A University of Cambridge-led study reveals how Brazil's presidents have affected environmental destruction, with Lula's term showing a significant decline in Amazon deforestation, while the Cerrado saw a 50% increase in habitat losses under Bolsonaro's presidency.
A new study found that UK exam boards' compulsory learning material for science subjects almost entirely omits women scientists, despite their significant contributions to scientific breakthroughs. The researchers recommend incorporating these achievements into teaching frameworks to inspire more girls to continue with STEM subjects.
Researchers used ancient biomarker evidence to improve climate models and estimate the extent of winter sea ice cover in the Arctic. The study found that winter sea ice loss may be underestimated, with implications for UK and Europe's winter conditions, and potentially underpredicted snowfall and rainfall in certain regions.
Children and young people are broadly supportive of using health data for research, but want strong safeguards, transparency, and greater involvement in data use decisions. They are concerned about data loss, misuse, and lack of trust, especially with private companies involved.
A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal scapula shows a circular perforation, likely made by a sharpened wooden spear, causing rapid death. The wound's position and fragmentation suggest an intended 'heart shot', with hints of deliberate violence.
A study of 6,607 patients with autoimmune diseases found females were more likely to be misdiagnosed as psychiatric or psychosomatic conditions, with longer diagnostic delays. Females reported higher rates of psychiatric and psychosomatic misdiagnoses, while males were more likely to be diagnosed with other physical diseases.
Researchers propose that the evolution of microbes that break down collagen may explain why some early animals were preserved as fossils, while others were not. This discovery suggests that a biological mechanism has shaped the fossil record of soft tissues across Earth's history.
Researchers identified 287 unique gene variants in the tortoise that reduce aging effects, including DNA repair and inflammation. The study provides unprecedented insights into extreme lifespan and offers potential blueprint for cellular resilience.
Researchers discovered 20 coins, including a rare halfpenny, indicating a thriving Anglo-Saxon community in Rome's 'Little England' with special treatment from the Pope. The coins suggest a bustling hub of craft and trade, contradicting a long-held assumption that foreign currency was forbidden in the city.
A new AI tool, Tessera, has been developed to map smallholder crops in Senegal with high accuracy, providing essential data for food security planning. The technology, trained on satellite images, outperformed existing methods and can be used to guide support decisions, helping vulnerable populations.
A large study of 1,279 academic papers and 609,278 people in 76 countries found that women score higher in recognizing and understanding emotions, but men score higher in managing their own feelings. The study also found that gender differences in emotional intelligence have narrowed in recent years, especially among children.
A University of Cambridge-led team has created detailed 3D maps of the Cairngorms National Park, revealing the beginnings of large-scale recovery of native woodland. The maps show over six million individual trees, with 40% under five meters tall, and provide insights into habitat type and tree regeneration.
A study published in Biology of Sex Differences found that newborn infants, on average, prefer to look at social stimuli, with females spending more time on social stimuli and males on non-social stimuli. The study suggests that prenatal biological factors contribute to these sex differences in attention.
A new study by Cambridge Judge Business School and the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that online freelance platforms fail to recognize the credentials built up by skilled older workers over decades. This 'cold-start' problem hinders late-career workers' ability to transition to freelancing, highlighting the need for sy...
Scientists discovered a 518-million-year-old fossil that challenges the origins of starfish, revealing they ate using tentacles, not gills. The fossil, Yujingia glutenotunica, provides rare insight into the evolution of ambulacrarians, a group including starfish and sea stars.
A new study found that nearly 50,000 children and young people on child protection plans and 84,000 in care are at risk of mental health difficulties. Only 9-18% of these children had contact with mental health services in a given year, highlighting the need for increased support and referrals.
Researchers found a strong link between daytime air pollution and nighttime coughing levels, even when pollution levels were below the WHO's recommended daily exposure limit. The dataset, which analyzed cough sounds from 32 cities in 12 countries, suggests that air pollution may be a contributing factor to respiratory issues.
Reading for pleasure is associated with better mental health, greater empathy, and a lower risk of dementia, according to scientists. Research highlights the benefits of reading for enjoyment at any age, with benefits extending to adults and children.
The fossil, known as Charnia, is 560 million years old and preserved in three-dimensional detail, providing rare insights into the earliest animals. Researchers discovered subtle ridges along its branches, which had not been detected in other fossils.
Cancer cells release natural antioxidants, such as Peroxiredoxin 1, to suppress immune-cell activity and prevent destruction. Removing this antioxidant production enhances the cancer's response to immunotherapy.
Researchers identified a key protein, isthmin-2, as a predictor for pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The protein's association with placental cell invasion could lead to better test development and treatment options for at-risk pregnancies.
A new study led by the University of Cambridge reveals that not all magic states are equal, with some offering no quantum advantage, while others are genuinely useful for quantum computation. The research provides a clearer picture of what makes quantum computers powerful, helping to establish a threshold for true quantum advantage.
Members of Parliament from the UK's three biggest parties overestimated public resistance to climate change policies by a significant margin. Researchers found that politicians consistently overestimated public opposition to climate policies, believing voters and other parliamentarians felt more strongly opposed than they actually did....
The CosmoCube satellite will use the far side of the Moon as a 'shield' to block out Earth's noise and listen for the 21-centimetre line signal from hydrogen atoms in the early universe. This signal is extremely difficult to detect with Earth-based telescopes due to interference, but the Moon provides a natural shield.
