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.
A study found that misdiagnoses of autoimmune diseases like lupus and vasculitis can lead to increased depression, anxiety, and lower mental wellbeing in patients. Clinicians are calling for greater awareness and support for patients affected by these misdiagnoses.
The University of Cambridge has launched an Engineered Pandemics Risk Management Programme to address the urgent challenge of managing future engineered pandemics. The programme aims to build a network of experts from academia, government, and industry to understand social and biological factors that drive engineered pandemic risks.
A new study reveals that UK peatland fires are responsible for up to 90% of annual fire-driven carbon emissions, with emissions set to rise by at least 60% if the planet warms by 2°C. Researchers found that rewetting peatlands can help reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change.
A report by University of Cambridge experts highlights the risks of unregulated AI use on UK's thriving creative sector. The researchers argue that forcing creatives to 'opt out' of AI training could compromise their livelihoods, particularly those just starting out.
Researchers created printed fabric sensors that can detect tiny skin movements for sleep disorder monitoring. The smart pyjamas achieved an accuracy of 98.6% in identifying six different sleep states, including nasal and mouth breathing, snoring, and teeth grinding.
Researchers argue that rewilding productive farmland or forestry in industrialised nations with low biodiversity may do more harm than good on a planetary scale. Efforts to conserve nature can displace production to more biodiverse regions, leading to increased demand for commodities like red meat.
The solar-powered reactor converts atmospheric CO2 into syngas, which can be used to produce chemicals and pharmaceuticals without contributing to global warming. The technology has the potential to solve two problems at once: removing CO2 from the atmosphere and creating a clean alternative to fossil fuels.
Immunocompromised individuals require regular vaccine boosters to protect against severe infections and new variants, research shows. Boosters may need to be administered four or more times to offer adequate protection.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley have developed a practical way to produce hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide using copper nano-flowers on artificial leaves. The device produces more complex hydrocarbons with two carbon atoms, such as ethane and ethylene, which are key building blocks ...
A new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that hitting Europe's 2030 renewable energy targets could reduce electricity price volatility by an average of 20% across 29 European countries. This would lead to significant reductions in price spikes, with the UK and Ireland expected to benefit the most.
A 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, depicts an Islamic tent used in medieval Christian mass practices. The artist's use of precious textiles and intricate designs provides evidence of a unique cultural exchange between Christianity and Islam during this period.
Researchers have created a new type of optically connected qubits, a critical advance in developing quantum networks. By storing information in a collective state of nuclear spins, they achieved high fidelity and coherence times, paving the way for practical applications.
Research by scientists at the University of Cambridge found that young adults' physical activity increases when they start work, with a notable decrease seen among those working from home. Meanwhile, sleep levels drop immediately after starting work and remain stable over time, except for those without a university degree.
Botanic gardens have reached peak capacity, hindering efforts to gather plant diversity for study and protection. Despite accelerated rates of extinction risk, institutions struggle to conserve threatened plants within collections globally.
Researchers found associations between antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines, and anti-inflammatory drugs with reduced dementia risk. The study pooled data from over 130 million individuals, identifying potential repurposed treatments for dementia.
A large-scale study found that autistic trans/gender diverse people experience significantly poorer healthcare, with higher rates of mental and physical health conditions. They are also at a higher risk of suicide-related behaviors, with alarmingly high rates compared to non-autistic cisgender individuals.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Communication reveals that people with non-standard accents are more likely to be associated with criminal behaviour, but perceptions vary between accents. The researchers found a significant link between class or status, negative traits, and expected behavior, particularly when it comes to crime.
Researchers warn of environmental risks posed by snakes and insects in imported ornamental plants, calling for improved regulations and sustainable practices. The study highlights the difficulty of monitoring and controlling pests due to high-volume trade, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health.
A new research project led by Cambridge will review existing studies on the impact of smartphones and social media on children's mental health and wellbeing. The team aims to provide policymakers with high-quality insights to inform future action, considering factors such as online habits, emerging technologies, and vulnerable groups.