University of Cambridge

Research News 01 Sep 2026

Pre-eclampsia discovery could lead to new test and treatments for at-risk pregnancies

The discovery helps explain why placental cells fail to properly ‘invade’ the uterus in these two related conditions and could lead to the development of tests to help identify those at greatest risk and new treatments for the conditions.

Research News 25 Aug 2026

Physicists solve 40-year-old magnetic mystery

A quantum particle that crosses a ‘duality defect’ – a boundary between order and disorder – is never reflected. It always passes through, but it comes out changed: not a particle, but a spread-out, thread-like excitation that researchers compare to a wisp of fog.

Research News 19 Aug 2026

UK politicians think public opposition to climate policy is far greater than it is, study finds

Members of Parliament from the UK’s three biggest political parties in the House of Commons significantly overestimate levels of public resistance to major policy proposals for tackling climate change, a University of Cambridge study suggests .

Research News 18 Aug 2026

Operation Blue Skies takes off: landmark trial to test AI-driven contrail avoidance

Backed by the UK Government, 'Operation Blue Skies' brings together partners, including the University of Cambridge, to evaluate AI-driven flight path adjustments across North Atlantic airspace.

Research News 14 Aug 2026

Tiny satellite will use the dark side of the Moon to eavesdrop on whispers from the early universe

An international team of scientists, led by the University of Cambridge, will use the dark side of the Moon as a ‘shield’ so that the satellite – called CosmoCube – can block out all the noise from Earth and listen for a faint whisper from the very early universe.

Research News 12 Aug 2026

Cambridge to lead new £20m MRC Hub to transform development of new medicines using stem cells and AI

The Hub builds on the expertise of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, in particular around advanced human in vitro models, including organoids and other stem cell-derived systems. It will combine this with AI-powered approaches, bioengineering and clinical research to create more accurate and predictive ways of studying human disease and testing potential treatments before they reach patients.

Research News 11 Aug 2026

No bosses, no problem! Pre-Hispanic farmers built giant water system bottom-up, archaeologists reveal

The pre-Hispanic field systems of La Mojana in the Colombian Caribbean are so vast you can see them from a plane at high altitude. Their canals and raised fields – in use from the first centuries BC until the 11th century AD – cover an astonishing 500,000 hectares, roughly the same size as the Grand Canyon National Park, or three times the size of London.

Research News 10 Aug 2026

Go behind the scenes at Cambridge with Open Cambridge 2026

From 11–20 September, Open Cambridge returns with more than 70 free events, offering exclusive access to some of the city's most fascinating buildings, collections and hidden spaces. Whether you're interested in history, science, architecture, art or family activities, there's something for everyone.

Research News 05 Aug 2026

Cambridge to lead new £50 million centre to study mitochondrial DNA diseases

The MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) will be led by Professor Michal Minczuk of the University of Cambridge. It brings together leading experts from across disciplines to define how mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause disease and translate that knowledge into therapies.

Research News 04 Aug 2026

NICE referral criteria miss up to 95% of women under 50 who go on to develop breast cancer within 10 years

Using BOADICEA – a comprehensive risk assessment tool developed at the University of Cambridge with funding from Cancer Research UK – researchers at Cambridge and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified eight times as many women in this age group who developed breast cancer as the NICE criteria.

Research News 03 Aug 2026

Cambridge Festival brings research, creativity and discovery to Cambridge Folk Festival

From examining animal skulls and skeletons to writing poetry inspired by nature and uncovering the hidden sugar in everyday foods, festivalgoers were invited to explore the world of research through a series of interactive activities led by University of Cambridge researchers and engagement teams.

Research News 31 Jul 2026

Maths shows why your vote may not count the way you think it does

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen, analysed different electoral systems, both proportional and first past the post, and found that in any system, there are always going to be a series of trade-offs when electing a national legislature. For most systems, these trade-offs are between regional representation, guaranteed proportionality and parliamentar