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On Thursday 17th March leading UK ferry operator P&O Ferries sacked 800 British crew across its entire fleet and stopped all sailings. The move sparked fury amongst employees and unions, and consternation in parliament. Many asked was the move - and the proposal to use cheap agency staff instead - legal, and also was it a result of Brexit? In this video, Professor Catherine Barnard considers the

Lord Simon Woolley explains how a mobilised Black and Minoritised Ethnic vote can be an election game changer. ️ What is at stake for the UK General Election? In this new video series, students and academics from the University of Cambridge share their insights on some of the biggest themes facing our country at this crucial moment, from AI to racial inequity, levelling up to misinformation,

'How can the government stem the tide of migrant workers coming to the UK?'. This question has been asked with increasing vigour by those who perceive immigration as a threat rather than a benefit to the UK economy. In this video, Catherine Barnard considers whether it is possible to restrict free movement of workers under EU law, both as it now stands and going forward. Professor Barnard is

The case of Vinter v UK was recently decided by the European Court of Human Rights, and has raised a good deal of controversy regarding the right of the United Kingdom to sentence a prisoner to a life sentence (the Whole Life Tariff) without the chance of review. Mrs Nicola Padfield discusses the judgement of the European Court, and the corresponding reaction from members of the UK Government and

In this last episode of the series, we’ll be exploring how stories work for and against climate change. Subscribe to the podcast here: mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen We cover a lot of ground: from hippos and polar bears to how many times ‘sex’ and ‘tea’ were mentioned on TV between 2017 and 2018… so what’s all of this got to do with sustainability and climate change? Join us

Millions around the world this year are reflecting on the lives that were changed irrevocably, and those that were lost in the centenary year marking the end of the First World War. Some 65 million soldiers were mobilised across Europe during the First World War. Among them was Trinity College, Cambridge, student David Louis Clemetson. Cambridge alumna Sarah Lusack tells the story of Clemetson,

Discover more here: https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/medieval-money-mystery-solved What have the Eastern Romans ever done for us? Historians have theorised that bullion from the Byzantine Empire fuelled Europe’s revolutionary adoption of silver coins in the mid-seventh century. Now laser ablation analysis on surviving Anglo-Saxon silver 'pennies' has provided scientific proof that this was the case

In eurosceptic circles it is widely stated that European criminal justice threatens to undermine the basic values of the common law, and this is put forward as a reason why the UK should 'withdraw from the Europe'. This argument was recently put forward by Nigel Farage, of the UK Independence Party, in an article he wrote for The Independent (10 November 2013). In this presentation Professor John

Ahead of the historic Boat Race, which will see women row for the first time on the iconic Thames Tideway course alongside their male counterparts, Cambridge athletes train at Ely. Go light blues! http://www.cam.ac.uk/news/history-made-as-women-and-men-take-to-the-thames-for-the-boat-race Cambridge and Oxford compete on the Thames for dominance in the annual Boat Races with women crews to take on

Each node of the network represents a different brain region and is colour-coded according to the larger area is located in. Pairs of nodes are linked if the activity of the two regions is found to synchronize a lot of the time during an fMRI brain scan, and the size of nodes represents how many other regions a given node is linked to. The resulting network is used to analyze information flow in

Our wellbeing is essential to our overall quality of life. But what is wellbeing? Why is it so hard to pin down? How is it different to mental health, and what can we do to understand, measure and improve it? We talked with psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Amy Orben, psychiatrist Dr Tamsin Ford, and welfare economist Dr Mark Fabian to try and get to grips with wellbeing. In doing so, we learnt

Dr Paolo Bombelli is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Professor Christopher Howe, in the Department of Biochemistry. His research looks to utilise the photosynthetic chemistry of plants to create biophotovoltaic devices, a sustainable source of solar power. For over five years, Dr Bombelli has been taking his research out of the lab to science festivals, schools and design fairs;

A tree the height of 20 London double-decker buses has been discovered in Malaysia by conservation scientists from the University of Cambridge monitoring the impact of human activity on the biodiversity of a pristine rainforest. The Yellow Meranti stands 89.5m tall in an area of forest known as ‘Sabah’s Lost World’ – the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, one of Malaysia’s last few

Some of the world's oldest engravings of the human form -- prehistoric rock art from the Italian Alps -- have been brought to life by the latest digital technology. P • I • T • O • T • I • is an innovative research project that applies insights from the new technologies of computer graphics to prehistoric pictures, specifically the rock art of Valcamonica, Italy, a UNESCO World

What’s cancer got to do with crabs, artist Jackson Pollock, and artificial intelligence? It’s not a riddle; these are some of the things we’ll explore with surgeon Grant Stewart, computer scientist Mateja Jamnik and radiologist Evis Sala from the Mark Foundation Institute for Integrated Cancer Medicine. In this episode, we’ll discover how artificial intelligence is making it easier for

