News

Historic buildings could use solar panels to protect from rising energy costs

Installing solar panels could help historic buildings beat the rising costs of energy, according to a new study. Researchers have carried out a feasibility study and found that installing solar panels on the Grade I listed Bath Abbey could save around 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, significantly reducing the carbon...

Launch of the challenge to decarbonise our everyday lives Programme 2022

The Carbon Challenge: Daily Decabonisation Programme launch

Competition launch for postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers to submite scalable ideas to decarbonise activities in our everyday lives. Are you a problem solver who thrives on challenge? Do you want to take action on climate change? The Cambridge Carbon Challenge is an initiative for student and staff teams to...

Templating approach stabilises ‘ideal’ material for alternative solar cells

Researchers have developed a method to stabilise a promising material known as perovskite for cheap solar cells, without compromising its near-perfect performance. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, used an organic molecule as a ‘template’ to guide perovskite films into the desired phase as they form...

This is an ambitious project with many experts aiming to engage countries in the global south modelling, decision-making and capacity building.

The Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme

Dr Jonathan Cullen from the Resource Efficiency Collective at the Department of Engineering and Lara Allen from Centre for Global Equality are part of Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) a £38m multi-institutional programme. CCG seek answers to a challenging question: how can we deliver future energy and material services...

National Centre for Propulsion and Power gets boost from the Wolfson Foundation

The Centre, based at Cambridge’s Whittle Laboratory, will play a key role in accelerating the decarbonisation of flight and power generation Modern aviation and power generation have brought many benefits – connecting people across the world and providing safe, reliable electricity to billions – but rapidly decarbonising...

Miniature grinding mill closes in on the details of ‘green’ chemical reactions

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new approach for observing mechanochemical reactions — where simple ingredients are ground up to make new chemical compounds and materials that can be used in anything from the pharmaceutical to the metallurgical, cement and mineral industries. The study led by...

Films of cellulose nanocrystals prepared by the team can be made at scale using roll-to-roll processes like those used to make paper from wood pulp. This is the first time these materials have been fabricated at industrial scale.

Sustainable, biodegradable glitter – from your fruit bowl

Cambridge researchers have developed a sustainable, plastic-free glitter for use in the cosmetics industry – made from the cellulose found in plants, fruits, vegetables and wood pulp. Beyond its general annoyance factor, glitter is made of toxic and unsustainable materials, and contributes to plastic pollution. Now...

Mystery of high-performing solar cell materials revealed in stunning clarity

Researchers have visualised, for the first time, why perovskites – materials which could replace silicon in next-generation solar cells - are seemingly so tolerant of defects in their structure. The findings, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, are published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The most...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres awarded an honorary degree

3 November 2021 - The University of Cambridge held a special Congregation of its Regent House, for its Chancellor, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Law on His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. In an address to the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor...

International group of citizens and scientists creates feasible visions of a resilient, net zero future

As part of COP26, we asked people in six regions to imagine a globally net zero, climate-resilient future. Here’s what they came up with. To create a globally net zero, climate-resilient world by 2050, there are two things we need to know: what solutions are feasible, and what is desirable. The COP26 Futures We Want...