Mountains and mankind: public event explores environmental change
For centuries mountains have been observed, imagined and explored. Today, these extreme environments are studied by scientists as indicators of changes in the world’s climate. An event this Friday (22 November) brings together a range of specialists to share their experiences.
Two for one in solar power
A process that could revolutionise solar energy harvesting has been efficiently demonstrated in solution for the first time.
Building ‘nanomachines’ in biological outer space
New research reveals how bacteria construct tiny flagella ‘nanomachines’ outside the cell.
Buildings for books: the complete story of the library
For 20 years architectural historian Dr James Campbell waited for someone to write a definitive book about libraries. When he decided to write one himself, his research took him to 82 libraries in 21 countries. The Library: A World History is much overdue but well worth waiting for.
Scrubbing up: preparing hospitals for climate change
Innovative designs for retrofitting the vast NHS estate to stem rising carbon emissions and adapt hospitals to perform through a changing climate are being created through a multi-university collaborative effort.
Cambridge University Press India collaborates with Indian Institute of Science
Cambridge University Press India and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore have announced a new collaboration which will publish a series of new academic titles as part of the Cambridge IISc Series.
Open-source through the lens of a microscope
A low-cost professional microscope based on open-source technologies has been developed by a group of engineers at the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering.
Self-healing concrete 'most likely to change the world'
A project that aims to create construction materials with an inbuilt self-healing system was voted the most likely research to have the biggest global impact, as well as the most likely to have the biggest effect on human lives, at this year's British Science Festival.
CS Lewis: 50 years after his death a new scholarship will honour his literary career
CS Lewis, creator of some of the most-loved children’s stories and also a scholar of medieval and early modern literature, died half a century ago on 22 November. A scholarship to be set up in his name will support an outstanding graduate to study at Cambridge University.
Outstanding audience participation at this year’s Cambridge Festival of Ideas
This year's Cambridge Festival of Ideas was a huge success, with participation numbers up by a quarter from last year’s total of approximately 14,000 to around 18,500 this autumn.
Designer piercings
A new method which streamlines the design and construction of synthetic membrane pores could improve a range of scientific processes, including speeding up the development of new drugs, and enabling more efficient disease diagnosis through DNA sequence detection
Research helps identify young people with type 1 diabetes at risk of heart and kidney disease
Using a simple urine test, researchers can now identify young people with type 1 diabetes at risk of heart and kidney disease. The new research, funded by JDRF, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), has been published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Alastair Campbell at the ‘Nexus of Media and Politics’ in Cambridge
Alastair Campbell, writer, campaigner and former communications director to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will give a series of public lectures in Cambridge next week as Humanitas Visiting Professor of Media 2013.
Cambridge researchers unveil anti-fraud lasers and inks for transparent electronics
Two prototypes – a detection device which users lasers to fight fraud, and a piano which demonstrates the potential of printed electronics – have been unveiled by Cambridge researchers.
Work begins on world’s most powerful radio telescope
This week, work begins on the next phase of development for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, with the University of Cambridge leading major ‘work packages’.
Deprivation responsible for 450 breast cancer deaths each year
Deprivation could be responsible for around 450 deaths from breast cancer every year in England as women in lower income groups are likely to be diagnosed when the disease is more advanced, and treatment is less effective.
Quantum ‘sealed envelope’ system enables “perfectly secure” information storage
A breakthrough in quantum cryptography demonstrates that information can be encrypted and then decrypted with complete security using the combined power of quantum theory and relativity - allowing the sender to dictate the unveiling of coded information without any possibility of intrusion or manipulation.
Patient in ‘vegetative state’ not just aware, but paying attention
New research raises the possibility of devices in the future to help some patients in a vegetative state interact with the outside world.
'The honour of the snow-mountains is the snow...'
For those who live in the shadow of the world’s highest mountain range, the snow-capped peaks have long been an indicator of the ‘health’ of their community. Now researchers are raising awareness of the value of local knowledge as a proxy for gauging environmental change.
Future internet aims to sever links with servers
A revolutionary new architecture aims to make the internet more “social” by eliminating the need to connect to servers and enabling all content to be shared more efficiently.
‘but we have a time when de soft rain come’
Yesterday saw the launch of a new book - Teaching Caribbean Poetry - written for English teachers. The book is the latest outcome of an ambitious collaboration between the University of the West Indies and the University of Cambridge.
Reading ancient climate from plankton shells
Climate changes from millions of years ago are recorded at daily rate in ancient sea shells, new research shows.
HAEMCODE: an online web tool contributes to research into blood cells
A community science initiative – HAEMCODE – has been welcomed for its contribution to our understanding of blood cells and ultimately, to the development of better treatments for leukaemia.
New centre for experimental astrophysics opens at Cambridge
A new building on the Institute of Astronomy site off Madingley Road will complete the consolidation of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology on a single site in Cambridge.
Researchers show how plants tell the time
Plants use sugars to tell the time of day, according to research just published in Nature.