Researchers found that asexual reproduction slowed the pace of evolution due to limited competition between groups. However, as life spread to shallower waters, stress and increased competition led to the development of sexual reproduction, accelerating evolutionary diversification.
A universal Sarbeco coronavirus vaccine has shown safety and no significant side effects in a human clinical trial, providing protection against multiple viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine uses an AI-designed super-antigen to offer lasting protection against emerging virus threats.
Researchers developed a 'walking fish' robot that mimics modern fish's ability to walk on land, and computer models showed similar modes of locomotion across several unrelated species. This undulating tripod gait is one of life's most ancient solutions to escaping predators or moving habitats.
A new book by a Cambridge child psychotherapist argues that treating parents alongside children is crucial for addressing the youth mental health crisis. The author highlights the importance of considering an 'ecological system', including families, communities, and environment, in understanding young people's wellbeing.
Scientists have created a miniature circuit that mimics the brain and spinal cord connection, showing that previously thought irreversible nerve damage can be reversed. The researchers found that blocking specific genes in mature neurons restored axon regrowth ability.
Researchers discovered that plant stomata orientation is influenced by both cell shape and mechanical stress. In Arabidopsis thaliana, stomatal divisions tend to align with the long axis of the cell but can be altered by mechanical stress, particularly on the adaxial side where growth rates differ.
Researchers from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences mapped CO2-rich igneous rocks, finding their distribution is strongly tied to variations in Earth's lithosphere. The findings could guide the search for new rare earth deposits, particularly along the edges of thick and ancient continents.
Researchers used top Generative AI models to grade hundreds of undergraduate essays, finding that AI only matched human-awarded degree classification around half the time. The AI systems were overly sensitive to linguistic features, giving out higher marks based on essay length and vocabulary range rather than academic quality.
Researchers developed a technique that uses RNA origami to analyze sections of RNA, allowing for accurate sizing of repeat expansions in genetic disorders. The method shows promise for fast and affordable testing in clinical settings.
Researchers developed a method to identify and catalogue quasinormal modes in black hole mergers, providing a systematic way to resolve ongoing debate. The technique detects fundamental 'notes', overtones, and nonlinear modes, enabling precise tests of general relativity.
A new report by University of Cambridge researchers highlights the human context of conservation efforts, finding that protecting 30% of the world's land and seas by 2030 will impact nearly half of the global population. The team suggests substantial investment and local involvement are crucial for successful implementation.
Children who need life-saving emergency surgery are nearly six times more likely to die if treated in poorer countries compared to wealthier ones. Major differences in care, including delayed hospital arrival and limited access to critical treatments, contribute to this disparity.
A new study found that mental health clinicians prefer evolutionary explanations of anxiety over genetic approaches, believing they provide a more positive outlook and can improve patient willingness to seek help. This shift could lead to more hopeful and therapeutically empowering attitudes towards anxiety treatment.
Snow cover on Greek mountains has declined by 58% over the past four decades due to rising temperatures. The research found that warmer air causes more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow at high altitudes.
A major analysis found that four in five REDD+ projects successfully protected forests. Many projects have slowed deforestation despite over-crediting; 'bad credits' do not necessarily mean bad projects.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that racism and socioeconomic stress can alter key physiological processes in the body during pregnancy, leading to higher rates of preeclampsia and preterm birth in black women. These changes are not due to genetic differences but rather persistent socio-environmental stressors.
A decades-long study of oceanographic data shows that warm water has expanded and shifted towards the Antarctic continental shelf, posing a threat to ice shelves. The Southern Ocean's circulation has changed, allowing excess heat from global warming to reach Antarctica's vulnerable ice sheets.
A study using the Meta Ad Library found that gambling companies are reaching young men on social media at more than double the rate of women, with 91% of ads targeting men only. The age group most exposed to advertising was 25-34-year-olds, who accounted for over a third of all unique accounts reached.
A study found that policies reducing deforestation in Brazil have failed to stop forest degradation, a slower and more dangerous form of destruction. Forests are becoming increasingly fragile due to fires, logging, and other human activities.
A new study analyzing nearly 100 travellers' diaries reveals that turnpiking improved road conditions, reducing danger and speeding up journeys. The toll-funded system made a major contribution to the Industrial Revolution by reducing freight rates and enabling faster stagecoach travel.
In a unique behavior, monkeys on Gibraltar have learned to eat dirt to help them digest the junk food consumed by tourists, which disrupts their gut microbiome. The researchers found that geophagy is socially learned and has become part of the macaques' culture, with different troops having preferences for certain types of soil.
Researchers found that Barrett's oesophagus is the starting point for all cases of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, even when telltale signs are no longer visible. The study suggests that detecting molecular markers such as TFF3 and REG4 could help identify individuals at risk of developing the disease.
A study of nearly 200,000 Amazon reviews reveals that the structure of online product reviews plays a crucial role in their helpfulness. The researchers identified nine possible structures of online reviews and found that different review structures are more or less helpful depending on how highly the reviewer has rated the product.
A new method developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge uses solar-powered acid photoreforming to break down hard-to-recycle plastics into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals. This approach could create a circular system where one waste stream solves another, reducing plastic waste and pollution.
The Rokos School of Government aims to prepare future leaders to navigate complex demands of politics with technology and social sciences expertise. It will begin operations in Autumn 2026, hosting PhD and Masters students and collaborating with departments across the University.
