University news

A mixture of Olympic, international and homegrown student rowing talent has been selected for the meeting on London’s iconic Championship Course, a 4.25-mile stretch of tidal Thames from Putney to Mortlake, on Saturday 4 April.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected to watch along the riverbanks of the free-to-attend ‘Party by the River’ as Oxford and Cambridge meet in the 2026 chapter of nearly 200 years of competition. 

Cambridge Women, who are on a winning streak stretching back to 2017, will be led this year by President Gemma King (St John’s College), whose twin sister Catherine represents Oxford. 
Gemma will have fellow two-time winner and fifth-year medic Carys Earl (Gonville & Caius) to count on, along with a sprinkling of new recruits such as world champion Camille Vandermeer and Mia Freischem (Darwin). Mia will make history when she races against her sister Lilli who has been selected for the Oxford Blue Boat.

Gemma told the crew announcement at London’s historic Somerset house: “It’s such an honour to be able to represent Cambridge in the Boat Race.
“It is such a unique and historic event. We’ve got such a strong squad, there’s so much depth. To see the progress made throughout the year has been really exciting and I really can’t wait for the race.”

Cambridge Men have their eyes on a fourth successive victory in the Men’s Race. They will be led by French national Noam Mouelle (Hughes Hall). His Oxford counterpart Tobias Bernard has dual British/French nationality, marking the first time in Boat Race history that a pair of Frenchmen have led the Oxford and Cambridge Blue Boat crews. 

Noam said: “It’s an honour to make the Cambridge Men’s Blue Boat again and we’re taking nothing for granted. We know what it takes to win this race and I believe we have the perfect combination of experience and new blood to extend our winning run in three weeks’ time.”

Noam can call on the experienced Simon Hatcher (Peterhouse), while the selection of Gabriel Obholzer (Peterhouse) represents the continuation of a proud family tradition after his parents both competed in the 1991 event – with father Rupert going on to Olympic honours.  

The event is being broadcast live on Channel 4 and on Times Radio for the first time in its history. Broadcaster Clare Balding, who will anchor Channel 4's coverage, told the crew announcement: “This is the most amazing sporting rivalry… it is a great event, but it is also a real showcase for how education and sport go hand in hand. You don’t have to be academic or sporty – you can be both.”

With 2025 seeing Cambridge win both the Men’s and Women’s Races, the overall records stand as 88-81 in favour of Cambridge Men and 49-30 in favour of Cambridge Women.

The crews selected for The Boat Race 2026 are as follows: 
 
Cambridge Women
Cox - Matt Moran (Emmanuel)
Stroke - Aidan Wrenn-Walz (Fitzwilliam)
7 - Mia Freischem (Darwin)
6 - Camille Vandermeer (Peterhouse)
5 - Antonia Galland (Peterhouse)
4 - Carys Earl (Gonville & Caius)
3 - Charlotte Ebel (Newnham)
2 - Isobel Campbell (Hughes Hall)
Bow - Gemma King (President) (St John’s)
 
Oxford Women 
Cox - Louis Corrigan 
Stroke - Heidi Long (President) 
7 - Sarah Marshall 
6 - Esther Briz Zamorano 
5 - Kyra Delray 
4 - Julietta Camahort 
3 - Lilli Freischem 
2 - Emily Molins 
Bow - Annie Anezakis 
 
Cambridge Men
Cox - Sammy Houdagui (Fitzwilliam)
Stroke - Freddy Breuer (Lucy Cavendish)
7 - Will Klipstine (Hughes Hall)
6 - Lexi Maclean (Hughes Hall)
5 - Gabriel Obholzer (Peterhouse)
4 - Patrick Wild (Peterhouse)
3 - Kyle Fram (Lucy Cavendish)
2 - Noam Mouelle (President) (Hughes Hall)
Bow - Simon Hatcher (Peterhouse)

Oxford Men
Cox- Tobias Bernard (President) 
Stroke - Harry Geffen 
7 - Alex Sullivan 
6 - Jamie Arnold 
5 - Alex Underwood 
4 - Fergus Pim 
3 - James Fetter 
2 - Julian Schöberl  
Bow - Felix Crabtree 
 

Cambridge University Boat Club has announced its Women’s and Men’s Blue Boats for The Boat Race 2026.

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Yes

Lowland peatlands, such as the East Anglian Fens and Somerset Levels, are rich in carbon and have been prized for their ability to support productive agriculture. Since the 1600s, some 90% of UK lowland peat has been drained to this end. This peatland also contributes an estimated 4% to the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions. But by using wetland-adapted crops and machinery, soil can be farmed in a wetter state, helping to reduce peatland emissions while remaining economically productive and potentially benefitting nature.

In a new study published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence, researchers have found that bird numbers in paludiculture sites are three times higher than on drained grasslands, and match those of natural wetlands. They surveyed bird communities in natural wetlands, paludiculture sites growing bulrush (Typha), and drained, grazed grasslands in the Netherlands. 

Birds that are wetland specialists including Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, and Sedge Warbler were recorded alongside typical grassland bird species - creating a unique and diverse bird community. The paludiculture sites also contained several bird species of European or global conservation concern, namely Eurasian Oystercatcher, Meadow Pipit, and Eurasian Coot. 

Although paludiculture does not replicate natural wetlands, the findings show it can function as an important habitat within wetland-grassland landscapes. This could provide more spaces for wetland specialist species if cutting and harvesting are timed to minimise disturbance during the breeding season.

Dr Catherine Waite in the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology and co-lead author of the study, said: “As pressures on land continue to grow, research like this provides vital insight into how different land management choices affect nature. This evidence is key to informing local and landscape level management decisions that balance environmental and human needs.”

Dr Joshua Copping, an RSPB Conservation Scientist and co-lead author, said: “We know that paludiculture can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with farming on peat, but our findings show its potential for wildlife too. Farmed wetlands support bird communities simply not found on drained grasslands. As the sector develops, paludiculture could help deliver a just transition for farmers who wish to continue farming while contributing to a nature-rich landscape.”

Paludiculture could aid in the reduction of land use emissions from peatland, thereby contributing to the Net Zero ambition. This approach offers a way to continue productive farming while providing climate and nature benefits, potentially serving as a viable alternative to full peatland restoration in some areas. Paludiculture could also support food and fibre production, delivering social and economic value alongside environmental gains.

Unlocking paludiculture’s potential will require investment, advisory support, and strong markets for wetland crops. A project led by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) South West, in collaboration with the RSPB, is developing best practice for establishing and managing bulrush crops, including trials at RSPB Greylake, Somerset. Funded by Natural England’s Paludiculture Exploration Fund, this project is also testing whether bulrush can help remove excess nutrients from surrounding farmland, to improve wetland condition.

Alice Groom, RSPB Head of Sustainable Land Use Policy, who was not involved in this study, said: “To deliver nature recovery, reduce emissions, and support farm businesses, we must explore techniques like paludiculture. Drained peatlands are degrading fast, and we are running out of time to rely on current methods. Combined with wetland restoration, re-wetting peat through paludiculture offers a path to a more resilient farming future while tackling the climate and nature crises.”

Will Barnard, FWAG South West, who was not involved in this study, said: “As an entirely new agricultural sector within the UK, paludiculture inevitably requires vision and external support. If we can harness the boundless energy and innovation of the farming sector, it offers the rare opportunity to blend real commercial growth with lowering our environmental footprint and helping nature.”

The team says that with the right policy support, investment, and continued research, wetter farming could play a key role in creating nature-positive, climate-resilient landscapes while supporting communities and farmers through a just transition.

Reference: Copping, J.P. et al: 'Typha-based paludiculture offers potential for greater bird species abundance and diversity than drained agricultural grassland.' Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Feb 2026. DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.70169

Adapted from a press release by the RSPB.

Research led by the University of Cambridge and the RSPB shows that farming wetland-adapted crops on wetter peat - known as paludiculture - can support richer and more diverse bird communities than drained grassland.

This evidence is key to informing local and landscape level management decisions that balance environmental and human needs.Catherine WaiteBen Andrew rspb-imagesReed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, perched in reedbed.

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YesLicence type: Attribution-Noncommerical

The partnership will support the creation of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre to be based at the Ray Dolby Centre, the new home of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. The Centre will house a state-of-the-art IonQ 256-qubit quantum computer, which will be the most powerful quantum computer in the UK when it is installed.

As part of the collaboration, Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency and part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will provide access and computing time for UKRI’s National Quantum Computing Centre over three years. This support will enable researchers and early-stage companies from across the UK to make use of the enormous power of the first commercial-scale quantum computer at a UK university. 

The new IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre will host a research portfolio across quantum computing, quantum networks, quantum sensing, and quantum security. The partnership will also support new academic positions, postdoctoral fellows and PhD students at the University.

“Cambridge is already a critical player in the UK’s national quantum technology programme, and this partnership will supercharge that role,” said Professor Mete Atatüre, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory. “This is a true partnership, with long-term investment, shared research and co-development in all areas of quantum technology, bringing together physics, engineering, medicine, computer science, policy and more.”

Quantum computers harness quantum phenomena to achieve a level of performance which is otherwise unattainable, based on science which cannot be explained by classical physics. The shift from lab-scale quantum computers to truly application-focused systems could greatly accelerate the pace of discovery in a number of areas that will improve lives, such as ultra-secure communication networks, super-powerful computers, record-breaking quantum sensors and accelerated drug discovery.

