Researchers at the University of Cambridge have made a groundbreaking discovery on how neural stem cell grafts can restore myelin in MS lesions in mice. The study provides critical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of human induced neural stem cell transplantation as a potential new treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis.
Scientists have discovered that certain species of gut bacteria can absorb PFAS, potentially protecting against its harmful effects. The researchers plan to develop probiotic dietary supplements to boost the levels of these helpful microbes in our gut.
A new study has found that the capsule sponge test, a less invasive alternative to endoscopies, can accurately stratify patients with Barrett's oesophagus into high, moderate, and low risk categories. This allows for tailored monitoring, reducing unnecessary procedures and improving patient outcomes.
A new study reveals six 'closed loop' barriers that prevent doctors from using point-of-care ultrasound, leading to missed opportunities for life-saving interventions. The researchers propose practical steps to address these cultural and practical challenges, aiming to increase POCUS uptake and benefit patients.
A team of researchers has discovered that a specific radio signal can reveal the masses of the earliest stars, crucial for understanding the Cosmic Dawn. The study utilizes the 21-centimetre signal, created by hydrogen atoms filling gaps between star-forming regions, to inform predictions about future radio telescopes like REACH and SKA.
A new hypothesis suggests that prenatal sex steroid hormones and placental function played a crucial role in shaping the human brain and its cognitive traits. This may have led to increased brain size and reduced competition among males, allowing for the emergence of large social groups.
Scientists created a low-cost, durable, highly-sensitive robotic 'skin' that can detect various types of touch and pressure. The technology senses multiple physical inputs simultaneously, allowing robots to interact with their environment in a more human-like way.
A University of Cambridge report argues that menstrual tracking app data is a valuable resource for advertisers but poses significant privacy and safety risks to users. The report calls for better governance of the industry to protect user data and urges public health bodies to launch alternative apps.
A Cambridge criminologist has uncovered evidence suggesting a vengeful noblewoman, Ela Fitzpayne, had a priest, John Forde, assassinated in 1337. The records, published for the first time, reveal a complex web of relationships and motives that may have led to the murder.
A team of Cambridge chemists has developed a powerful new method for adding single carbon atoms to molecules more easily, offering a simple one-step approach. This technique targets alkenes, common in everyday products, and allows for the introduction of functional groups, enabling further versatility in molecule design.
A team of researchers used AI and human collaboration to identify six promising drug pairs against breast cancer cells. The combinations, including simvastatin and disulfiram, showed potential for further research in therapeutic repurposing.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that two-thirds of UK gig economy riders and drivers experience anxiety over ratings and pay, with over half risking health and safety while working. The study also revealed that local workers spend an average of ten hours a week waiting for jobs to come through on the app.
A team of physicists has developed a new quantum sensor that can detect vectorial magnetic fields with large dynamic range and multi-axis capabilities. The sensor is based on spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride, a two-dimensional material that offers new degrees of freedom compared to existing nanoscale sensors.
The study discovered that closely related SCAR proteins have distinct functions in plant cells, with specific regions impacting protein stability. This knowledge could improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions and develop strategies for improved plant growth.
A study by University of Cambridge scientists reveals how genetic changes in Hibiscus flowers led to the loss of visually striking bullseye patterns. The research identifies a key gene regulator and demonstrates how similar floral changes can evolve independently through changes in a single genetic element.
A new study by researchers from Cambridge Judge Business School found that CivicaScript's HCU model can reliably supply essential generic medicines at a price that saves patients over 64% and public and private insurers over 92%. The model aims to make generic drugs accessible and affordable for all.
Researchers have developed a new treatment combining venetoclax and inobrodib that shows promising results in killing B-ALL cells, potentially reducing toxic chemotherapy needs. The approach could be less toxic than current treatments and effective in all age groups.
The study highlights key findings that British poets have long explored the relationship between humans and nature through lawnmower poetry. Key examples include Andrew Marvell's 'Upon Appleton House' and Philip Larkin's 'The Mower', which reflect on cycles of violence, pastoralism, and societal problems.
A new treatment approach significantly improves survival rates for patients with aggressive, inherited breast cancers. In a trial where cancers were treated with chemotherapy followed by a targeted cancer drug before surgery, 100% of patients survived the critical three-year period post-surgery.
A study found that removing ovaries and fallopian tubes in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants significantly reduces the risk of early death from cancer. This procedure, known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), also decreases the risk of developing a second cancer without any serious side effects.
A study found significant communication barriers in NHS care for patients who are deaf or have hearing loss, with many missing half or more of crucial information. The research team recommends improvements, such as better access to British Sign Language interpreters and accessibility accommodations.
Engaging with art is shown to enhance abstract thinking and promote a broader mindset. Participants who focused on the beauty of ceramics scored higher in abstract thinking than those who simply matched line drawings. This effect was greater among those with an artistic hobby.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that adolescents with mental health conditions spend an average of 50 minutes extra on social media each day compared to their peers. They also report higher levels of social comparison, mood changes due to online feedback, and lower self-control over time spent on platforms.
Researchers found it takes parents about a year to attune to their child's attitudes towards school once they start education. By Year 1, parental perceptions of how a child feels about school most closely match responses given by the child when they were in Reception class a year earlier.