New research at the University of Cambridge has lifted the lid on an unusual Spanish globe. Until now, the globe in the University of Cambridge's Whipple Museum of the History of Science has been shrouded in mystery: where, when and why was it made? Who would have used it? Most fundamentally, what is it -- some kind of scientific instrument or a child's toy? The globe (c. 1907) is unlike any

The recent Supreme Court decision in Vince v Wyatt aroused much media interest because it allowed an ex-wife to proceed with a financial claim against her ex-husband, who became a millionaire years after they divorced. The judgement is available at http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2015/14.html In this video Dr Brian Sloan describes the reasoning behind the decision focusing on the limits of

Cambridge scientists are part of a resolution revolution. Building powerful instruments that shatter the physical limits of optical microscopy, they are beginning to watch molecular processes as they happen, and in three dimensions. Here, Professor Clemens Kaminski describes how a new era of super-resolution microscopy has begun. The developments earned inventors Eric Betzig and William E Moerner

"It has been nearly a year since the shocking death of George Floyd, triggered protests around the world and calls for actions rather than words to tackle racism. So, has anything fundamentally changed in that time? How much have governments, institutions, the media and society generally taken those calls on board? Go to www.slido.com and enter code A093 to participate in a live Q&A with the

Newton Institute Web Seminars: newton.ac.uk/webseminars The general appeal of abstracting real-world networks to simple graphs is understandable and has been partly responsible for fueling the new field of "network science". However, as the Internet application has demonstrated, such abstractions that ignore much of what engineers consider as critical come at a price. For example, they can lead

On 9th April 2024 the European Court of Human Rights delivered Grand Chamber rulings in three cases relating to climate change: Carême v. France - https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-233261 Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and 32 Others - https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-233174 Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland - https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-233206 In

Dr Tim Wilkinson is combining liquid crystals with nanotechnology to try and create 3D displays which would look like real life. Under the Microscope is a collection of videos produced by Cambridge University that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. Check out the rest of the series here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Dr Wilkinson: "Liquid crystal displays are now a

We are conducting a study based at the Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group (www.CIDDRG.org.uk), in partnership with the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) and the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre (WIBC) Cambridge to investigate the risk of dementia in people with Down's syndrome (DS). This four year study is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). We believe that

An insect not much bigger than a grain of rice is able to repeatedly jump on the surface of water using specialised paddles on their hind legs, new research reveals. The pygmy mole cricket, which is really more closely related to a grasshopper than a cricket, is only 5mm (1/4 inch) long and weighs less than 10mg. They live in burrows that they dig into the muddy banks alongside fresh water, to

A Venezuelan pitcher plant uses wettable hairs to make insects slip into its deadly traps. An insect-trapping pitcher plant in Venezuela uses its downward pointing hairs to create a 'water slide' on which insects slip to their death, new research reveals. Hairs on plants, called trichomes, are typically used to repel water. However, the Cambridge researchers observed that the hairs on the inside

Johannes Kepler - 1571-1630, is one of history’s most admired astronomers. He defended Copernicus's sun-centred universe and defined the three laws of planetary motion. Less well known is that in 1615, when Kepler was at the height of his career, his widowed mother Katharina was accused of witchcraft. The proceedings led to a criminal trial, with Kepler conducting his elderly mother's defence.

This video discusses six issues arising out of the recent statement of Prime Minister David Cameron to the House of Commons entitled “Prime Minister’s Response to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on the Extension of Offensive British Military Operations to Syria”

Researchers at Cambridge’s Centre for Natural Material Innovation have invented a cheaper, greener alternative to ‘knocking through’ by making innovative use of engineered wood. House-owners often consider ‘knocking through’ walls to achieve more open-plan living or changing layouts. The results may be impressive, but they come at a sizeable financial and environmental cost. But what if

The Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, has recorded a message in which he acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of the entire collegiate University in its response to the pandemic. Describing the the breadth of the University's activities – from those involved in COVID-related research to others working to ensure the safety of students during the new

The trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp aroused worldwide media interest. From the beginning Pistorius claimed that he had no intent to kill Reeva because when he fired the fatal shots her he thought he was firing at an intruder. And so whether he had the necessary intent to kill became a crucial issue in his trial. In this video Professor Christopher Forsyth

This image shows individual particles of cobalt oxide. The particles are engineered to form a superlattice or 3D mesh structure, which has a large surface area and a high chemical activity. Giorgio Divitini, based in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge, works on the application of electron microscopy to nanomaterials for energy. 'Nanomaterials Up Close

Dr Andrew Gillis explains how an elephant fish embryo lives off a large yellow yolk sack for 7 to 10 months before hatching out as a fish. Cambridge University's Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. Check out the rest of the series here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Dr Gillis: "This is a picture of an elephant fish embryo

Plastic has become a malevolent symbol of our wasteful society. It’s also one of the most successful materials ever invented: it’s cheap, durable, flexible, waterproof, versatile, lightweight, protective and hygienic. During the coronavirus pandemic, plastic visors, goggles, gloves and aprons have been fundamental for protecting healthcare workers from the virus. But what about the effects on