Cambridge is home to one of the largest and most successful communities of quantum scientists and technologists in the world, working across the University. The Cavendish Laboratory has long been at the heart of this research community, and this partnership is the next chapter in that long legacy.

The IonQ partnership will support long-term research funding for quantum science and technology at Cambridge, as well as the co-development of new quantum network nodes and sensing capabilities across the University, including a strengthening of the existing Cambridge to Bristol UK quantum network.

“We’re proud that Cambridge is at the heart of the UK’s next computing revolution,” said Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. “This new and ambitious partnership is the first of its kind for a UK university. It’s not just a new facility for Cambridge — it’s one for the whole of the UK, and it will develop not only exciting new technologies but also the UK’s next generation of leaders in quantum science.”

“This historic agreement with Cambridge deepens IonQ’s commitment to the United Kingdom and accelerates our technology platform with novel research at one of the world’s most storied physics powerhouses,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “By establishing the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, we are strengthening the bridge between academic discovery and commercial quantum advantage. We believe this partnership will contribute meaningfully to the UK to help advance scalable quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security.”

Unlike traditional models of siloed research stuck within disciplines, the Cambridge-IonQ partnership will bring researchers across multiple disciplines, industry partners, end users and policy experts together from the outset. This joined-up approach will ensure that scientific and technological advances are aligned with commercial and societal needs and are rapidly translated into real-world solutions.

“I am delighted that Innovate UK is supporting the University of Cambridge in establishing the Quantum Innovation Centre,” said Roger McKinlay, Challenge Director - Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK. “Back in 2020, Innovate UK awarded a small collaborative grant to Oxford Ionics — now acquired by IonQ — to help develop a UK industrial supply chain for commercial quantum computing. Just five years later, it is fantastic to see investment on this scale, which will catalyse progress in quantum, create UK jobs, and drive growth across many industrial sectors."

“This exciting new partnership will support the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, helping the UK on its mission to become a leading quantum-enabled economy,” said Professor Sir Peter Knight, Chair of the National Quantum Technology Programme (NQTP) Strategic Advisory Board for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). “The NQTP has fostered a great collaborative enterprise over the past 12 years and the new IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre in Cambridge is a wonderful new component in our vision to realise the potential of this transformational science. The strong collaborative foundations of the new Quantum Innovation Centre will accelerate the development of this exciting new technology, which could revolutionise areas that benefit society and the economy, including new ways of developing drugs and diagnosing disease, more precise sensors to monitor critical infrastructure, and next-generation materials for the transition to net zero.”

“This is a significant moment for brilliant researchers at the University of Cambridge which cements the UK’s credentials as a world-leader in Quantum,” said Science Minister Lord Vallance. “It will help deliver new breakthroughs to some of our most pressing shared challenges while supporting more academics, PhD students and researchers in the process - ensuring we have a rich pool of Quantum talent for years to come.

“This partnership will ensure the UK stays at the cutting edge of research and innovation – delivering jobs, growth and advances that will improve lives across the country and around the world.”

The quantum computer will be managed by Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm. Researchers working in quantum science and technology from across the University will be able to make use of the new quantum computer once it is fully operational.

The UK’s most powerful quantum computer, which will accelerate research and discovery in quantum science, engineering, and a range of other applications, will be based at the University of Cambridge as part of a new partnership with the quantum technology company IonQ. The collaboration is the University’s largest-ever corporate research partnership.

IonQIonQ quantum computer

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Yes

Stroke is a major global health challenge – the third leading cause of death and disability combined. But it also a condition that, for the most part, results from modifiable risk factors, such as poor diet, lack of exercise and other lifestyle factors.

In 2024, 8.8% of adults aged 16 to 59 years in England and Wales – around 2.9 million individuals - reported having used a legal or illegal recreational drug in the past year. Recent data from the USA reports that over half of all those aged over 12 have used drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and opiates at least once.

There is increasing evidence that these drugs may increase the risk of stroke, but the evidence is often of differing quality and is observational only, meaning it is impossible to say whether the use of these drugs itself increases the risk of stroke, or whether this is purely a correlation.

To investigate this further, a team from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge first carried out a meta-analysis of studies encompassing more than 100 million people. A meta-analysis is a method for pooling and analysing cohort data from all of the published evidence. This approach allows researchers to bring together studies which, on their own may not provide sufficient evidence and sometimes disagree with each other, to provide more robust conclusions.

In findings published today in the International Journal of Stroke, the team found that the use of cocaine and amphetamines was associated with around double the risk of stroke (cocaine increased the risk by 96%, amphetamines by 122%), while cannabis use increased the risk by around 37%. The team found no statistically significant link between opioid use and stroke risk.

When the researchers restricted their analysis to individuals under 55 years, they found that amphetamine use almost tripled the risk of stroke (an increase of 174%); cannabis use increase stroke risk but by a smaller amount (14%), while cocaine use increased the risk by 97%.

To analyse these links further, the researchers used a statistical technique known as Mendelian randomisation, which looks at naturally occurring genetic variants related to risk factors and stroke and uses these to evaluate whether there is evidence to support a causal association with a particular risk factor.

This analysis showed that cocaine use disorders were particularly associated with brain haemorrhage and cardioembolic stroke (where a blood clot forms in the heart and travels to the brain, blocking blood flow and leading to damage of brain tissue). Cannabis use disorders were associated with stroke overall, particularly large artery stroke. This genetic evidence suggests a causal link, rather than just correlation.

Problematic alcohol use was linked to an increased risk of cardioembolic stroke and large artery stroke, while alcohol addiction increased the risk of stroke overall.

The researchers were unable to use Mendelian randomisation to look at associations with amphetamine as there are currently no large genetic datasets available with information on their usage.

The researchers suggest that possible reasons why these drugs are linked to an increased risk of stroke include sudden spikes in blood pressure, blood vessel spasm and constriction, heart rhythm problems, increased blood clotting (especially cannabis), and inflammation or vasculitis (especially amphetamines). These are all well-established pathways known to cause both ischaemic strokes, which result from blood clots, and haemorrhagic strokes.

Dr Megan Ritson from the Stroke Research Group at the University of Cambridge said: “This is the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on recreational drug use and stroke risk and provides compelling evidence that drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis are causal risk factors for stroke. These findings give us stronger evidence to guide future research and public health strategies.”

Dr Eric Harshfield, Alzheimer's Society Research Fellow at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, said: “Our analysis suggests that it is these drugs themselves that increase the risk of stroke, not just other lifestyle factors among users. Taken together, our findings emphasise the importance of public health measures to reduce substance abuse as a way of helping also reduce stroke risk.”

The research was funded by the British Heart Foundation, with additional support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.

Reference

Ritson, M, et al. Does Illicit Drug Use Increase Stroke Risk? A Systematic review, Meta-Analyses and Mendelian Randomization analysis. International Journal of Stroke; 9 March 2026; DOI: 10.1177/17474930261418926

The recreational drugs cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines significantly increase the risk of stroke – including among younger users – Cambridge researchers have concluded after analysing data from more than 100 million people.

Our analysis suggests that it is these drugs themselves that increase the risk of stroke, not just other lifestyle factors among usersEric HarshfieldKindel Media (Pexels)Close-up of a person holding a roll-up

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YesLicence type: Public Domain

Early mammals were nocturnal, sleeping during the day while large predators were active. However, after the extinction of dinosaurs, several different lineages of mammals independently transitioned to become active during the day. Exactly how this dramatic change occurred has proved elusive. A new study, published in the journal Science, has revealed a cellular switch which holds the answer.

Led by researchers from the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology, the study looked at how cells from a range of nocturnal (active at night) and diurnal (active in the day) mammals, like humans, respond to environmental signals.

Changes in temperature or osmolarity, as happens to the body throughout the day, caused the cells to respond in opposite ways, including in fundamental cellular functions. This divergence flips the timing of cellular activity, essentially acting as a day/night ‘switch’ at a molecular level.

The researchers pinpointed these differing responses to the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) and With-no-lysine (WNK) kinase pathways, central signalling networks in cells responsible for regulating several key functions, including protein synthesis. This suggested that modification of their activity could enable nocturnal mammals to switch to more diurnal activity.

To explore this hypothesis, the researchers administered diet-based treatments to mice to target the mTOR pathway, as mTOR activity is highly sensitive to nutrient levels. Once mTOR function was reduced, the mice began behaving more like diurnal animals, shifting their active hours into the daytime. This underlined that mTOR signalling goes beyond influencing metabolism; it also helps dictate when an animal is active.

The researchers then looked to contextualise this finding against the backdrop of mammalian evolution. After analysing genetic data across several species, co-author Matthew Christmas from Uppsala University found that genes regulating mTOR and WNK have evolved faster in diurnal mammals. This points to the importance these pathways have played in the shift from nighttime to daytime over millennia.

This discovery helps explain one of the most important evolutionary events in mammalian history and provides a piece of the puzzle for understanding human health.

To date, most explorations of pre-clinical biomedical research have depended on the mouse model, yet this study highlights that nocturnal rodents differ from humans in key cellular pathways linked to timing and metabolism. This study also carries clear implications for circadian medicine, a growing field that examines how the timing of treatments influences their effectiveness.

“That this radically different response of cellular ‘clocks’ to the same temperature shift seemed to be broadly true across mammalian species, when comparing those that are more active at night versus those that are more active during the day,” said co-author Dr Nina Rzechorzek, from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. “We need more research to understand exactly how and why this happens, but it could teach us a lot about how biological clocks work and how they impact health and disease.”

