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.
Connections - Science, Poetry and the Brain: eight scientists paired with eight poets
Connections, in partnership with AstraZeneca, is a unique project where science meets art and creative writing.
Long-term strategies to control COVID-19 pandemic must treat health and economy as equally important
Strategies for the safe reopening of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) from months of strict social distancing in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic must recognise that preserving people’s health is as important as reviving the economy, argues an international team of researchers.
Tackling COVID-19: Dr Estée Török
Long hours running COVID-19 vaccine and drugs trials have left little time for Estée Török to contemplate her postponed wedding. With over 20 years' clinical research experience in infectious diseases in the UK and south-east Asia, she has a great deal to contribute to tackling the pandemic.
Printed coatings enable more efficient solar cells
Researchers at Cambridge, Imperial and Singapore have developed a method to print ultrathin coatings on next-generation solar cells, allowing them to work in tandem with silicon solar cells to boost efficiencies.
Eight Cambridge researchers elected as members of the European Molecular Biology Organisation
Eight Cambridge researchers - six from the University of Cambridge and two from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology - are among the 63 scientists from around the world elected this year as Members and Associate Members of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).
Desk-based jobs may offer protection against poor cognition in later life
People who work in jobs that require less physical activity – typically office and desk-based jobs – are at a lower risk of subsequent poor cognition than those whose work is more physically active, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge.
Cell ‘membrane on a chip’ could speed up screening of drug candidates for COVID-19
Researchers have developed a human cell ‘membrane on a chip’ that allows continuous monitoring of how drugs and infectious agents interact with our cells, and may soon be used to test potential drug candidates for COVID-19.
Learn from the pandemic to prevent environmental catastrophe, scientists argue
COVID-19 is comparable to climate and extinction emergencies, say scientists from the UK and US – all share features such as lagged impacts, feedback loops, and complex dynamics.
Holographic beam shaping to deliver a boost to metallic 3D printing
Cambridge engineers have begun a three-year research programme to help speed up the manufacture of metallic 3D printed parts and products, by using computer-generated holography.
Funding awarded for nanomanufacturing research to support a faster transition to electric vehicles
Dr Michaël De Volder, Reader in Nanomanufacturing at the University of Cambridge, has been awarded funding of two million euros from the European Research Council (ERC) to manufacture Li-Ion batteries with enhanced energy and power density for use in electric vehicles.