The study created a detailed map of breast tissue changes over time, revealing that menopause triggers significant changes that create an environment where cancer cells thrive. The research found that all types of cells decrease in number and divide less often, leading to a more inflammatory immune environment.
Research suggests that cost of living and male job dissatisfaction played a major role in Europe's populist surge. Financial insecurity emerged as the strongest predictor of an anti-elite outlook, increasing the chances of voting populist by 17-20 percentage points.
Historian Dr Michael Edwards reveals that Samuel Pepys curated his correspondence to hide his connections to slavery and slave trading. In a surprising twist, Pepys rejected an offer of an enslaved boy as a bribe, demonstrating his sensitivity over the issue.
A new report by the University of Cambridge reveals that educational hierarchies in UK schools discourage students from pursuing creative subjects like art, music, and drama. The study found that low-income students and girls face a double disadvantage, with many steering away from these subjects even before entering higher education.
Researchers developed a new type of nanoelectronic device mimicking the human brain's efficient neuron connections, reducing energy consumption for AI systems. The hafnium-based devices achieve switching currents millions of times lower than conventional devices and store programmed states for around a day.
Researchers suggest changing flight paths to avoid contrails could slash aviation's global warming impact by nearly half. Implementing such a policy could recover around 9% of the temperature budget the world has left before breaching the Paris Agreement's 2°C limit.
A report calls for stricter regulation of AI toys to ensure 'psychological safety' in young children. The study found that AI toys often misread emotions, struggle with developmentally important play types, and pose concerns for social and pretend play.
A new study has identified ~2.3 million conserved non-coding DNA sequences across 284 plant species, revealing deep principles of plant genome evolution. These ancient regulatory sequences can be maintained despite repeated genome duplications, opening the door to precise engineering of plant traits.
The University of Cambridge has launched a major strategic partnership with IonQ to develop the UK's most powerful quantum computer, accelerating research and discovery in quantum science and technology. The partnership will support the creation of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, housing a state-of-the-art 256-qubit quantum computer.
A study analyzing over 100 million people found that recreational drugs increase stroke risk, with cocaine and amphetamines linked to double and triple the risk of stroke, respectively. Cannabis use was also associated with an increased risk, particularly among young users.
The GOAL-Trauma study found significant variation in blood transfusion strategies for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery following trauma, with higher-resource settings using component therapy and lower-resource settings relying on whole blood transfusions.
Patients who stop taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy experience rapid weight regain of up to 60% within a year, but sustain around 25% of lost weight. Researchers found that individuals may maintain healthier eating habits even after treatment ends.
Researchers found that interactions with healthy cells determine a tumor's ability to survive, grow, and progress. The team discovered a 'distress signal' sent by the tumor to nearby fibroblasts creates a supportive micro-environment that shelters the tumor from being cleared.
A new study found that autistic people face inequalities from childhood, leading to suicidal thoughts and deaths. The researchers emphasize the need for a commitment to a properly resourced Autism Strategy to prevent suicidal trajectories.
Researchers found that children who aren't friends connect better through play when given a task to complete, especially during goal-directed activities. The study, which involved 148 children aged six to eight, shows that connected communication is crucial for social coordination and teamwork.
A new volume of comics studies argues that comics from the Global South need to be read on their own cultural terms, highlighting their use as a tool for resistance, identity assertion, and social change. The book showcases diverse case studies from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
A study reveals widespread changes in the brain's somatosensory cortex as children with upper limb differences adapt to their daily lives. The brain devotes more resources to other body parts, shifting its entire map towards the missing hand.
A new study by the University of Cambridge found that many AI bots lack basic safety disclosures, including transparency about their abilities and potential risks. The 'AI Agent Index' revealed a significant transparency gap, with only four out of thirty agents publishing formal safety and evaluation documents.
A study of deep-sea cores suggests that rapid climate swings during the Quaternary Period led to variability in glacial periods, which may have influenced early human evolution. The research found that climate conditions switched from stable warmth to cold chaos around 2.7 million years ago.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding flexibility at the molecular scale, finding that individual molecules contribute to material stiffness. This discovery could inform the design of faster and more efficient flexible electronics.
A study from the University of Cambridge identified twelve dog breeds at risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, a condition causing serious breathing problems. The breeds include Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with narrow nostrils and short head shapes being significant risk factors.
Researchers discovered that thermospermine, a small positively charged polyamine molecule, regulates vascular development by promoting the translation of SAC51 transcription factors while inhibiting LHW. This study sheds light on how plants fine-tune their vascular systems to produce soft edible storage organs or rigid woody tissue.
A new study suggests that AI can help doctors detect serious heart valve disease years earlier, potentially saving thousands of lives. The AI algorithm correctly identified 98% of patients with severe aortic stenosis and 94% of those with severe mitral regurgitation.
A global study found that a group of bacteria, CAG-170, consistently appeared in high numbers in the gut microbiomes of healthy individuals. This species has the capacity to produce Vitamin B12 and break down carbohydrates, suggesting it plays a crucial role in maintaining human health.
The new book, Promise the Earth: A safe planet in good faith, calls for a rethink on how we live, hope, lead, and take responsibility to solve the climate crisis. Authors Professor Julian Allwood and Professor Andrew Davison argue that individual action, especially from comfortable lives, is crucial now.