Several of the key external factors harnessed in this study to influence animals’ circadian rhythms are vulnerable to environmental changes. As climate change disrupts temperature levels and food production capabilities, this work suggests mammals may change the time of day they are active in response. This will disrupt the fragile balance of relationships in our ecosystems and is an impact of climate change, which has perhaps been overlooked thus far.

This work was funded by UKRI MRC, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, Wellcome and the Royal Society. The project was further supported by Blue Sky collaboration between AstraZeneca UK Limited and the Medical Research Council (BSF38).

Reference:
Andrew D. Beale et al. ‘A cellular basis for the mammalian nocturnal-diurnal switch.’ Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.ady2822

Adapted from an LMB media release.

Differences in cellular pathway activity flip the switch from nocturnality to diurnality and explain a major evolutionary change humans have undergone.

nambitomo via Getty ImagesCircardian rhythms

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Yes

In a paper, published today in the British Journal of Psychiatry, a group of experts say there is no robust evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the UK. They refute the view that ‘nowadays everyone has ADHD’, which is gaining traction in public discourse and has been amplified by some leading politicians, as demand rises for NHS assessments and services.

Bringing together academics, clinicians, people with lived experience and carers, the group say this narrative risks misleading the public and policymakers and overshadows a more pressing concern - unmet need.

Professor Tamsin Ford, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, senior co-author on the paper, said: “While many more people with ADHD are being recognised and treated, we are failing to support many more. Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits; and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common.”

Professor Samuele Cortese from the University of Southampton, the study’s first author, said: “Rather than focusing on increases or decreases in diagnostic rates, attention should be directed toward the extent to which those with ADHD are being adequately diagnosed and treated.

“While misdiagnosis and inappropriate diagnosis do occur, the available evidence indicates that under-diagnosis and under-treatment remain the predominant challenges.”

When standardised diagnostic criteria are applied, the prevalence of ADHD internationally is around 5 per cent in children and 3 per cent in adults.

While prevalence has increased over time, NHS administrative data in England remains substantially below these expected levels, suggesting that many people with ADHD are living without a diagnosis and adequate support.

The group acknowledge that misdiagnosis can occur in some cases, particularly where assessments rely heavily on self-reporting or where alternative conditions are not fully considered.

The researchers stress that the absence of biological diagnostic markers means that thorough, multidisciplinary clinical assessment is essential. Field trials show that when clinicians are properly trained, an ADHD diagnosis is amongst the most reliable for a mental health condition.

Professor Chris Hollis from the University of Nottingham, a co-author, said: “Similar to physiological traits, such as blood pressure or weight, ADHD symptoms are distributed along a continuum. But as with hypertension or obesity, there are diagnostic severity thresholds that determine health risks and what interventions should be used. Similarly, in ADHD a risk-stratified stepped-care approach may be useful.”

The team highlight significant pressure on UK services, with long waiting times and growing demand, especially among adults who were not diagnosed in childhood. They point to figures showing around 27 per cent children and young people diagnosed with ADHD reported waiting one to two years, while 14 per cent waited two to three years.

Evidence shows that untreated ADHD is associated with serious long-term risks, while effective treatments are available, backed by strong evidence, and generally well tolerated.

“The costs of untreated ADHD are often overlooked,” said Professor Cortese. “They include increased risk of academic failure, suicidal behaviour, substance abuse, criminality, injury and death. The failure to provide treatments which have been shown to reduce these risks represents a major ethical issue that needs to be urgently addressed.”

The authors call for improved funding, workforce training and a more balanced, evidence-based conversation to ensure accurate diagnosis while expanding access to care for those who need it.

Cambridge Children's Hospital

The editorial highlights that a group of children where ADHD may tend to be missed or under diagnosed are those that have co-occurring conditions. One such group is children with long term physical health problems, who have elevated rates of ADHD. This is often under-detected and under-treated.

Cambridge Children's Hospital aims to fully integrate physical and mental healthcare, including detecting and treating neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD in children who also have physical health needs.

Early detection and intervention have a positive impact on emotions, behaviour, educational attainment and peer relationships, as well as helping children cope with the health care they may need to receive, such as staying in hospital, procedures or operations.

Studies have shown that children with epilepsy have up to six times the population rate of ADHD, yet often have difficulty obtaining treatment but when they are successfully treated there is a significant improvement in functioning and quality of life.

Reference

Cortese, S et al. ADHD (over) diagnosis: fiction, fashion, and failure. British Journal of Psychiatry; 6 March 2026; DOI:

Adapted from a press release from the University of Southampton

Experts are warning that far from being over-diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support and treatment.

Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits, and sadly, missed diagnoses remain commonTamsin FordEkaterina Demidova (Getty Images)Boy in a classroom

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Yes

The technology, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, is based on liquid metal composites and graphene – a two-dimensional form of carbon. The ‘skin’ allows robots to detect not just how hard they are pressing on an object, but also the direction of applied forces, whether an object is slipping, and even how rough a surface is, at a scale small enough to rival the spatial resolution of human fingertips. Their results are reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Human fingers rely on multiple types of mechanoreceptors to sense pressure, force, vibration, and texture simultaneously. Reproducing this level of multidimensional tactile perception in artificial systems is a significant challenge, especially in devices that are both small and durable enough for practical use.

“Most existing tactile sensors are either too bulky, too fragile, too complex to manufacture or unable to accurately distinguish between normal and tangential forces,” said Professor Tawfique Hasan from the Cambridge Graphene Centre, who led the research. “This has been a major barrier to achieving truly dexterous robotic manipulation.”

To overcome this, the research team developed a soft, flexible composite material, combining graphene sheets, deformable metal microdroplets, and nickel particles, embedded in a silicone matrix.

Inspired by the microstructures found in human skin, the researchers shaped the material into tiny pyramids, some as small as 200 micrometres across. These pyramid structures concentrate stress at their tips, enabling the sensor to detect extremely small forces while maintaining a wide measurement range.

The result is a tactile sensor sensitive enough to detect a grain of sand. Compared with existing flexible tactile sensors, the new device improves size and detection limits by roughly an order of magnitude.

The sensor can also distinguish shear forces from normal pressure, a capability that allows it to detect when an object begins to slip. By measuring signals from four electrodes beneath each pyramid, the sensor can mathematically reconstruct the full three-dimensional force vector in real time.

In demonstrations, the team integrated the sensors into robotic grippers. The robots were able to grasp fragile objects, such as thin paper tubes, without crushing them. Unlike conventional force sensors, which rely on prior information about an object’s properties, the new system adapts in real time through slip detection.

At even smaller scales, microsensor arrays could identify the mass, geometry, and material density of tiny metal spheres by analysing force magnitude and direction. This opens the door to applications in minimally invasive surgery or microrobotics, where conventional force sensors are far too large.

Beyond robotics, the technology could have significant implications for prosthetics. Advanced artificial limbs increasingly rely on tactile feedback to provide users with a sense of touch. Highly sensitive, miniaturised 3D force sensors could enable more natural interactions with objects, improving control, safety, and user confidence.

“Our approach shows that bulky mechanical structures or complex optics are not required to achieve high-resolution 3D tactile sensing,” said lead author Dr Guolin Yun, a former Royal Society Newton International Fellow at Cambridge, and now Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China. “By combining smart materials with skin-inspired structures, we achieve performance that comes remarkably close to human touch.”

Looking ahead, the researchers believe the sensors could be miniaturised even further, potentially below 50 micrometres, approaching the density of mechanoreceptors in human skin. Future versions may also integrate temperature and humidity sensing, moving closer to a fully multimodal artificial skin.

As robots increasingly move out of controlled factory environments and into homes, hospitals, and unpredictable real-world settings, such advances in touch could be transformative — allowing machines not just to see and act, but to truly feel.

A patent application has been filed through Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm. The research was supported by the Royal Society, the Henry Royce Institute, and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Tawfique Hasan is a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge. 

Reference:
Guolin Yun et al. ‘Multiscale-structured miniaturized 3D force sensors.’ Nature Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-026-02508-7

Adapted from a story originally published on the Electrical Engineering website. 

Robots are becoming increasingly capable in vision and movement, yet touch remains one of their major weaknesses. Now, researchers have developed a miniature tactile sensor that could give robots something much closer to a human sense of touch.

Kilito Chan via Getty ImagesHuman hand reaching for robotic hand

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Yes

It isn’t clear, however, whether the weight regain constitutes both fat and muscle, or mainly fat. Previous studies have suggested that lean body mass – including muscle – can constitute up to 40% of total weight lost during treatment.

More than a billion people worldwide are living with obesity, which increases the risk of diseases such as 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Weight loss can help mitigate these complications, but losing weight through diet and exercise alone can prove challenging.

In the past few years, a new generation of weight loss drugs has emerged that target a protein known as the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R). These drugs help control blood sugar and reduce appetite, and clinical trials have shown they can lead to weight losses of 15 to 20%.

Approximately half of all patients who begin taking these drugs discontinue their use within the first year, however, and three-quarters have stopped after two years. This is likely to be due to their potential side effects and to limited access under insurance coverage policies and national prescribing guidelines.

A team of students at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, has investigated the impact of stopping the medication, modelling the trajectory of weight regain over 12 months and beyond. Their findings are published today in eClinicalMedicine.

The team first carried out a systematic review of existing scientific and medical literature, identifying and summarising all the relevant evidence. They followed this with a meta‑analysis, which pools the results of multiple studies to estimate an overall effect. This approach allowed them to draw more robust conclusions from studies which, on their own, may provide insufficient evidence and sometimes disagree with each other.

