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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 develop ideas to decarboni…

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. Perovskite materials offer a ch…

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, while at the same time reducin…

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

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 Cambridge Earth Sciences’ Dr G…

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, researchers from the University o…

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 commonly used material for p…

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, academics, students and civic gues…

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 project brings these things toget…

The opportunity to make real and lasting change has never been greater. But we all need to act, and act now.As if it weren’t clear enough, 2021 has given us plenty of reasons to act. Dramatic flooding in the UK, Germany, Uganda and Bangladesh, wildfires in Greece and Australia, extreme heat in the northwest United States and Canada – the list of ex…

Professor Michael De Volder tells us how a Friday afternoon experiment led to research on a new low-cost battery design that can be charged directly by light without a separate solar cell or power converter.“One area we have made clear progress in is improving the stability of the batteries as they are charged and discharged, bringing it closer to …

COP26 - the United Nations climate conference - starts in Glasgow in just a few days. The Office of External Affairs and Communications spoke with some of the University's researchers and asked them what they want to see at COP26, what some of the biggest challenges are in getting to zero carbon, and what gives them hope.Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Direct…

Researchers have identified a key mechanism responsible for the lower efficiencies of organic solar cells and shown a way that this hurdle might be overcome.The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, identified a loss pathway in organic solar cells which makes them less efficient than silicon-based cells at converting sunlight into electr…

Four researchers from the University of Cambridge are among the leading figures in engineering and technology elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.Professors Holger Babinsky, Andrea Ferrari, Rob Miller and Rachel Oliver have been elected in this year’s intake, which consists of 60 Fellows, four International Fellows and five Honor…

A study this month suggests that human activity and land use in areas surrounding lakes drive significant microplastic pollution in lake water.Researchers, led by Dr Andrew Tanentzap in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences, found that the concentration of microparticles - plastics and fibres - in lake water quadrupled in areas…