Cambridge University's Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. Check out the rest of the series here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Nanowires growing in real time. Each nanowire is roughly 450 atoms wide. Andrew Gamalski: "This video is a bright field environmental transmission electron microscopy video of silicon nanowires

If you would like to donate in memory of David, you may wish to give to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity or to Darwin College. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidjcmackay https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/donatesteps.aspx?beneficiarycampaignid=3358 Cambridge University physicist, David Mackay, in a passionate, personal analysis of the energy crisis in the UK, in which he comes to some

Part of the Darwin College Lecture Series 2010. Social scientists tell us we now live that we live in a world risk society. But what does this really mean and what, if anything, do environmental risks, health risks, and natural disasters have in common with those posed by terrorism? When we move from the natural world to human threats are we still dealing with hard science or are we in the realm

The world needs more people who can think mathematically to solve its mounting problems. This is what drives the researchers behind NRICH, Cambridge’s flagship maths outreach project. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, NRICH spent the last two years in emergency rescue mode, helping learners in Covid-19 lockdown. At one point, its online resources (nrich.maths.org) were attracting over a

In this video Dr Ingrid Graz shows us a thin layer of gold on top of rubber. Cracks in the gold allow it to stretch and we can use this for stretchable electronics. Cambridge University's Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. Check out the rest of the series here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Dr Graz: "Imagine a future

This video discusses explores some aspects of the important decision of the Supreme Court in Nicklinson (R (Nicklinson and another) v Ministry of Justice; R (AM) v The DPP [2014] UKSC 38) focusing on the minority judgement of Baroness Hale. The case can be found at http://supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2013_0235_Judgment.pdf The case is also discussed on Nicola's blog at https://blog.fitz

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, has acquired a half life-size sculpture of a dinosaur made in metal by Doncaster-based artist Ian Curran. The Tyrannosaurus rex was the star attraction at Clare College's dinosaur-themed May Ball on 16 June 2014 and will find a permanent home at the Sedgwick Museum. Not yet on display to the public, it will be formally unveiled later

The Weddell Sea Expedition, which conducted a highly successful multi-disciplinary scientific research programme in Antarctica, has been forced to conclude its current search for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s iconic ship, Endurance, which was crushed by ice and sank in 1915. The Expedition’s remarkable journey has shed new light on the challenges Shackleton, his men and their wooden sailing ship

Life during the reign of Charles II was bumpy and unpredictable. The memory of the Civil Wars and the Interregnum hung heavily in the air, and religious divides continued to aggrieve communities. But the Restoration was also a period of pleasure and merriment, embodied by the Merry Monarch himself. Theatres thronged with crowds, taverns swelled with revellers, and the streets rang with the

Cambridge University has produced a series of films about five of this year’s Pilkington Prize winners. These films go behind the scenes to show Cambridge teaching in action as well as inviting winners to explain their passion for teaching and reveal some of their trade secrets. The films feature Lecturer in German Thought, Martin Ruehl; Physics Lecturer Lisa Jardine-Wright; Sociologist Mónica

Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, presents the second of the Vice-Chancellor’s Dialogues. 2024 is the year of elections. A record number of elections will take place, with half the adult population of the world, some two billion people, having the chance to vote. Is this a milestone to be celebrated in our democratic history or are we at a crossroads

Thirty-three metres below London’s Clapham High Street is the world’s first underground farm. It’s a green revolution and it’s powered by data. Tunnels originally built to shelter Londoners from the bombing in WW2 sprouted new life when Growing Underground co-founders Richard Ballard and Steve Dring decided it was a perfect site to grow food while reducing the carbon footprint of

With support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Cambridge Engineering Design Centre (EDC) has developed a new Graduate module in Systems Engineering, combining informal talks on a wide range of practical issues with hands-on sessions investigating the design of a pallet handling line. Simple calculations, Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and a Lego Mindstorms model - "Legoline" - are all

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill seeks to circumvent the UK Supreme Court's recent judgment holding the Government's Rwanda policy, concerning the removal of certain asylum-seekers, to Rwanda. The Bill contemplates placing the UK in breach of its international obligations, including under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention, while forming part of a

At the end of November 2016, the British Government published an open consultation green paper on corporate governance reform, seeking views on proposals relating to executive pay, employee and customer voice, and corporate governance in large private businesses. The consultation is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/corporate-governance-reform In this latest edition of the

Welcome to Mind Over Chatter, the Cambridge University Podcast! One series at a time, we break down complex issues into simple questions. In this first series, we’ll explore climate change. Climate change is likely to affect almost every area of our lives… like a toddler with sticky fingers. But how did it become this way? What are we doing about it now? And what does the future hold?We’ll

The government has recently announced that it intends to quash by legislation convictions of hundreds of subpostmasters who had been prosecuted by the Post Office for, variously, theft, fraud and false accounting. This follows a number of appeals which have already succeeded where it has been accepted that convictions that are based on generated by the Horizon software are necessarily unsafe.