Sir James Dyson opens invention powerhouse at the University of Cambridge
Sir James Dyson opened some of the world’s most advanced engineering facilities at the University of Cambridge yesterday (Monday) – giving the institution’s students and academics the space and means to prototype, invent and collaborate on cutting-edge research.
First global map of flow within the Earth’s mantle finds the surface is moving up and down
Researchers have compiled the first global set of observations of flow within the Earth’s mantle – the layer between the crust and the core – and found that it is moving much faster than has been predicted.
Scientists develop human embryos beyond implantation stage for first time
A new technique that allows embryos to develop in vitro beyond the implantation stage (when the embryo would normally implant into the womb) has been developed by scientists at the University of Cambridge, allowing them to analyse for the first time key stages of human embryo development up to 13 days after fertilisation. The technique could open up new avenues of research aimed at helping…
Walking and cycling good for health even in cities with higher levels of air pollution
The health benefits of walking and cycling outweigh the negative effects on health of air pollution, even in cities with high levels of air pollution, according to a study led by researchers from the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR) and Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.
Busting brain myths
Neuroscientist Dr Hannah Critchlow is heading back to the Hay Festival to take part in the Cambridge Series after being named one of the stars of the Festival last year.
Little ANTs: researchers build the world’s tiniest engine
Researchers have built a nano-engine that could form the basis for future applications in nano-robotics, including robots small enough to enter living cells.
Scientists double number of known genetic risk factors for endometrial cancer
An international collaboration of researchers has identified five new gene regions that increase a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer, one of the most common cancers to affect women, taking the number of known gene regions associated with the disease to nine.
Professor Sir David MacKay 1967–2016
The University of Cambridge and the wider community are saddened by the loss of Professor Sir David MacKay, Regius Professor of Engineering, whose funeral takes place this Friday (May 6th).
Understanding gravity - from Newton to Hawking
The most important publication in the history of science – Isaac Newton’s own annotated copy of Principia Mathematica – and other seminal works by Copernicus, Einstein and Stephen Hawking feature in a new film celebrating 600 years of Cambridge University Library.
Inside Big Ben: why the world's most famous clock will soon lose its bong
London is soon going to lose one of its most familiar sounds when the world-famous Big Ben falls silent for repairs. The “bonging” chimes that have marked the passing of time for Londoners since 1859 will fall silent for months beginning in 2017 as part of a three-year £29m conservation project.
The Academy of Medical Sciences announces new Fellows for 2016
Four Cambridge University academics are among the 47 world-leading UK researchers elected to the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Winds a quarter the speed of light spotted leaving mysterious binary systems
Astronomers have observed two black holes in nearby galaxies devouring their companion stars at an extremely high rate, and spitting out matter at a quarter the speed of light.
Does nature make you happy? Crowdsourcing app collects wellbeing data
A new app will crowdsource data to help scientists understand the relationship between biodiversity and wellbeing. The app, developed at the University of Cambridge, maps happiness onto a detailed map that includes all the UK’s nature reserves and green spaces.
Unlocking innovation in the supply chain
Jinchen Hou from Cambridge University's Institute for Manufacturing comments on how members of complex supply chains can form alliances, in order to unlock the innovation that’s often hiding within individual companies.
Call to arms: how lessons from history could reduce the ‘immunisation gap’
A rise in the number of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases has highlighted the growing trend for parents not to have their child vaccinated. Could the activities of a group of teenagers in 1950s America inspire a fresh look at the effectiveness of pro-vaccine public health information campaigns?
Reducing infectious malaria parasites in donated blood could help prevent transmission
A technique for reducing the number of infectious malaria parasites in whole blood could significantly reduce the number of cases of transmission of malaria through blood transfusion, according to a collaboration between researchers in Cambridge, UK, and Kumasi, Ghana.
Æthelred the Unready, King of the English: 1,000 years of bad press
He was just a boy when he became King of the English and his reign was marked by repeated attacks by the Danes. Æthelred, who died 1,000 years ago on 23 April 1016, is remembered as ‘the Unready’. But his nickname masks a more complex picture.
Sonic hedgehog gene provides evidence that our limbs may have evolved from sharks’ gills
Latest analysis shows that human limbs share a genetic programme with the gills of cartilaginous fishes such as sharks and skates, providing evidence to support a century-old theory on the origin of limbs that had been widely discounted.
Study identifies gene changes that influence timing of sexual behaviour
A study of over 380,000 people, published in the journal Nature Genetics, has identified gene differences that influence the age of puberty, sexual intercourse and first birth.
Cambridge to research future computing tech that could 'ignite a technology field'
A Cambridge-led project aiming to develop a new architecture for future computing based on superconducting spintronics - technology designed to increase the energy-efficiency of high-performance computers and data storage - has been announced.
UK steel can survive if it transforms itself, say researchers
A new report from the University of Cambridge claims that British steel could be saved, if the industry is willing to transform itself.
From the Mayans to the moors: new film series shows biodiversity conservation in a new light
From the plight of the Ethiopian Bush Crow, to representation of nature in Winnie the Pooh, to the extinction of ancient Latin American languages, the wide breadth of research connected with biodiversity conservation at the University of Cambridge is reflected in a series of films which have just been released.
Predicting gentrification through social networking data
Data from location-based social networks may be able to predict when a neighbourhood will go through the process of gentrification, by identifying areas with high social diversity and high deprivation.
Design for Disability: new film features work of Cambridge alumnus
A new film - Design for Disability - has just been released, which focuses on the research of Cambridge alumnus Dr Christopher Wilkinson regarding user experiences and the issues surrounding inclusivity for those living with a disability. It follows his recent presentation to MPs at the Set for Britain Awards.
Think small: diminishing returns in neuroscience
Cambridge researchers are studying what makes a brain efficient and how that affects behaviour in insects – including in the aptly named killer fly.