In total, the team examined 48 relevant studies, comprising 36 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 12 non-randomised studies.

As most of these studies only followed patients for a few weeks after stopping the drugs, the team selected the six RCTs (comprising more than 3,200 individuals in total) that followed patients for up to 52 weeks after discontinuation of the weight loss drugs. They used these to model the trajectory of weight regain, including to extrapolate beyond 52 weeks.

The model estimated that when individuals stopped taking the medication, they underwent rapid initial weight regain, which slowed progressively. By 52 weeks, individuals had regained 60% of their original weight loss.

At 60 weeks, weight regain begins to plateau and is projected to taper off at 75% of the original weight loss. This means that 25% of the initial weight loss may be sustained in the long term. For an individual who had lost a fifth of their weight while on the drugs, this would correspond to a sustained weight reduction of around 5%.

Weight regain trajectories appeared broadly similar for the different types of weight loss drugs targeting GLP-1R.

Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, said: “Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite, making us feel full sooner, which means we eat less and therefore lose weight. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brake, and this can lead to rapid weight regain.”

The researchers say there are several reasons why people may not return to their original weight even a year after stopping the medications. One reason is that by reducing appetite, these drugs may help individuals develop healthier eating habits, such as reduced portion sizes or more nutritionally-balanced meals, and these habits may persist even after treatment is discontinued. The drugs may also affect the body long-term, altering hormone levels and ‘resetting’ the brain’s appetite control mechanisms.

Steven Luo, also a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, said: “When stopping weight loss drugs, doctors and patients should be aware of the potential for weight regain and consider ways to mitigate this risk.

“It’s important that people are given advice on improving their diet and exercise, rather than relying solely on the drugs, as this may help them maintain good habits when they stop taking them.”

There are significant concerns about the long-term consequences of GLP-1R drugs on body composition, with studies indicating that 40 to 60% of the weight lost during treatment is muscle. It was not clear whether individuals regain both fat and muscle.

Budini added: “Our projections show that even though people regain most of the weight they have lost, they still maintain some of the weight loss, but what we currently don’t know is if the same proportion of lean mass is recovered. If the regained weight is disproportionately fat, individuals may ultimately be worse off than before in their fat-to-lean mass ratio, which may have adverse consequences for their health.”

The researchers say there are several limitations to their study. Most importantly, the trial data used to fit their model only extended to 52 weeks after cessation. They also restricted their analysis to studies reporting at least 3kg on-treatment average weight loss.

Reference

Budini, B. & Luo, S. et al. Trajectory of weight regain after cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and nonlinear meta-regression. eClinicalMedicine; 4 Mar 2026; DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103796

A year after stopping taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, people regain on average 60% of their lost weight – but beyond this, their weight regain plateaus, with individuals managing to keep off 25% of the weight lost to treatment, say researchers at the University of Cambridge.

Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brakeBrajan BudiniIuliia BurmistrovaSubcutaneous injection of Semaglutide

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Yes

The study, carried out in mice and further validated using human tissue, may explain why some tiny, newly-formed tumours disappear, while others manage to survive and eventually grow into cancer.

Tumours arise when our DNA accumulates errors, or mutations, causing the cells to grow faster and ignore signals that would otherwise instruct damaged cells to die before they can cause harm. However, these same mutations can also accumulate in the tissues of healthy people during ageing without developing into cancer.

To examine why this should be the case, scientists at the University of Cambridge have been studying what additional factors influence tumour formation at the very early stages and what determines whether they persist and develop into cancer.

Previous collaborative work by the team had shown that when a newly-formed microscopic tumour first emerges in a tissue, it can be removed by other mutant cells surrounding it, which compete for space within the tissue. But this does not always happen. Scientists have puzzled for some time over why some of these so-called ‘incipient tumours’ manage to outwit the body’s defences and flourish, creating the conditions for advanced disease to develop.

To answer this question, a team led by scientists at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, modelled early stages of cancer in the upper part of the mouse digestive tract.

The researchers replicated key features of human disease by exposing mice to a chemical found in tobacco smoke, a known cancer risk factor. This causes mutations in the cells lining the oesophagus (gullet), leading to the development of microscopic tumours, most of which disappear naturally as described above – but some persist.

The team then tracked these nascent tumours over time, from the point when they were made up of just over a handful of altered cells (around 10 cells) through to later stages of disease. They analysed the tumours and surrounding cells using high‑resolution confocal microscopy and a range of tools, including single‑cell RNA sequencing and genetic cell tracking, to understand what each cell was doing. In addition, the team grew three-dimensional tissue in the lab, allowing them to model the interactions between the tumour cells and surrounding tissue.

In findings published today in Nature, the researchers found that at these early stages, the tumour sends a ‘distress signal’ to nearby fibroblasts – supportive ‘first-aid’ cells in the underlying tissue. This communication triggers a response that closely resembles wound healing. The fibroblasts behave as though the tissue has been damaged, producing a fibrotic scaffold around the tumour cells. This creates a supportive micro‑environment – a ‘pre-cancerous niche’ – that shelters the tumour from being cleared and helps it persist and grow.

Remarkably, the researchers found that this fibrotic scaffold alone was enough to give healthy, non-mutant cells tumour-like properties, even in the absence of cancer-causing mutations. This suggests that beyond genetic alterations, early tumours are shaped by how healthy cells in the underlying tissue respond, with lasting consequences for disease progression.  

When the researchers examined tissue from early-stage oesophageal cancers in humans, they found similar clusters of tumour cells sending stress signals, as well as the same fibrotic scaffolding seen in the mouse models, demonstrating that this mechanism is also relevant in people.

Dr Greta Skrupskelyte from the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, one of the lead authors, said: “A decade ago it was assumed that it is the mutated cells themselves that determine whether or not a cancer arises. Our findings show that the way healthy tissue responds to the emergence of early tumours also plays a crucial role in whether disease develops.”

When the team blocked the communication between the tumour cells and the underlying tissue, they found that the pre-cancerous niche did not form efficiently, and far fewer early tumours survived.

Dr Maria Alcolea, also from the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, said: “Understanding the mechanisms that allow these newly-formed microscopic tumours to persist and develop into cancer opens up new possibilities for preventing the disease before it takes hold.

“If we can find a way to block tumour cells from communicating with surrounding tissue, we may have a new way to stop cancer in its tracks.”

The researchers say the findings could also, in future, help improve early diagnosis of oesophageal cancer, a disease that is often caught at a late stage, when treatment options are more limited.

Dr Skrupskelyte added: “Although the clinical aspects of our work are at a very early stage, it has given us some biomarkers – red flags – that could help identify cancer much earlier. If validated, it could help us catch oesophageal cancer at a much earlier stage, when it is far easier to treat.”

The research was mainly funded by Worldwide Cancer Research, the Wellcome Trust, The Royal Society, the Medical Research Council and the Isaac Newton Trust.

The University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) are fundraising for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a new hospital that will transform how we diagnose and treat cancer, with early detection at the heart of its mission. Set to be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the hospital will bring together clinical excellence from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and world-leading researchers at the University of Cambridge. The research carried out there aims to change the lives of cancer patients across the UK and beyond. Find out more here.

Reference

Skrupskelyte, G et al. Precancerous niche remodelling dictates nascent tumour persistence. Nature; 4 March 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10157-8

Image

The survival of emerging tumours (labelled in red) is dictated by reciprocal interactions with the fibroblast-derived niche (labelled in greyscale) - presented in side view and top down view as 3D rendered confocal images (nuclei, blue).

Cambridge scientists have shown that when tumours first emerge, interactions with healthy cells in the underlying supportive tissue determine their ability to survive, grow, and progress to advanced stages of disease.

The way healthy tissue responds to the emergence of early tumours also plays a crucial role in whether disease developsGreta SkrupskelyteUniversity of CambridgeEmerging tumours (labelled in red) and the fibroblast-derived niche (grey), plus top-down view showing nuclei (blue)

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YesLicence type: Attribution

A University of Cambridge-led team says that the emerging market for voluntary biodiversity credits could support the rewilding of nature-depleted land - but only as top-up funding to other market approaches that support nature restoration, like carbon credits.

Conservation projects can sell biodiversity credits, through brokers, to individuals or organisations who want to voluntarily offset their damage to nature. The money is used to carry out the restoration project, with any surplus providing a financial return to the landowners.

This study is the first to measure the biodiversity gain likely to be achieved on an arable farm undergoing rewilding, and use this to calculate the potential value of the restoration on the emerging voluntary biodiversity credit market.

The team surveyed the species present at two very different rural sites in England: a conventional arable farm and potential nature recovery site - Boothby in Lincolnshire, and a former arable farm that has been rewilded over the past 20 years to become a leading example of nature recovery – the Knepp estate in West Sussex.

Comparison of the sites indicated that biodiversity at Boothby farm will increase by between 69% and 92% after 30 years - a biodiversity gain worth an estimated £1.5 million in voluntary biodiversity credits.

But with costs to restore the site - including site management and monitoring - estimated to be fifteen times higher than this, the team says the voluntary biodiversity credit market alone will not be enough to fund nature recovery.

Despite this, the team says voluntary biodiversity credits are an important component of financing nature restoration alongside other approaches like carbon credits.

