from the pharmaceutical to the metallurgical, cement and mineral industries.
‘Transformational’ approach to machine learning could accelerate search for new disease treatments
Researchers have developed a new approach to machine learning that ‘learns how to learn’ and out-performs current machine learning methods for drug design, which in turn could accelerate the search for new disease treatments.
Collaboration could enable cancer patients to get faster and more personalised treatment
GE Healthcare, the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals have agreed to collaborate on developing an application aiming to improve cancer care, with Cambridge providing clinical expertise and data to support GE Healthcare’s development and evaluation of an AI-enhanced application that integrates cancer patient data from multiple sources into a single interface.
New concrete mould system uses the right amount of concrete and no more
Concrete is the world’s most widely consumed material after water, and its production contributes to more than 7% of global CO2 emissions. Achieving global ambitions to limit warming to 1.5ºC will require significant change across the construction sector – not least in how we use concrete.
‘Super jelly’ can survive being run over by a car
Researchers have developed a jelly-like material that can withstand the equivalent of an elephant standing on it, and completely recover to its original shape, even though it’s 80% water.
For the brain, context is key to new theory of movement and memory
New mathematical model could help in physical therapy and shed light on learning more generally.
Two-metre COVID-19 rule is ‘arbitrary measurement’ of safety
A new study has shown that the airborne transmission of COVID-19 is highly random and suggests that the two-metre rule was a number chosen from a risk ‘continuum’, rather than any concrete measurement of safety.
Mystery of high-performing solar cell materials revealed in stunning clarity
Researchers have visualised, for the first time, why perovskites – materials which could replace silicon in next-generation solar cells - are seemingly so tolerant of defects in their structure.
Cambridge Dictionary names 'perseverance' Word of the Year 2021
Perseverance, a word which captures the undaunted will of people across the world to never give up, despite the many challenges of the last 12 months, is Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2021.
Air filter significantly reduces presence of airborne SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 wards
When a team of doctors, scientists and engineers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the University of Cambridge placed an air filtration machine in COVID-19 wards, they found that it removed almost all traces of airborne SARS-CoV-2.
3D printing and machine learning unite in new research to improve cochlear implants for users
A team of engineers and clinicians have used 3D printing to create intricate replicas of human cochleae – the spiral-shaped hollow bone of the auditory inner ear – and combined it with machine learning to advance clinical predictions of ‘current spread’ inside the ear for cochlear implant (CI) patients.
Students who self-identify as multilingual perform better at GCSE
Young people who consider themselves ‘multilingual’ tend to perform better across a wide range of subjects at school, regardless of whether they are actually fluent in another language, new research shows.
Cambridge-built carbon credit marketplace will support reforestation efforts worldwide
A new Cambridge centre will bring together computer scientists and conservation scientists to build a trusted marketplace for carbon credits and support global reforestation efforts, the first initiative of its kind in the UK.
Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment offers organisations a collaborative approach to reducing carbon
This month sees COP26 bringing together nations and representatives to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Whole genome sequencing increases diagnosis of rare disorders by nearly a third, study finds
Whole genome sequencing from a single blood test picks up 31% more cases of rare genetic disorders than standard tests, shortening the ‘diagnostic odyssey’ that affected families experience, and providing huge opportunities for future research.