Researchers presented advances shaping the world of forensics, from research that could improve how forensic scientists estimate a person's age at death, to technology demos of CSIxR -- a virtual reality (VR) application that simulates crime scenes scenarios to train crime scene investigators (CSIs).
Deep below the Earth's surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and green. Scientists are using these fluorescent features to understand how the caves formed and the conditions for supporting life in extreme, and even extraterrestrial, environments.
The condition of the grass on a golf course can drastically skew the chances of a winning putt regardless of a player's skill. Now, a coating that soaks up water molecules could slow the roll of a golf ball on a lightning-fast, dry course and speed it up on a sluggish, wet course without interfering with the ball when it's airborne.
Crashes on electric scooters are mostly due to the behavior of the riders, with one-handed steering and riding in a group being some of the largest risk factors. The researchers are also concerned about riders who deliberately crash or cause dangerous situations when riding, a phenomenon that seems to be specific to electric scooters.
By using geometric shapes in the shock-absorbing material, researchers have developed a bicycle helmet that provides better protection against head injuries. The material absorbs shock by contracting bilaterally.
Using microorganisms, researchers have successfully developed a new bio-based plastic to replace conventional plastic.
The study of elementary particles and forces is of central importance to our understanding of the universe. Now a team of physicists shows how an unconventional type of quantum computer opens a new door to the world of elementary particles.
Nitrate, pesticides, metals, plastic -- agricultural soils often contain pollutants. But are there sustainable and climate-friendly ways to restore and promote soil health in agricultural land? Yes, says a research team. Specific plant species could be used as cover plants for phytoremediation, i.e. to relief agricultural land from adverse pollutant impacts. In their article, the researchers summarize the results of more than 100 scientific studies and present which plants, according to current knowledge, are suitable for removing pollutants from agricultural soils or trapping them in their root systems.
Enzymes originally evolved in high-temperature environments and later adapted to lower temperatures as Earth cooled. Scientists discovered that a key shift in enzyme function occurred over evolutionary time due to amino acid changes distant from the active site. These mutations lowered activation energy, enhancing catalytic efficiency at low temperatures. Their findings highlight how global cooling events influenced enzyme evolution.
Delayed and disorderly energy transitions will threaten economic and financial stability whilst also increasing the economic risks from climate change, according to a new study. Conversely, transitions that are started sooner are likely to be more orderly and economically beneficial.
This a robot can walk, without electronics, and only with the addition of a cartridge of compressed gas, right off the 3D-printer. It can also be printed in one go, from one material.
To get around the constraints of quantum physics, researchers have built a new acoustic system to study the way the minuscule atoms of condensed matter talk together. They hope to one day build an acoustic version of a quantum computer.
Researchers have determined that six gas valves provide the best protection against plasma disruptions in SPARC, a next-generation, experimental fusion system. By refining the setup for the fusion vessel's massive gas injection system, researchers are ensuring that disruptions -- sudden jets of plasma that can damage the fusion vessel's inner walls -- are controlled efficiently, paving the way for safer, more robust fusion power plants.
Researchers wondered if there was a more ethical way to enjoy foie gras, so they created a process to replicate the dish without force-feeding ducks and geese beyond their normal diets. They treated the fat with the bird's own lipases, mimicking the activities that occur naturally in the duck's body, and the resultant foie gras looked correct with noninvasive laser microscopy. The team confirmed the physical properties with stress-deformation tests and found that the treated foie gras had a similar mouthfeel to the original.
Researchers examine the properties of several dairy-free butter alternatives inside one of the region's most well-known snacks: Scottish shortbread. The group tested the alternatives in their lab, selecting three types of vegan butter substitutes with different levels of fat and comparing their consistencies and responses to heat. The vegan alternative with the highest fat content behaved like butter when baked and yielded the most positive feedback in taste testing. Butter typically has a fat content around 80%, and the group recommends choosing a vegan butter with a similar consistency.
The Cambridge University Law Society (CULS) pro bono team held its annual award ceremony on Monday 17 March, at the University Arms Hotel, sponsored by Simmonds and Simmonds . The awards, which were presented by Professor Louise Gullifer, the Chair of the Law Faculty, celebrate the legal pro bono work performed by Cambridge students, ranging from the Bronze Award (10+ hours) to the Platinum Award (50+ hours). The Faculty is very proud of all the students who won awards in recognition of their dedication to this important work. The work done by the undergraduate and graduate students who received awards was very varied, and took place in many parts of the world. One example is the work done for a project called 'Criminal Law and AI', which was undertaken for JUSTICE. The project, which was under the auspices of the Cambridge Pro Bono project , involved undertaking an extensive review of the use of AI in criminal justice systems to identify lessons learned from around the world. The ultimate output of the project is a report that analysed a number of case studies of AI in criminal justice. Some other students interned at the Woods Foundation in Alabama, which is a public nonprofit organization that monitors prison conditions and provides investigative services to individuals with wrongful convictions or excessive sentences in Alabama. Some others interned at a legal clinic in Singapore run by Pro Bono SG, which is a non-governmental legal organisation whose aim is to enabling access to justice for the vulnerable and disadvantaged through legal awareness, advice and advocacy. These three are just examples of the excellent work undertaken by Cambridge students for the benefit of others. The CULS Pro Bono team also ran a number of projects in the last year, including working with the International Law Book Facility Project to ship law books from across Cambridge to Ukraine via Poland, and enabling students to work with Citizens Advice Cambridge. The CULS team, who also received awards for their great service to pro bono work in Cambridge, have shown enormous commitment and leadership in this area. They are Hannah Zia, Zachary Yong, Jonathan Keyte and Joy Magomba.
Researchers have developed an innovative sensing system that restores the missing tactile feedback in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), enhancing precision, ease of use, and safety. The new 'off-the-jaw' system integrates force and angle sensors into the handle of laparoscopic tools, providing surgeons with real-time measurements of grasping forces and insights into tissue stiffness and thickness.
Researchers have developed a new material that, by harnessing the power of sunlight, can clear water of dangerous pollutants.
When wildfires threaten communities, human health can be impacted as smoke distributes on the breeze, infiltrating various structures. To help people protect themselves and their families, researchers have developed a low-cost, durable, do-it-yourself air filtration system that works as well as more expensive HEPA filters to clear indoor air pollutants such as smoke -- or possibly limit the impact of airborne disease spread.
To mitigate global climate change, emissions of the primary culprit, carbon dioxide, must be drastically reduced. A newly developed process helps solve this problem: CO2 is directly split electrochemically into carbon and oxygen. Oxygen could also be produced in this way under water or in space -- without requiring stringent conditions such as pressure and temperature.