Voluntary biodiversity credits work globally, and offer flexibility to projects in terms of how they approach nature recovery - which could be a particular benefit for rewilding projects. Rather than specifying the particular habitat types that must be created, as England’s mandatory ‘biodiversity net gain’ system does, this voluntary scheme only requires that biodiversity value increases - and pays out in proportion to that increase.

The study is published in the journal Conservation Biology.

“Voluntary biodiversity credits are important when combined with other ways of funding nature protection, like carbon credits. So it’s vital to have a realistic idea of how a site’s biodiversity will improve over time, in order to accurately calculate the credit value,” said Dr Cicely Marshall, first author of the report, who carried out the work while in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

“Our results show that voluntary biodiversity credits alone are not enough to fund nature recovery at large scale. The amount investors are willing to pay is around fifteen times less than the amount needed to cover a land restoration project in England,” added Marshall, who is now a Research Fellow at the University of Gloucestershire.

Land-use change and habitat destruction for farming - particularly the intensification of farming in the south of England - has left the country in a severely nature-depleted state. Rewilding involves leaving land to revert to its natural, uncultivated state - restoring the natural ecosystems vital for nearby farming.

Surveying the sites

The team carried out surveys to identify and compare biodiversity at the Knepp estate and Boothby farm. They focused on groups of species that give a good indication of soil recovery and ecosystem functioning, alongside classical indicators of ecosystem health like plants and birds.

Using a technique called ‘DNA metabarcoding’ the team accurately identified each species of flying invertebrate (including butterflies and bees), land invertebrate (including ants and spiders), soil invertebrate (including worms) and soil fungi they found.

The results showed that overall, the land at the Knepp Estate was around twice as rich in biodiversity than the Boothby land. Knepp also had improved ecosystem functioning, represented by 33% more pollinator species and 25% more species of beneficial fungus.

Comparison of the sites enabled the team to predict how much biodiversity Boothby could potentially gain over 30 years if rewilded, and then to calculate Boothby’s value in terms of biodiversity credits using a method called the Wallacea Trust framework. This globally-applicable framework defines one biodiversity credit as a 1% improvement in biodiversity per hectare of land.

Voluntary versus mandatory credits

Large companies are under increasing pressure to compensate for the damage they cause to biodiversity.

Voluntary biodiversity credits are available through around 80 brokers, offering funding to conservation projects across the world. Measuring biodiversity gain is not straightforward - with no standard definition of a unit of biodiversity, various methods are used to calculate the value of a credit.

The idea is that investors sell credits to restore arable landscapes, valued using an estimate of how nature will have recovered on a site in thirty years’ time. They can sell credits every five years if they can prove these biodiversity gains have been achieved. With large amounts of money involved, reliable forecasts are vital in predicting the return on the initial investment in land purchase and site management.

Defra’s mandatory ‘biodiversity net gain’ approach allows developers to buy biodiversity credits to compensate for damage done elsewhere - ensuring that habitats for wildlife are left in a 10% better state than before the development. Management of the land under this approach is much more prescriptive than rewilding through a voluntary biodiversity credit approach.

In an alternative calculation using Defra’s statutory biodiversity metric, the team found the economic value of restoring Boothby’s farmland to natural habitat could be £69 million over 30 years. This covers the costs and provides a generous return to investors - but only if all the units can be sold.

Marshall, who is also associated with the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute and King’s College, Cambridge, said: “There’s increasing pressure on companies to offset their impacts on nature. Biodiversity credits are happening - and it’s important that the biodiversity metrics they’re based on are fit for purpose. Our project aimed to put some numbers on these credits, and de-risk them for investors and nature.”

The work was carried out in collaboration with Nattergal and the DNA barcoding company NatureMetrics. It was funded by Nattergal.

Reference

Marshall, C. A.M. et al: ‘Potential to Fund Arable Rewilding in England with Biodiversity Credits.’ Conservation Biology, March 2026. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70207

Payments that enable landowners to rewild ecologically degraded land - in the form of biodiversity credits bought by investors wishing to offset their impact on nature - could be an effective component of the emerging market for nature recovery, but will not work as a stand-alone approach.

The amount investors are willing to pay is around fifteen times less than the amount needed to cover a land restoration project in England.Cicely MarshallWildflower meadow

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Yes

The researchers call for a radical change in the way society understands suicide and mental illness in autistic people, who are three to five times more likely to die by suicide.

The study, published today in eClinicalMedicine, involved over 2,500 autistic people and allies/ supporters of autistic people. It is part of the biggest ever survey on suicide among autistic adults.

Historically, suicide has been attributed to mental illness, and mental illness has often been seen as an inevitable consequence of and an inherent part of autism. This narrative locates ‘sickness’ in the individual, addressed by clinical interventions that support individuals at crisis point rather than looking at and addressing the underlying societal contributions.

In contrast, participants in this study were clear that the “seeds of all autistic suicide deaths” are set in childhood, by missed diagnosis and educational systems that fail to support special educational needs (SEN) pupils. Participants in the study highlighted school years as the source of many later problems.

Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, principal investigator and Director of the Autism Research Centre, said: “Participants in our study highlighted the dire straits faced by many autistic people and their families in the UK. Misunderstood and unsupported by staff, bullied by pupils, autistic people explained that school experiences sow the seeds for their later suicidal thoughts. The parents of autistic children described being threatened by the legal consequences of absenteeism when their children were unable to cope in mainstream schools.”

These findings are startling given forthcoming SEND reforms, which are likely to result in EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plans) being scrapped for many autistic, ADHD and SEND pupils. There are fears that this will strip legal protections from many vulnerable children and parents, and place unrealistic expectations on under-resourced schools and under-trained teachers to support students in mainstream settings.

While many participants focused on their school years as the source of their suicidal thoughts, others pointed out how “absolutely useless and without hope” autistic people feel on leaving the education system. They report insufficient transitional support into adulthood, lack of support in the community, inadequate welfare systems and employment support, and inaccessible and damaging healthcare systems.

The seeds of suicide thrive in a culture where autistic people feel unwelcome and unwanted, they said.  

Autistic people have the lowest employment rates of any disabled group, with only 30% of autistic people in employment currently. Improving employment rates among autistic people is another priority, given the role participants said that employment difficulties and related poverty played in their suicidal thoughts.

Beyond education and employment, autistic people in the new study were clear: halting progression towards suicide deaths requires committed long-term vision from the government. Chief among this is a commitment to a properly resourced and co-produced Autism Strategy, as called for in the recent Autism Act Review.

Dr Rachel Moseley, lead author of the new study and principal academic at Bournemouth University, said: “Our suicidal autistic participants expressed desperation waiting for health and social care that never arrives. But they didn’t reach that point of desperation overnight. Rather, they got there through a lifetime of inequalities in a society that fails to protect and support autistic people. There will never be enough crisis support to save every suicidal autistic person if we don’t disrupt the suicidal trajectory.”

Co-author Dr Carrie Allison, Deputy Director of the Autism Research Centre, said: “If we consider suicide in autistic people as a societal issue rather than an individual one, then we can do something about it. Autistic deaths by suicide are needless and preventable. We urge the government to partner with autistic people and their allies to develop to a cross-sector strategy to support autistic people throughout their lives.”

The study was initiated by charity Autism Action, whose number one priority is reducing suicide in autistic people, and led by the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, with a project team including academics from Bournemouth University, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, and SOAS University of London. 

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. Alternatively, you can contact PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 or by texting 88247.

Reference

Moseley, RL et al. "The best way we can stop suicides is by making lives worth living": a mixed-methods survey in the UK of perspectives on suicide prevention from the autism community. eClinMed; 3 Mar 2026; DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103793

Suicide in autistic people originates in the inequalities they face across their lives, starting in childhood, and spanning education to employment, and health and social care, a new study by a team at Cambridge and Bournemouth Universities has found.

Jakob Owens (Unsplash)Man in black jacket sitting on bed

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YesLicence type: Public Domain

A weakened Iran  

Asked about the motives behind the events, Dr Pesaran shares her views: “This war is an attempt to decimate an already weakened Iran. And it's important to look at it in the context of both the 12-day war that happened last year in 2025, and following on from the protests that we've seen across Iran." She added President Donald Trump at the time of the 12-day war “claimed to have destroyed Iranian nuclear capabilities. Now he's articulated some claims that this is a war to protect America and its allies from the Iranian nuclear programme. Either he destroyed it last year, or he didn't.” 

Regime change 

Dr Pesaran argues that this is an extremely significant moment for Iran and explains how the Islamic Republic is re-organising following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “Since the killing of the Supreme Leader, Khamenei, the Council of the Islamic Republic has set up a triumvirate of leaders who will be taking that role of supreme leader, leading the country, setting strategy and taking that leadership role. And in the meantime, the assembly of experts, which is an appointed body, which exists for this very moment, has taken up responsibility.” She warns that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and security apparatus will view American intervention as proof that the people protesting are being backed by foreign forces, saying: “It gives an excuse to the regime to securitise Iranian society even further, and to be even more violent in its responses to any popular uprisings.” 
 
She explains: “The weakening of the regime, the removal, the assassination of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it does not mean that it's just easy for people to go in and take over a country. It's very hard to set up governance structures and all of the institutional frameworks. And it's far more likely that this is just leading to chaos and hoped for disintegration of the country."

Implications for Iranian people 

The population of Iran is close to 93 million and lives across a huge geographical landscape. On how this might be impacting them, Dr Pesaran comments: “We really need to recognise that the people of Iran are not a single entity”, explaining that there is significant diversity in what people want and how they are responding to this war.  

