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.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that US political divisions increased by 64% from 1988 to 2024, with most of the change coming after 2008. The shift was driven by liberal Americans moving in a more progressive direction on social and political issues.
The Cavendish Laboratory and FormationQ have launched an applied quantum program using IonQ's technology platform to translate advanced research into real-world solutions. The partnership aims to build the institutional ecosystem for sustained adoption of quantum technologies.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 800 prenatal and postnatal brain scans to identify sex differences in brain growth. The study found that males showed greater increases in brain volumes compared to females, with early brain development carefully timed to meet ongoing demands.
A new book reveals personal tales from successful scientists who overcame insecurities, health issues, and cultural norms to achieve their goals. The stories highlight that self-doubt is a common part of the scientific experience, but with support and resilience, it's possible to overcome.
A study from the University of Cambridge found that menopause is associated with reduced grey matter volume in key brain regions, increased anxiety and depression, and difficulties with sleep. Despite hormone replacement therapy (HRT) not mitigating these effects, it can slow reaction times.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an energy-efficient reactor that captures and recycles methane to produce clean hydrogen and high-performance carbon nanotubes. The process uses a multi-pass floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition reactor with process gas recycling, significantly reducing energy requirements.
Researchers found that some healthy Nigerian adults showed clear evidence of new immune boosting consistent with recent mpox exposure without recorded diagnoses. This suggests that exposure may occur without recognized disease, highlighting the need for monitoring populations by testing blood samples for antibodies.
Researchers developed a wearable Revoice device that decodes speech signals and emotional cues to enable seamless real-time communication in people with post-stroke dysarthria. The device achieved a word error rate of 4.2% and sentence error rate of 2.9%, showing promising results for stroke rehabilitation.
Shadrack Byfield's autobiography offers insight into the suffering and resilience of Britain's homecoming soldiers. The new evidence shows Byfield's tenacious pursuit of veterans' benefits, struggles with pain, poverty, and police, and his determination to design a custom prosthesis after losing his arm.
Astronomers have spotted an ancient galaxy that was slowly starved of fuel by a supermassive black hole. The galaxy's lack of cold gas prevented it from forming new stars, despite its relatively young age. Repeated episodes of heating and gas removal by the black hole likely drained the galaxy's fuel in as little as 16-220 million years.
A global report highlights fragmented data systems and lack of standardization hindering botanic gardens' contribution to biodiversity conservation and scientific research. Researchers call for a unified, equitable global data system to transform how living collections manage and share information.
Experts warn that people taking weight loss drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide may not receive sufficient nutritional guidance, leaving them at risk of nutrient deficiencies and muscle loss. The lack of robust evidence surrounding nutritional advice and support has significant implications for overall health and well-being.
A University of Cambridge-led study reveals that more than two years of war in Gaza has left Palestinian children too weak to learn or play, with some living on as little as a bowl of lentils a day. The report warns of a 'lost' generation emerging in Gaza due to the war's educational, physical and psychological impacts.
A new study found that a drug mimicking the hormone progesterone, megestrol, has anti-cancer activity when used with conventional anti-oestrogen treatment for women with breast cancer. This combination showed a greater decrease in tumour growth rates compared to those treated with an anti-oestrogen only.
A new book, 'Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet’s Chile', exposes the brutal realities of torture during the dictatorship through the power of music. Survivors like Ana María Jiménez recount how they used songs to comfort each other and resist their captors.
A new study found that Roman soldiers at Vindolanda fort near Hadrian's Wall were infected with intestinal parasites, including roundworms, whipworms, and Giardia duodenalis. This suggests inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices, potentially leading to malnutrition and chronic infections.
Researchers developed a scientifically validated personality test framework for AI chatbots, showing that larger models accurately emulated human traits and could be reliably shaped through prompts. The study raises concerns about AI safety and ethics, highlighting the need for regulation to prevent misuse.
Dr. Tom McClelland from the University of Cambridge believes that our current evidence is insufficient to determine whether artificial intelligence has achieved consciousness. He suggests that sentience, which involves positive and negative feelings, is a more critical factor in making AI ethically significant.
A new analysis using COTSI data reveals that verifying fake accounts for use in the US and UK is almost as cheap as in Russia, while Japan and Australia have high prices due to SIM costs and photo ID rules. The average price of SMS verification for an online platform was $0.26 in the US and $0.10 in the UK.