University Church plans a special service for Remembrance Sunday 2020
Great St Mary’s, the University Church, will hold an online Remembrance Sunday service on 8 November.
Technique to regenerate the optic nerve offers hope for future glaucoma treatment
Scientists have used gene therapy to regenerate damaged nerve fibres in the eye, in a discovery that could aid the development of new treatments for glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
Why it takes guts to protect the brain against infection
The brain is uniquely protected against invading bacteria and viruses, but its defence mechanism has long remained a mystery. Now, a study in mice, confirmed in human samples, has shown that the brain has a surprising ally in its protection: the gut.
Lack of understanding of common heart condition leads to missed treatment opportunities, study suggests
Poor awareness of a condition known as Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) – the cause of a half of all cases of heart failure in England – could be hindering opportunities to improve care for patients, say researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Manchester, and Keele.
Focus on COVID-19 deaths in under-65s for better insights into infection rates across populations, say researchers
Simply comparing the total number of deaths across countries may provide a misleading representation of the underlying level of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, because of large differences in reported COVID-19 death rates in elderly populations in different countries.
New artificial heart valve could transform open-heart surgery
A new type of artificial heart valve, made of long-lived polymers, could mean that millions of patients with diseased heart valves will no longer require lifelong blood-thinning medication after valve replacement surgery.
New drone technology advances volcanic monitoring
Specially-adapted drones, developed by an international team involving scientists from the University of Cambridge, are transforming how we forecast eruptions by allowing close-range measurements of previously inaccessible and hazardous volcanoes.
Study measures effectiveness of different face mask materials when coughing
A team of researchers has tested everything from t-shirts and socks to jeans and vacuum bags to determine what type of mask material is most effective at trapping the ultrafine particles that may contain viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.
Age and pre-existing conditions increase risk of stroke among COVID-19 patients
Fourteen out of every 1,000 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital experience a stroke, a rate that is even higher in older patients and those with severe infection and pre-existing vascular conditions, according to a report published this week.
Tiny golden bullets could help tackle asbestos-related cancers
Gold nanotubes – tiny hollow cylinders one thousandth the width of a human hair – could be used to treat mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, according to a team of researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Leeds.
Professor Chris Abell FRS, FMedSci (1957 – 2020)
The University of Cambridge is saddened to announce that Professor Chris Abell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor of Biological Chemistry and Todd-Hamied Fellow of Christ’s College, has died suddenly at the age of 62.
Marmoset study finds single brain region linking depression and anxiety, heart disease, and people’s sensitivity to treatment
Over-activity in a single brain region called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) underlies several key symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, but an antidepressant only successfully treats some of the symptoms.
Globalised economy making water, energy and land insecurity worse: study
The first large-scale study of the risks that countries face from dependence on water, energy and land resources has found that globalisation may be decreasing, rather than increasing, the security of global supply chains.
One in six children has a probable mental disorder, according to new report
The proportion of children experiencing a probable mental disorder has increased over the past three years, from one in nine in 2017 to one in six in July this year, according to a report published by NHS Digital and co-authored by Professor Tamsin Ford at the University of Cambridge.
‘Mini-lungs’ reveal early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection
‘Mini-lungs’ grown from tissue donated to Cambridge hospitals has provided a team of scientists from South Korea and the UK with important insights into how COVID-19 damages the lungs.
Machine learning comes of age in cystic fibrosis
World-leading AI technology developed by the Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine and their colleagues – some of which is being showcased this week at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference 2020 – offers a glimpse of the future of precision medicine, and unprecedented predictive power to clinicians caring for individuals with the life-limiting condition.
University's publishing and assessment operations unite
The University of Cambridge today announced that it will bring together its publishing and assessment operations to create a single organisation. Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment publish and create world-leading content and examinations that are used across more than 170 countries.
‘Happy ending effect’ can bias future decisions, say scientists
Humans are hard-wired to prefer experiences that end well, and the influence of previous experience declines the longer ago it happened. This means we can’t always trust that choices we make based on previous experience will serve our best interests in the future.
Lockdown or not, personality predicts your likelihood of staying home during the pandemic
Despite more of the population staying at home as government policies on COVID-19 become stricter, a study has found that a person’s personality influences how likely they are to stay at home during the pandemic - and cannot be entirely overridden.
Popular COVID-19 conspiracies linked to vaccine ‘hesitancy’
An international study finds that people who rate coronavirus conspiracy theories as more reliable are much less likely to say they will get vaccinated.
Easy-to-make, ultra-low power electronics could charge out of thin air
Researchers have developed a new approach to printed electronics which allows ultra-low power electronic devices that could recharge from ambient light or radiofrequency noise. The approach paves the way for low-cost printed electronics that could be seamlessly embedded in everyday objects and environments.
New virtual reality software allows scientists to ‘walk’ inside cells
Virtual reality software which allows researchers to ‘walk’ inside and analyse individual cells could be used to understand fundamental problems in biology and develop new treatments for disease.
Scientists find upper limit for the speed of sound
A research collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Queen Mary University of London and the Institute for High Pressure Physics in Troitsk has discovered the fastest possible speed of sound.
Cambridge academics recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, which were announced on Saturday.
Cambridge University and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore establish new research centre to support lifelong learning
A new research centre focused on improving support for lifelong learning and cognitive agility opened on 1 October 2020 in Singapore.