She says we see mostly two camps within the media depictions we have of Iranian responses to this war, pro or against: "But this image kind of creates a really false dichotomy," adding: “In reality, I think many, many more Iranians sit in that grey area, in the middle, where they're feeling that it's actually possible to hold these two truths in their minds at the same time, that we can both be very angry and opposed to the Islamic Republic, and all of the suffering and killing that it has caused, and also be opposed to foreign intervention. Iran has had a long history of meddling by Britain and then America, and also Russia, in its history.” She believes we need to listen carefully to Iranians who occupy this more complex middle ground going forward.  

On what the future may bring for the people of Iran, Dr Pesaran believes: “Those who are celebrating the killing of Khamenei are hopeful that this is going to lead smoothly and peacefully to a transition towards a liberal democracy. I hope this is the case, but I fear that they may be very disappointed.” 

Regional implications 

Dr Pesaran argues the attacks by America and Israel were unprovoked and that there was no imminent threat, stating: "Many would have interpreted this war as an illegal war." She explains the significant regional implications developing: "Many countries in the Gulf region have military bases of the United States and are allowing and enabling American attacks on to Iranian soil, so the response of the Iranian regime is to attack those countries... Iran is really hoping to put pressure on these Gulf states to then put pressure on to the United States to leverage Trump to reduce the intensity or to stop the attacks on Iran."

Following attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, and counter-attacks by Iran across the Middle East, Dr Evaleila Pesaran, Senior College Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Murray Edwards College, gives her analysis of events unfolding in the region.

The war in Iran: An expert analysis The war in Iran: An expert analysis Video of The war in Iran: An expert analysis

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Yes

The Cambridge women entered the fixture determined to respond to last year’s 27–7 defeat, but faced a powerful Oxford side who ran in eight tries to secure a 52–8 victory. It was a difficult afternoon for the Light Blues, marking their largest margin of defeat in 26 years.

Despite the scoreline, there were moments of resilience and quality. In the 56th minute, Esther Makourin collected the ball inside her own half and showed impressive pace and determination to evade several tacklers before finishing in the corner. Charlotte Cooper added a penalty to complete Cambridge’s scoring.

While the result was disappointing, the team could walk off the pitch proud of their commitment, resolve and fighting spirit throughout.

The men’s fixture proved a more closely fought contest, particularly in the first half. Cambridge, who had won the previous three meetings, were looking to continue their run of success.

James Wyse crossed the line for a crucial try, with Ollie East adding the conversion and a penalty to keep Cambridge firmly in contention at half-time, trailing 15–10. Early in the second half, Patrick Shrimpton went over for Cambridge as the sides traded tries.

Oxford ultimately seized control in the latter stages, adding three tries to extend their advantage. East slotted a further penalty for Cambridge before Alex Nimmo crossed for a late try, but the Dark Blues secured a 37–25 victory.

It marked the first time since 2014 that Oxford had claimed both the men’s and women’s Varsity fixtures in the same year.

While the trophies will reside in Oxford this year, the Varsity Matches once again demonstrated the very best of university sport: commitment, camaraderie and respect between fierce rivals.

We look forward to the challenge ahead for our CURUFC teams and to our Light Blues bringing the trophies back to Cambridge next year.

 

Cambridge University Rugby Blues were defeated in both the men’s and women’s Varsity Matches against Oxford at StoneX Stadium in London this weekend, as the annual contest once again showcased the intensity, tradition and sporting spirit that define this historic rivalry.

 

Photo credit: Lucy WrightRugby players look out over a rugby pitch.

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YesLicence type: Attribution

“Play nicely, children,” has been a familiar plea of stressed-out parents and teachers since time immemorial. Now, new research suggests that getting children to play together cooperatively may depend less on their social skills than the type of play involved – and who they are playing with.

In a new study, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Sussex found that children who are not already friends play “in sync” with one another more when they are given a task to complete. Simply letting them play freely, by contrast, does not produce the same collaborative back-and-forth.

The research divided 148 children aged six to eight into pairs of friends and non-friends. Each pair completed two activities: an open-ended play session and a goal-directed drawing task, in which they had to work together to create a picture.

Researchers then measured the children’s “connectedness” – how much children were talking about the same topic – to understand how far they cooperated, shared ideas and communicated coherently.

On average, connectedness rates were higher during the drawing task than when the children were playing freely. A closer look, however, revealed that the change occurred almost entirely among the non-friend pairs, whose connectedness during goal-directed play shot up by about 25%.

Dr Emily Goodacre, from the Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Research Centre, University of Cambridge, said: “When I first saw the results, I thought: ‘This doesn’t make sense – why would this only happen among non-friends?’ The answer is probably that friends have shared experiences and an intuitive understanding of how to play together, but non-friends lack that familiarity and might benefit from being set a goal.”

“When we think about children’s development, we tend to look at the individual child – but more and more research is telling us to pay attention to who they are interacting with and the wider situation. This is important when thinking about education – especially issues like how to organise group activities in classrooms.”

Connected communication is important for social coordination. While many children will sit side-by-side using the same toys but essentially play alone, connectedness describes moments when they are actively coordinating their play. “Connectedness is partly about teamwork, but also about learning to negotiate with others and respond to somebody else’s feelings and needs,” Goodacre said.

Previous research by the PEDAL team has indicated that whether children connect during play has less to do with their individual socio-cognitive abilities than might be expected. The new study investigated this further, using data gathered in five UK schools.

Each child was asked to identify their three best friends. They were then organised into a mix of friend and non-friend pairings.

The researchers videoed them playing in two different ways. First, the children were given a Playmobil treehouse toy set and asked to play however they wished. Next, the researchers gave them a drawing of a tree-trunk and asked them to turn it into a picture of the treehouse. Because they only had one pad and a few colouring pens, the children had to work together to complete the drawing.

The team analysed the recording for passages of connected talk – moments when children said something linked to what the other child had said. Each pair was given a connectedness score: a percentage measure of the rate of connected conversation.

Across the entire group, the average rate of connected talk rose by about four percentage points – a statistically significant amount – during the drawing task. When the researchers dug into this further, however, they found that it was almost entirely because the non-friends’ connectedness score jumped from 44% to 55%. Among friends, the rate of connected talk was almost identical: 48% during free play and 50% during goal-directed play.

This does not necessarily mean that friends were less collaborative. Close friends may rely more on non-verbal cues or a shared sense of how to play together, meaning that the goal-directed task did not substantially alter their communication patterns.

Anecdotally, Goodacre said the difference was clear in the recordings. Conversations between non-friends were often more functional and less excitable or creative, but the shared goal encouraged them to listen and respond to one another.

“Children who are already friends can play and do things together in lots of different contexts,” Goodacre said. “On the other hand, if a teacher or parent wants children who aren’t friends to collaborate, a shared goal may help them communicate more effectively. They may need more support to play together than simply giving them toys and asking them to play nicely.”

The findings are published in the journal Infant and Child Development.

Getting children to play together cooperatively depends less on their personal social skills and more on what they are doing – especially if they are not friends – a study shows.

Chris Tobin/GettyTwo young boys running hand in hand in evening light

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Yes

The move represents a major milestone in the long-term development of women’s football in the city and will see the team return to Cambridge for the first time in several decades. Since Cambridge United FC assumed operational responsibility for the team in 2022, establishing a permanent home within the city has been the main strategic priority to allow the Club to build a strong local supporter base and create a sustainable platform for future growth.

Founded in 1896, Grange Road Stadium is jointly owned by Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club (established 1871) and Cambridge University Association Football Club (established 1856). The stadium has been home to two of the country’s most historic sporting institutions, both of which have played critical roles in the national and international development of their sports. 

This announcement follows the opening of The Mumford Pitch at Grange Road in November 2025. The newly transformed, floodlit, 3G artificial pitch – named in recognition of principal donor Hugh Mumford – has enabled year-round access to high-quality sporting facilities for both students and the wider Cambridge community. It's unveiling marked the completion of the first phase of an ambitious redevelopment of the historic sports ground, with a long term ambition to provide enhanced spectator facilities, improved player infrastructure, and expanded community-use spaces.

Mark Brian, Director of Sport at Cambridge University and Board Member at CUWFC said: “We are entering a new era for sport at the University, and this partnership is an excellent example of how our facilities can contribute to wider sporting development and civic engagement across the city. We look forward to welcoming CUWFC to Grange Road from the start of next season and working closely with them to support the continued growth of the women’s game.”

Gisela Otten, Chair of the Women’s Board, said: “This is a landmark moment for Cambridge United Women and for women’s football in the city. Bringing the team back to Cambridge has been a long-term strategic ambition for us and we firmly believe this move can unlock enormous potential over the coming years - not only in terms of matchday attendances, but also new sponsorship, community engagement and the continued development of the women’s game across the region. Our thanks go to Cambridge University and both CUAFC and CURUFC for helping enable this exciting step. The forward thinking and open way they have helped create this opportunity for us is a great example of the positive civic engagement of Cambridge University in action. I also want to put on record our thanks to St Neots Town FC who have given the first team a home over recent years and enabled a key development phase of the Club. We are also very grateful to our owners Paul and Mark for their support in helping make it happen. They are passionate about driving CUWFC forward as part of our wider ambition at Cambridge United to widen opportunity and do even more for Cambridge as one of its biggest civic institutions."

President of Cambridge University Association Football Club, David Cardwell, said, “Cambridge is the birthplace of modern football and this is a symbolic and important moment with both its professional club and its oldest club uniting to help drive forward the women’s game in the city. The University is committed to playing an ever more active role in the life of the city and we want to play our part in inspiring and engaging a new generation of female footballers."

