Cooperation is key to success in microbial communities
New research from the University of Cambridge and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) shows how cooperation among bacterial species allows them to thrive as a community.
Cambridge academics recognised in 2021 New Year Honours
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society.
Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Centre passes 2 million tests milestone
The Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Centre, set up in April in response to the urgent need to boost the UK’s testing capabilities, has processed two million tests.
DeepMind partners with Cambridge to tackle underrepresentation through postgraduate scholarships
Four MPhil scholarships and one PhD will be available to qualifying Cambridge students for study in autumn 2021.
Muddying the waters: rock breakdown may play less of a role in regulating climate than previously thought
The weathering of rocks at the Earth’s surface may remove less greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than previous estimates, says new research from the University of Cambridge.
One in three adults drank more alcohol during first lockdown
COVID-19 and lockdown measures drove some individuals more than others to use alcohol to cope with stress, a new study has revealed. While overall alcohol consumption appeared to fall, a study published in BMJ Open found that more than one in three adults (36%) increased their consumption during the first lockdown.
Cambridge launches Regulatory Genome Project
The University of Cambridge has launched the Regulatory Genome Project, a transformational initiative to sequence the world’s vast amount of regulatory text to create a comprehensive open repository of machine-readable regulatory information for use by regulatory agencies and businesses around the world.
AI-enabled low-cost digital stethoscope wins innovation award
An artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled low-cost digital stethoscope – invented during the COVID-19 pandemic by University of Cambridge engineering department alumna Dr Ruodan Lu – has won an industry innovation award.
Driving force behind cellular ‘protein factories’ could have implications for neurodegenerative disease
Researchers have identified the driving force behind a cellular process linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease.
Aroma diffuser and plastic bag offer inexpensive method to test fit of face masks at home
Researchers have developed a way to use a simple home aroma diffuser to test whether N95 and other types of sealing masks, such as KN95 and FFP2 masks, are properly fitted, a result which could be used to help protect healthcare workers and the public from contracting or transmitting COVID-19.
Apathy could predict onset of dementia years before other symptoms
Apathy – a lack of interest or motivation – could predict the onset of some forms of dementia many years before symptoms start, offering a ‘window of opportunity’ to treat the disease at an early stage, according to new research from a team of scientists led by Professor James Rowe at the University of Cambridge.
Remdesivir likely to be highly effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 for some patients
The drug remdesivir is likely to be a highly effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study by a team of UK scientists.
No deal Brexit could have detrimental impact for four million people in UK living with a rare disease
Experts have warned that a ‘no deal’ Brexit will result in the exclusion of the UK from the 24 European Reference Networks (ERNs) that were established to improve the care of patients bearing the lifelong burden of a rare disease, which require highly specialised diagnosis and treatment.
EU funding secured for new generation of brain-computer interfaces
Researchers from the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering’s Bioelectronics Laboratory have won investment from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to develop modern microelectronics to enhance the signal quality of a new generation of less invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Gene therapy injection in one eye surprises scientists by improving vision in both
Injecting a gene therapy vector into one eye of someone suffering from LHON, the most common cause of mitochondrial blindness, significantly improves vision in both eyes, scientists have found.
Significant increase in depression seen among children during first lockdown
The first lockdown led to a significant increase in symptoms of depression among children, highlighting the unintended consequences of school closures, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge.
Hidden symmetry could be key to more robust quantum systems, researchers find
Researchers have found a way to protect highly fragile quantum systems from noise, which could aid in the design and development of new quantum devices, such as ultra-powerful quantum computers.
Open-source toolkit helps developing countries meet demand for COVID-19 research and diagnostics
Researchers have developed a free, open-source toolkit that allows laboratories in developing countries to produce their own tools for COVID-19 research and diagnosis, without relying on an increasingly fractured global supply chain.
New research will use space telescopes to monitor energy efficiency of buildings
The University of Cambridge is one of 21 organisations awarded a share of over £7 million in funding meant to put the UK at the forefront of the latest advances in space innovation.
Cambridge machine learning experts announced as Turing AI Fellows
Dr Jose Miguel Hernandez Lobato and Dr Adrian Weller have been awarded Turing AI Acceleration Fellowships to deliver world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
Blue Tap secures Innovate UK Smart Grant
Blue Tap, a water purification social enterprise founded by University of Cambridge PhD student Francesca O’Hanlon, has secured an Innovate UK Smart Grant towards the technical development of its chlorine doser for use in developing countries.
Gaia: scientists take a step closer to revealing origins of our galaxy
An international team of astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, has announced the most detailed ever catalogue of the stars in a huge swathe of our Milky Way galaxy.
No country ‘immune’ to COVID-19 economic shock, but Asian nations will bounce back faster
Study uses 40 years of quarterly data to forecast a lengthy global recession resulting from coronavirus, with the manufacturing bases of China and East Asia predicted to fare better than most Western economies.
Cambridge Department of Chemistry to be named in honour of Dr Yusuf Hamied
Following a generous benefaction from alumnus Dr Yusuf Hamied, the University of Cambridge department will be named the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry until 2050. His transformational gift ensures that chemistry at Cambridge will continue to be world-leading in both teaching and research.
Magnetic vortices come full circle
The first experimental observation of three-dimensional magnetic ‘vortex rings’ provides fundamental insight into intricate nanoscale structures inside bulk magnets and offers a fresh perspective for magnetic devices.