A new report warns of a sharp decline in pre-primary education aid, highlighting the scale of inequalities between rich and poor nations. The total aid spent on pre-primary education was the second highest since records began, but represented just 1.2% of global education aid.
Research found that adolescents who slept longer performed better at cognitive tests, with those sleeping 7-25 minutes more performing better. The study also found differences in brain volume and structure between the groups.
Researchers have discovered how a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier transports a molecule vital for energy production into the cell's powerhouses. Blocking this process could lead to new treatments for various conditions, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
A tree-ring study published in Climatic Change suggests that severe summer droughts in 364, 365 and 366 CE led to the 'Barbarian Conspiracy' of 367 CE. The researchers argue that these droughts triggered food shortages and reduced grain supply to Hadrian's Wall, providing a motive for the rebellion.
The detection of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b provides the strongest evidence yet for biological activity outside our solar system. The signals are consistent with predictions for a 'Hycean' planet, but further observations are needed to confirm the findings.
Circadian clocks demonstrate advanced noise-filtering capabilities, adapting to environmental fluctuations while maintaining accuracy. The study highlights the remarkable ability of biological clocks to selectively filter meaningful environmental cues.
Researchers found that common urban pollinator plants like white clover and bindweed accumulate toxic metals from contaminated soils, posing a risk to bee health. To mitigate this, scientists recommend testing soil for metals before planting wildflowers and choosing plant species suitable for the local conditions.
A study of 27 projects educating marginalized girls in lower- and middle-income countries finds that community mobilization is key to sustainable change. The projects, which worked with local influencers and empowered young women, laid the foundations for lasting progress by challenging entrenched social norms.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a handheld device that can accurately record heart sounds without requiring precise placement on the chest. This innovative device, which uses six sensors to capture clearer heart sounds, has the potential to transform heart disease screening and diagnosis.
Researchers successfully demonstrated the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure transfer of data over a quantum communications network, enabling secure video calls and encrypted medical data transmission. The network uses standard fibreoptic infrastructure and quantum phenomena to enable ultra-secure data transfer.
Researchers estimate that one in 2,710 to one in 4,190 individuals carries a variant of the FLCN gene linked to Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. This condition increases the risk of kidney cancer, which is significantly lower in carriers than previously thought.
A new report calls for the integration of play into children's healthcare, highlighting its benefits in reducing stress, anxiety, and improving psychological health. The study synthesizes evidence from over 120 studies and suggests that embedding play in healthcare settings could improve long-term outcomes for children.
A machine learning algorithm has been developed to diagnose coeliac disease with high accuracy, outperforming human pathologists in over 97 cases. The AI tool has the potential to speed up diagnosis and reduce delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis for patients suffering from this autoimmune disease.
A new MRI technique has been successfully used to treat adults with drug-resistant epilepsy, allowing doctors to offer life-changing surgery to patients. The parallel transmit 7T scanner identified previously unseen structural lesions in nine patients, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment option.
An international team of glacier scientists has formed the Glacier Stewardship Program to address the challenges of glacier loss. The program aims to explore new technical approaches, mitigate impacts on communities, and establish a biobank to save glacier biodiversity.
A major review of over 67,000 animal species found that targeted conservation efforts are helping to recover many species threatened with extinction. The study highlights both successes and the need for urgent action to address the global biodiversity crisis.
Researchers found evidence of a genetic mixing event between two ancient populations around 1.5 million years ago, which contributed to the modern human species. The study suggests a more complex story of human evolution than previously thought, with different groups developing separately before reuniting.
Researchers are testing a brain pacemaker to treat severe alcohol and opioid addiction, aiming to develop effective treatments and understand the brain mechanisms driving addiction disorders. The trial, known as Brain-PACER, uses deep brain stimulation to modulate brain activity and cravings.
A Cambridge study highlights the need for India to recognize its own sign language, Indian Sign Language (ISL), as a constitutional right. The study also calls for increased investment in education and training programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including more schools and higher education institutions.
Researchers have developed a chiral semiconductor that emits circularly polarised light, potentially improving OLED display efficiency and enabling quantum computing. The innovation uses molecular design tricks inspired by nature to create ordered spiral columns of semiconducting molecules.
Researchers demonstrate magnetic behavior of PNRs at room temperature and show how these properties can interact with light. The study reveals macroscopic magnetic properties in solution and thin films, akin to classic magnetic metals.
A study by Cambridge researchers found that a routine lung function test used to diagnose asthma is more reliable in the morning. The reliability of the test decreases throughout the day and differs significantly between winter and autumn, with individuals being 33% less likely to receive a positive result during autumn.
Researchers found that dogs carrying the genetic variant DENND1B had higher body fat content, while humans also carry this gene linked to obesity. The study highlights the importance of fundamental brain pathways in regulating appetite and body weight.
A voluntary pledge made by UK shooting organisations in 2020 to replace lead shot with non-toxic alternatives has failed, analysis by Cambridge researchers reveals. The team found that lead shot was not being phased out quickly enough to achieve a complete voluntary transition by 2025.
A new study highlights the benefits of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in improving perceptions of clean air and encouraging active travel to school. Despite its benefits, adapting to the ULEZ has been challenging for many families outside central London.
Defects in two-dimensional materials can dramatically alter rippling effects, even stopping the sheet in place. Researchers used machine learning-based computer models to observe the rippling behavior of different materials with and without defects.