Cameron Holloway, Leader of Cambridge City Council, added, “I am delighted that Cambridge United Women’s team will be playing in the city from the start of next season. Football is in the DNA of Cambridge, with the rules of the game first codified on Parker’s Piece in 1848, and Cambridge United is one of our key civic institutions. This partnership is a fantastic example of Cambridge University putting into practice its desire to do more for the civic life of Cambridge, and of the city’s ambition to extend sporting opportunity more widely. I hope that this move can help to inspire new generations of young girls to take up the game in years to come.”

Daniel Zeichner, Member of Parliament for Cambridge said, "Women’s football is on a massive growth curve on and off the pitch. It has been great to see the progress that Cambridge United have made over the last few years and this is now a fantastic opportunity to grow the women’s game in the heart of the city. Congratulations to both the club and University for making this strategic partnership happen. It is a fantastic illustration of civic vision and co-operation. I look forward to coming to a game at Grange Road next season."

To receive updates on Cambridge United Women, including news and upcoming fixture information, please click here.

Cambridge University and Cambridge United FC are pleased to announce that Cambridge United Women will play their home fixtures at the University’s historic Grange Road Stadium from the start of the 2026/27 season.

L-R: Mark Brian, Director of Sport, Cambridge University; Charlotte Crisp, Cambridge United Head Of Female Football; Gisela Otten, Chair of the Women’s Board; David Cardwell, President of Cambridge University Association Football Club

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Yes

The ranking is particularly significant because it is based on an independent and anonymous survey of employees across the country, rather than information provided via employers. More than 200,000 evaluations were gathered from 20,000 staff working in organisations with over 250 employees.

Participants were asked to provide:

• Direct evaluations of their own employer, including how likely they would be to recommend their workplace to friends and family.
• Indirect evaluations of other employers in their sector.
• Feedback on areas such as working conditions, salary, development opportunities and organisational culture.

Direct employee recommendations were given the greatest weight in the final scoring, making Cambridge’s top position a strong reflection of how colleagues feel about working here.

Welcoming the list’s publication, Professor Kamal Munir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement, said: “I am very proud of this important recognition in the Financial Times, which reflects the hard work of many colleagues. We are committed to continually improving the working environment and supporting academic and professional excellence.”

Jobs at the University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has been ranked the UK’s top employer in the Financial Times’ Best Employers 2026 survey.

We are committed to continually improving the working environment and supporting academic and professional excellence.Professor Kamal Munir

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Yes

The Taoiseach announced that Professor Alvin Jackson would be the first person to hold the new post. The news was shared during a special event at Trinity College’s Wren Library, with many guests present.

The new Professorship was created thanks to a major gift of £3.6 million made by the Irish Government on the basis of establishing the Childers Professorship. It is named after Robert Erskine Childers and his son, Erskine Hamilton Childers. Both attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and played important roles in modern Irish history.

The Taoiseach’s visit showed Ireland’s strong commitment to supporting Irish history at Cambridge and building closer academic ties between Ireland and the UK. Speaking about this new academic post, the Taoiseach said: “I am delighted to be in Cambridge today to mark the establishment of the Childers Chair of Irish History in Trinity College. This is a time when we need to protect and strengthen bonds between our countries. It is a time when we need to assert the importance of diverse, rigorous and independent historical scholarship. It is a time when we should do more to honour figures who can challenge us to see the richness and complexity of our past. 

"This Professorship is a small but important demonstration of the commitment of the Irish government to addressing these challenges. It will deepen and enrich scholarship and build a greater understanding of the complex and interlinked political, economic and social histories of Ireland and Britain, and how these histories entwined to shape our two countries and the evolving relationship between us."

Professor Prentice said: “We are delighted to welcome the Taoiseach to Cambridge. This visit provides an opportunity to demonstrate our strong commitment to academic collaboration between the United Kingdom and Ireland. We are proud to highlight the University’s extensive work on Irish history, which has long attracted distinguished scholars. We are equally delighted to welcome Professor Alvin Jackson as the inaugural Childers Professor of Irish History.”

Professor Alvin Jackson joins Cambridge from Edinburgh University, where he has served as the Richard Lodge Professor of History since 2005. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy and a Member of the Academia Europaea. He is internationally recognised for his scholarship on modern Irish history.

Professor Alvin Jackson said: “Cambridge has had a long tradition of researching and teaching Irish history, and of addressing the complexities of the British-Irish relationship. I'm honoured both by the opportunity to contribute to this tradition – and by the invitation to join the current, distinguished community of historians at Cambridge. The generosity of the Irish government in funding the Childers professorship guarantees that Irish history will be lastingly rooted in the University and indeed more widely; and it's a huge privilege to be inaugurating the work of the new chair.” 

Professor Lucy Delap, Chair of the Faculty of History, and Professor in Modern British and Gender History at the University of Cambridge, welcomed Professor Jackson to the Faculty. Professor Delap said: “This significant gift to the History Faculty will place Irish history at the forefront of our work. The Childers Professor will offer historical perspectives on pressing issues today in British/Irish relations and Ireland’s wider global relationships. It’s an honour, and testament to the importance of this post, that the Taoiseach is here in person to celebrate the establishment of the Professorship.”

Professor Jackson is expected to begin in the post in October 2026.

The Taoiseach's announcement of the first Childers Professor of Irish History can be viewed in full here.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, welcomed the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, Micheál Martin, to Cambridge to celebrate the appointment of the University’s first Childers Professor of Irish History.

This is a time when we need to protect and strengthen bonds between our countries. It is a time when we need to assert the importance of diverse, rigorous and independent historical scholarship. It is a time when we should do more to honour figures who can challenge us to see the richness and complexity of our past. Taoiseach Micheál MartinUniversity of CambridgeTaoiseach Micheál Martin, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, and Professor Alvin Jackson

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YesLicence type: Attribution

The exhibition, curated by Cambridge art historian Dr Christina J Faraday features works by eleven contemporary artists working across painting, digital media, video and photography, animatronics, ceramics, jewellery and silversmithing, set alongside rarely seen objects from historical collections in Cambridge.

“The Tudor period brought the advent of many ‘modern’ ideas in the realms of politics, religion, and society,” Dr Faraday says. “It also witnessed the first two English Queens Regnant, and the rise of England’s imperial and colonial ambitions abroad.

“Above all, it produced some of the most exciting and iconic images and objects in British art of any period. Many artists today are interrogating similar themes, making the era fertile ground for exploring issues of power, identity and artifice.”

The free-to-enter exhibition explores themes such as the representation of power; bodily presentation and bodily regulation; artistic responses to gender, race and ‘otherness’ within British and imperial histories; magic, technology and hidden forces, and the question of artistic artifice and art’s (in)ability to give access to ‘real’ historical subjects.

Dr Faraday says: “Artists of every age have been drawn to the Tudor period – each one finding something relevant to their own time. For the Victorians it was the first glimmerings of England’s Protestant Empire and the first strong English queen. For artists now, gender and empire are still to the fore, but complicated by more recent reassessments of themes such as identity, power and politics.” 

“In this exhibition, artists revel in the look of the Tudor period – the sumptuous materials, the jewels and costumes, but also the inventive and charismatic everyday objects. At the same time, they engage with the period's reputation for cruelty and violence - Machiavellian politics and executions at home, and the origins of colonial and imperial atrocities abroad.

“Several of the artists are fascinated by what Tudor portraits can tell us about representations of power, and how that interacts with ideas about gender for a monarch like Elizabeth I, who was the most powerful person in the country, yet viewed as physically 'inferior' to the men of her court due to her sex.”

The centrepiece of the exhibition is Mat Collishaw’s Mask of Youth, an animatronic re-imagining of Elizabeth I’s ‘real’ features, seen here for only the third time in the UK since it was commissioned for an exhibition at the Queen’s House, Greenwich in 2018.

Stephen Farthing RA’s Elizabeth I: In a Field of Stars, a work made specially for this exhibition, is shown alongside works by The Singh Twins, Linder Sterling, Chan-Hyo Bae, Peter Brathwaite, Eleanor Breeze, Natasja Kensmil, Serena Korda, and Jane Partner, all of which deploy Tudor art and imagery in ways that speak urgently to contemporary audiences.

The exhibition will present the contemporary artworks alongside loans of historical works, creating conversations across time and media. Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is lending some charismatic Bellarmine jugs – bottles with grimacing bearded faces at the necks which were later recycled as witch bottles to ward off evil. The artist Serena Korda makes her own contemporary versions of these objects that explore themes of violence and ritual.

The Old Schools is lending their portrait of Elizabeth I, painted at a fraught moment in her reign when the question of whether she should marry had its last, acute airing. It speaks to contemporary works in the show which use Elizabeth’s own image to explore ideas about gender, power, race and empire.

Dr Christina Faraday is a historian of art and ideas specialising in the Tudor period. She is an Affiliated Lecturer in the History of Art Department at Cambridge. Her first book, Tudor Liveliness: Vivid Art in Post-Reformation England, was published in 2023. Her latest, The Story of Tudor Art, was published in 2025.

She says: “I have been struck by the similarities between artists’ practices today and the experiences of Tudor artists. Artists now are often multidisciplinary, working across lots of different media and incorporating performance as well as physical objects into their works. This was also true for someone like Hans Holbein the Younger - famous now for his portraits of Henry VIII and his courtiers, but who spent most of his time designing ephemeral scenery and banners for one-off court entertainments.

