Timber skyscrapers could transform London’s skyline
London’s first timber skyscraper could be a step closer to reality after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with conceptual plans for an 80-storey, 300m high wooden building integrated within the Barbican.
New Gates Cambridge Scholars selected
Fifty-five of the most academically exceptional and socially committed people from across the globe have been selected as Gates Cambridge Scholars after interviews in Cambridge in March.
Pioneering centre for physical sciences-industry collaborations opens at Cambridge University
A centrepiece for industrial partnership with the physical sciences and engineering officially opened today. The £26 million Maxwell Centre will focus on “blue skies” research in areas such as efficient energy generation, storage and use, including work on photovoltaics, energy storage, refrigeration, lighting and ICT.
Uninfected or asymptomatic? Diagnostic tests key to forecasting major epidemics
Major epidemics such as the recent Ebola outbreak or the emerging Zika epidemic may be difficult to forecast because of our inability to determine whether individuals are uninfected or infected but not showing symptoms, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge.
'Into boundless space I leap': open day at the new Maxwell Centre
Explore new architecture, science, art and dance and celebrate the opening of the Maxwell Centre this Saturday (9 April 2016).
Global carnivore conservation at risk
A new study confirms that the global conservation of carnivores is at risk. The paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, models future global land conversion and estimates this will lead to significant range loss and conflict with local people in regions critical for the survival of already threatened carnivore species.
Crime: measuring by ‘damage to victims’ will improve policing and public safety
New Cambridge ‘crime harm index’ just published quantifies true cost of crime: damage caused to victims and society. Experts call on UK government to adopt low-cost metric for greater transparency of crime trends and risks. Some UK forces have already used approach with early successes in identifying ‘harm spots’.
New state of matter detected in a two-dimensional material
Researchers have observed the ‘fingerprint’ of a mysterious new quantum state of matter in a two-dimensional material, in which electrons break apart.
Laser technique promises super-fast and super-secure quantum cryptography
A new method of implementing an ‘unbreakable’ quantum cryptographic system is able to transmit information at rates more than ten times faster than previous attempts.
Map of rocky exoplanet reveals a lava world
The most detailed map of a small, rocky ‘super Earth’ to date reveals a planet almost completely covered by lava, with a molten ‘hot’ side and solid ‘cool’ side.
Early-stage embryos with abnormalities may still develop into healthy babies
Abnormal cells in the early embryo are not necessarily a sign that a baby will be born with a birth defect such as Down’s syndrome, suggests new research carried out in mice at the University of Cambridge.
From robot intelligence to sex by numbers: Cambridge heads for Hay
For the eighth year running, the Cambridge Series at the prestigious Hay Festival will showcase a broad range of the University's research excellence.
Quantum effects at work in the world’s smelliest superconductor
Researchers have found that quantum effects are the reason that hydrogen sulphide – which has the distinct smell of rotten eggs – behaves as a superconductor at record-breaking temperatures, which may aid in the search for room temperature superconductors.
Solar cell material can recycle light to boost efficiency
Perovskite materials can recycle light particles – a finding which could lead to a new generation of affordable, high-performance solar cells.
A Handful of Objects
Five key objects from the world-class collections at Kettle’s Yard have been made available online to view through film, sound, photographs and 360 degree views.
Cambridge to explore benefits of multilingualism with new AHRC research project
The University of Cambridge is to launch a major new research project to study the benefits of multilingualism to individuals and society, and transform attitudes to languages in the UK, as part of the AHRC’s Open World Research Initiative.
World first as 3,000-year-old Chinese oracle bones go 3D
The earliest-known example of Chinese writing – written more than 3,000 years ago on the bones of an ox – has become the world’s first Chinese oracle bone to be scanned and printed in 3D.
Cambridge Science Festival 2016: artificial intelligence stole the show
The 22nd annual Cambridge Science Festival finished on a high yesterday (Sunday) at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, following two momentous weeks of over 350 events and 60,000 visits, making it the largest Festival to date in terms of both events and visits.
Cambridge Science Festival draws to a close this weekend
The annual two-week celebration of science draws to a close this weekend, following a packed programme of many sell-out events investigating the theme of big data and knowledge.
From Pulp to Fiction: our love affair with paper
It may seem strange to describe paper as technology, but its arrival in England in about 1300 was a pivotal moment in cultural history. That story is being pieced together for the first time in a new project that also promises to reveal much about why some innovations succeed where others fail.
No evidence that genetic tests change people’s behaviour
Genetic tests that provide an estimate of an individual’s risk of developing diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease do not appear to motivate a change in behaviour to reduce the risk, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge and just published in The BMJ.
University launches new undergraduate courses for 2017
The University of Cambridge has launched three new undergraduate courses for 2017 entry - Single Honours Archaeology and two Joint Honours programmes: History & Politics and History & Modern Languages.
Researchers identify when Parkinson’s proteins become toxic to brain cells
Observation of the point at which proteins associated with Parkinson’s disease become toxic to brain cells could help identify how and why people develop the disease, and aid in the search for potential treatments.
Lines of Thought: Revolutions in communications
A new film looking at the key objects which have revolutionised communication over thousands of years of human thought has been launched as part of Cambridge University Library's 600th anniversary celebrations.
Healthy vs unhealthy food: the challenges of understanding food choices
We know a lot about food but little about the food choices that affect the nation’s health. Researchers have begun to devise experiments to find out why we choose a chocolate bar over an apple – and whether ‘swaps’ and ‘nudges’ are effective.