Whiteness of AI erases people of colour from our ‘imagined futures’, researchers argue
The overwhelming ‘Whiteness’ of artificial intelligence – from stock images and cinematic robots to the dialects of virtual assistants – removes people of colour from the way humanity thinks about its technology-enhanced future.
Study suggests embryos could be susceptible to coronavirus as early as second week of pregnancy
Genes that are thought to play a role in how the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects our cells have been found to be active in embryos as early as during the second week of pregnancy, say scientists at the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Open Cambridge announces first of its digital events
Peek behind the doors of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and the Central Mosque, find out what a University Proctor does and where the most artificial landscape in England is, learn to make pot pourri or traditional Hungarian goulash, and discover the impact Cambridge has had on the world of sport. Town and gown have joined forces to create a series of events that celebrate the history and heritage of…
Green energy and better crops: tinted solar panels could boost farm incomes
Researchers have demonstrated the use of tinted, semi-transparent solar panels to generate electricity and produce nutritionally-superior crops simultaneously, bringing the prospect of higher incomes for farmers and maximising use of agricultural land.
Nine Cambridge researchers among this year’s Royal Society medal and award winners
A leading pioneer in the field of protein engineering, Sir Alan Fersht FMedSci FRS, has been named as the 2020 winner of the world’s oldest scientific prize, the Royal Society’s prestigious Copley Medal.
Four-stranded DNA structures found to play role in breast cancer
Four stranded DNA structures – known as G-quadruplexes – have been shown to play a role in certain types of breast cancer for the first time, providing a potential new target for personalised medicine, say scientists at the University of Cambridge.
Genetic tool can identify Asian women at higher risk of breast cancer
A genetic study in Asian women, led by Malaysian scientists in collaboration with Singapore and the University of Cambridge, has revealed that a genetic tool developed to help assess breast cancer risk in European women also works in Asian women. This could help address the rising incidence of breast cancer in Asia.
‘Pill on a string’ test to transform oesophageal cancer diagnosis
A ‘pill on a string’ test can identify ten times more people with Barrett’s oesophagus than the usual GP route, after results from a three-year trial were published in the medical journal The Lancet.
‘Quantum negativity’ can power ultra-precise measurements
Scientists have found that a physical property called ‘quantum negativity’ can be used to take more precise measurements of everything from molecular distances to gravitational waves.
Cambridge academics elected to British Academy fellowship
Eight academics from the University of Cambridge have been made Fellows of the prestigious British Academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Lockdown led to happiness rebound, after wellbeing plunged with onset of pandemic
New study is among the first to distinguish effects of the pandemic from effects of lockdown when it comes to wellbeing in Britain.
Existing evidence suggests face coverings do not lead to false sense of security
Existing limited evidence suggests that wearing face coverings to protect against COVID-19 does not lead to a false sense of security and is unlikely to increase the risk of infection through wearers foregoing other behaviours such as good hand hygiene, say researchers from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London.
Opening schools – and keeping them open – should be prioritised by Government, report says
Keeping schools open from September should be a Government priority as it manages the COVID-19 pandemic, while closures could have severe social and economic effects that endure for decades, according to a new report.
Furlough ‘stemmed the tide’ of poor mental health during UK lockdown, study suggests
Researchers say the UK government should ask employers to share out reduced hours rather than lose workers, in order to mitigate a looming mental health crisis as furlough is rolled back.
AI-based ‘no-touch touchscreen’ could reduce risk of pathogen spread from surfaces
A ‘no-touch touchscreen’ developed for use in cars could also have widespread applications in a post-COVID-19 world, by reducing the risk of transmission of pathogens on surfaces.
How science and innovation are helping tackle COVID-19 testing
In April 2020, the University of Cambridge joined forces with AstraZeneca and GSK to create the Cambridge Testing Centre to boost the UK’s COVID-19 testing capabilities through innovation and cutting-edge technology.
Phone-based HIV support system repurposed for COVID-19 monitoring in Uganda
A cost-effective phone-based system developed by a Cambridge researcher and her Ugandan colleagues to support HIV patients has been rapidly adapted by the team to help the Ugandan Ministry of Health monitor those in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nature’s epidural: Genetic variant may explain why some women don’t need pain relief during childbirth
Women who do not need pain relief during childbirth may be carriers of a key genetic variant that acts a natural epidural, say scientists at the University of Cambridge.
DeepMind supports further scholarships for Cambridge students from backgrounds under-represented in Computer Science
New gift builds on the success of first cohort of DeepMind Cambridge scholars.
Scientists supercharge shellfish to tackle vitamin deficiency in humans
Cambridge scientists have developed a new way to fortify shellfish to tackle human nutrient deficiencies which cause severe health problems across the world. The team is now working with major seafood manufacturers to further test their microencapsulation technology, or “Vitamin Bullets”.
Mixed early progress highlights need for sustained support for pupils with English as an additional language
Newly-arrived pupils who speak English as an additional language (EAL) often make ‘mixed’ linguistic and academic progress during their first years in British schools, which need a proper framework to give them sustained support, a study suggests.
Tackling COVID-19: Professor Gordon Dougan
“In many parts of the world people still live with the daily threat of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and malaria. In reality COVID is just another infection,” says Professor Gordon Dougan.
Rapid genome sequencing and screening help hospital manage COVID-19 outbreaks
Cambridge researchers have shown how rapid genome sequencing of virus samples and enhanced testing of hospital staff can help to identify clusters of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infections.
Apathy not depression helps to predict dementia
Apathy offers an important early warning sign of dementia in individuals with cerebrovascular disease, but depression does not, research led by the University suggests.
Study shows how our brains remain active during familiar, repetitive tasks
New research, based on earlier results in mice, suggests that our brains are never at rest, even when we are not learning anything about the world around us.