“Many of the artists here reject the idea of the 'lone genius' artist who creates an entirely original composition; many of the artists work in collaboration with others, or incorporate elements of collage and bricolage using pre-existing materials to create new compositions - much closer to Tudor ideas about creativity, which favoured the imaginative reuse of pre-existing forms, quotations and ideas.”

The Heong Gallery, Downing College, Cambridge, CB2 1DQ

Open (free): Wednesday to Sunday, 12PM to 5PM

A programme of exhibition-related events runs alongside the Cambridge Festival.

‘Tudor Contemporary’, the first multidisciplinary exhibition to focus on the legacies of Tudor history and art in contemporary artistic practice is on display at The Heong Gallery at Downing College, Cambridge, from 20th February – 19th April 2026.

Artists of every age have been drawn to the Tudor periodChristina Faraday© Mat Collishaw; © The Singh Twins: www.singhtwins.co.ukLeft: © Mat Collishaw, Mask of Youth, 2018; Right: © The Singh Twins: www.singhtwins.co.uk,Trade Wars: Elizabeth I (Slaves of Fashion series), 2018.

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YesLicence type: Attribution-Noncommerical

Following this transition, Earth’s climate began swinging back and forth between warm interglacial periods and frigid ice ages, linked to slow, cyclic changes in Earth’s orbit. However, glacial periods after this tipping point became far more variable, with large swings in temperature over relatively short timescales of roughly a thousand years.

An international team of researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, analysed the chemical fingerprints in deep-sea cores from beneath the seafloor off the coast of Portugal. They looked at the chemical makeup of the sediments – in particular the ratios of elements such as calcium, titanium, zirconium and strontium –to reconstruct how fast the climate was changing.

“Things were relatively quiet until 2.7 million years ago, when we began to see the first evidence of severe ‘cold snaps’,” said Professor David Hodell from Cambridge’s Department of Earth Sciences, who led the research. “These events may have been harbingers of things to come because at 2.5 million years ago, we start to see a distinct pattern of multiple rapid swings in the Earth’s climate, on thousand-year timescales. From then on, variability was a persistent feature of the glacial climate, which is consistent with what we see in Greenland ice cores during the most recent Ice Age.”

The growth of ice sheets and rapid millennial climate change seem to have gone together. This pattern of variability was consistent across different cores taken from different sites, providing strong confirmation that the signals reflect widespread climate events, not just local variation.

“This is the time when the glacial-interglacial cycle really got going,” said Hodell. “Glacial periods weren’t just cold, they were also highly variable with large swings in temperature over relatively short timescales.”

This climate tipping point coincided with the emergence of the genus Homo, the group to which modern humans belong, suggesting that climate swings may have played a role in shaping early human evolution. The results are reported in the journal Science.

The sediment cores were recovered from beneath the seafloor off Portugal during an expedition by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Sediments in this location accumulate so rapidly and continuously that they record climate history at a resolution usually found only in polar ice cores, but these sediment cores extend millions of years further back in time than the ice cores, allowing the researchers to analyse the past 5.3 million years of climate history.

“I was surprised at the superb quality and resolution of the sediment cores, and the detail of the climate signals recorded within them,” said Hodell.

The appearance of rapid climate swings in the sediment cores lined up with another important change in the North Atlantic: the first widespread arrival of ‘ice-rafted debris’: grains of rock carried out to sea by icebergs.

These debris layers suggest that ice sheets had grown large enough to reach the ocean, calving icebergs that melted as they drifted. These marine-terminating ice sheets can destabilise ocean circulation and cause these abrupt climate flips.

Previous research has found that around 2.5 million years ago, during a period of glacier growth known as Marine Isotope Stage 100, the North Atlantic went through multiple pulses of iceberg calving, matching the timing and number of cold snaps found in the sediment cores.

The cores reveal that these rapid climate swings only occurred when glaciation crossed a particular threshold. The researchers describe this as the climate entering a ‘sweet spot’ where ice sheets were large enough, seas cold enough, and ocean circulation sensitive enough to tip into a period of instability marked by abrupt changes. Once this threshold was reached, millennial‑scale variability became a built‑in feature of glacial climate during the Quaternary Period (the past 2.6 million years).

“This period of glacial intensification is the most recent of the major climate tipping points of the past 66 million years,” said Hodell.

The transition occurred at approximately the time of the emergence of the genus Homo, the group to which modern humans belong. Researchers have previously suggested that rapid changes in the Earth’s climate may have had an effect on the way that humans evolved, since they would have been forced to adapt to changes in climate and vegetation in order to survive.

By extending the history of climate change, the research changes scientists’ understanding of when and how abrupt climate variability emerged, and shows how the Earth’s ice sheets have the ability to affect global climate patterns on multiple timescales.

The research was supported in part by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). David Hodell is a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.

 

Reference:
David A. Hodell et al. ‘Onset of millennial climate variability with the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation.’ Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.ady7970

Researchers have identified a ‘tipping point’ about 2.7 million years ago when global climate conditions switched from being relatively warm and stable to cold and chaotic, as continental ice sheets expanded in the northern hemisphere.

Carlos Alvarez ZarikianScientists of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) examining a sediment core

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Yes

Researchers led by the University of Cambridge say they have taken a first step towards answering this question. Using ultra-sensitive atomic force microscopy – which analyses materials by ‘feeling’ them – the researchers were able to measure how stiff flexible semiconductor molecules are when packed together, down to the scale of just a few molecules.

Their findings, reported in the journal Nature Communications, provide the first experimental evidence that the mechanical stiffness of individual molecules contributes to the overall stiffness of a material. In future, the work could help researchers understand whether flexibility places a fundamental limit on the speed and efficiency of future flexible electronic devices.

Unlike silicon, which is rigid and crystalline, organic semiconductors are made from carbon-based molecules that assemble into soft, bendable solids. This flexibility is essential for rollable displays and lightweight devices – but it may come at a cost.

“Silicon electronics are fast partly because silicon is very stiff and orderly, so it’s easy for electrical charges to move around,” said Dr Deepak Venkateshvaran from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, who led the research. “For decades, we’ve built flexible electronics without really understanding what flexibility means at the molecular scale, and whether it might have an impact on how well these materials can conduct electricity.”

To explore that question, Venkateshvaran and his colleagues used atomic force microscopy (AFM), which uses a tiny ‘needle’ – around ten nanometres wide – to gently press on a surface and measure how much it resists deformation.

“It’s a bit like feeling the ground with a stick,” said Venkateshvaran. “If the ground is firm, it pushes back. If it’s soft, it gives way. We’re doing that, but on the scale of a few nanometres – about the size of a handful of molecules.”

By carefully controlling the force applied to the organic semiconductors by the AFM ‘needle’, the researchers were able to map stiffness across thin films of organic semiconductors with unprecedented resolution.

The team focused on an organic semiconductor called DNTT, which is widely used in flexible transistors. They compared DNTT with several closely related molecules, each modified with different chemical ‘side chains’ attached to the same rigid molecular core.

These side chains act like molecular padding. Longer, more flexible chains increase the spacing between the rigid cores when the molecules pack together, changing both the structure and the mechanical response of the material.

The AFM measurements showed that materials with longer and more flexible side chains were softer when pressed perpendicular to the surface. Unsubstituted DNTT was the stiffest, while versions with long side chains were significantly softer.

“People have always assumed that adding flexible side chains would soften a material, but no one had ever measured that effect directly at the molecular level,” said Venkateshvaran. “The effect is subtle, and you only see it if you’re extremely careful.”

The researchers then compared their experimental data with computer simulations. The calculations independently predicted the same reduction in stiffness when flexible side chains were introduced.

Venkateshvaran says the result can be thought of like a brick wall. “Traditionally, we’ve focused on the ‘mortar’: the weak forces that hold molecules together,” he said. “But our work shows that the ‘bricks’ themselves also matter. We’ve been able to separate the contribution from individual molecules from the collective forces between them. That’s never been done experimentally before.”

This distinction opens the door to molecular-level design of mechanical properties. If scientists can tune the stiffness of individual molecules, they may be able to engineer materials with specific mechanical or electronic behaviours.

“Our result doesn’t prove that stiffness controls electronic performance in organic semiconductors,” said Venkateshvaran. “But it gives us the tools to ask that question properly for the first time.”

The experiments reveal what flexibility looks like at the nanoscale and demonstrate that it can be measured reliably. In the longer term, the work could inform the design of faster, more efficient flexible electronics by identifying how much softness is too much.

“There may be a glass ceiling on how well flexible molecular materials can conduct electricity,” said Venkateshvaran. “If we understand the relationship between stiffness and charge transport, we might find ways to push past it.”

The research was supported in part by the Royal Society, the Wiener-Anspach Foundation and the European Union. Deepak Venkateshvaran is a Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge.

 

Reference:
Ki-Hwan Hwang et al. ‘Measuring the molecular origins of stiffness in organic semiconductors.’ Nature Communications (2026). DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-68328-0

 

 

Flexible electronics are often sold on a simple promise: bendable screens, lightweight solar cells or wearable devices that can bend and flex without breaking. But what does that ‘flexibility’ actually look like at the molecular scale, and how does it affect performance?

Hand-drawn artwork by Jonathan Wong; Concept by Ki-Hwan Hwang.Organic molecules being mechanically squeezed by a nano ‘needle’ in an atomic force microscope

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Yes