Researchers argue that policymakers in Colombia can adopt a similar cooperative strategy to solve the country's current water management crisis. The pre-Hispanic field systems of La Mojana cover an astonishing 500,000 hectares and were likely built by local communities in a short period of time through cooperation.
New research reveals that NICE referral criteria for breast cancer risk assessment miss up to 95% of women under 50 who go on to develop the disease within 10 years. A full risk assessment tool, BOADICEA, identifies eight times more women in this age group at higher risk.
Researchers found that no electoral system can guarantee both local votes translate directly into local seats and total seat distribution matches overall vote shares. However, they proposed an algorithm called 'geographically ranked guaranteed proportionality' which could get around the impossibility of current systems.
Researchers found that molecules in tiny gaps between gold nanoparticles can synchronize their behavior even with light escaping quickly. The study could lead to new ways to build synchronized states of matter like superfluids and potentially advance sensing, photonics, and quantum devices.
Infants use eye contact to select and synchronize their brainwaves with the speaker's, helping them learn language. They are not passive learners, but rather actively engage with social cues like eye contact and calling their name to determine what is important.
A study of over 350,000 students found teachers predict higher A-Level grades for girls than boys with similar results. The 'halo effect' may contribute to this gap, where positive impressions about girls spill over into predictions.
Scientists found that inherited genes interact with acquired mutations to shape tumor evolution, influencing cancer risk and treatment responses. The study suggests a personalized approach to cancer prevention and screening strategies may be necessary.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge solved the puzzle of why stimulating and blocking a specific 'switch' in the brain can help people lose weight. By targeting distinct regions of the brain, they found that GIPR agonists suppress appetite, while GIPR antagonists boost weight loss by releasing a 'brake'.
The study of Alan Turing's unpublished short story 'Pryce's Buoy' reveals a more nuanced understanding of the computer scientist. The six-page fragment challenges the stereotype of Turing as socially unaware and isolated, instead portraying him as playful, funny, and emotionally expressive.
Researchers estimate that audience travel is responsible for most emissions at 'mega-events' like the World Cup. To reduce emissions, organisers should reward fans with discounts for using lower-carbon transport, rather than passing on costs.
Researchers found that certain sweeteners, such as isosteviol, impaired two important gut bacteria linked to regulating blood sugar and gut health. The study suggests that artificial sweeteners can directly affect gut microbes, particularly when mixed with other substances.
Researchers have found four exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star, all smaller than Earth and Venus, but larger than Mars. The planets' composition suggests they are rich in magnesium, which creates periclase, a mineral that does not store water effectively.
A recent study from the University of Cambridge predicts that space launch costs will plummet over the next few years, falling more than 90% by 2040. The cost of sending a kilogram of payload into low Earth orbit is expected to drop from $3,868 last year to as little as $273 per kilo by 2040.
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and UC Santa Barbara developed 'adversarial' mathematical systems to map out where AI prediction breaks down. They identified two main reasons why machine learning fails: algorithmic limitations and hidden patterns in complex systems.
A new book identifies nine types of procrastinators, from worriers to thrill seekers, and offers strategies for overcoming the problem. Procrastination causes serious harm to finances, health, relationships, and careers, but can be overcome with the right approach.
Researchers found that tiny, invisible swirls in the deep ocean shape significant climate forces like sea level rise and fisheries collapse. Climate models require significant improvements to accurately predict these effects.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found two air pollutants associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may interact with genetic susceptibility, leading to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
Research found bumblebees accumulate higher levels of toxic metals in bodies and pollen, affecting foraging efficiency, navigation, and reproductive success. The study highlights the vulnerability of bumblebees to metal pollution, even in relatively safe areas.
The University of Cambridge will join the Yang Tan Collective with Harvard University and MIT to focus on cutting-edge science and accelerate autism research. Research centers will investigate challenges faced by autistic individuals, including lower life-expectancy rates and early diagnosis.
Researchers found that COVID-19 vaccine boosters provide protection against some future coronaviruses that risk spreading from animals to humans. The study also showed that the immune response 'locks in' after the first exposure to SARS-CoV-2, impeding the ability to respond to future variants.
A genome editing technique called base editing has been used to study the role of a master gene in human embryonic cells, revealing its crucial function in early development. The technique allows scientists to alter a single gene in human embryos, enabling them to better understand how human embryos develop.
Researchers found that extreme pressures in confined water droplets increase dissociation, but this effect is primarily driven by pressure rather than confinement itself. The study's findings suggest that the confining material can enhance reactivity through specific mechanisms.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have successfully demonstrated a scalable approach to solar-powered plastic recycling, converting plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals in outdoor conditions. The technology uses a simple spray-coating method to produce photocatalyst materials and reactors ...
Severe pneumonia has been found to have three distinct biological subtypes, which differ in immune response and lung damage. These subtypes are linked to varying patient outcomes, with some recovering quickly and others remaining critically ill. The discovery could lead to personalized treatments for patients with severe pneumonia.
Researchers have identified 18 distinct cell type clusters in the inflorescence meristem that generate a plant's above-ground organs. The study provides new insights into how stem cells make the transition from an undifferentiated state to specialized cell types.
A major new analysis of over 3000 scientific papers on climate change mitigation found that policy recommendations are often non-existent, disconnected from the study's findings, or 'wish lists'. The researchers created a tool to assess the quality of policy recommendations and identified key challenges, including unclear uncertainty a...