News Archive

Alumnus makes a difference with anti-Covid drug

Alumnus Richard Mackman in his office at Gilead Sciences

Sep 23 2020

As a third-year undergrad here, Richard Mackman gradually realised what he wanted to do: “I wanted to create something as a chemist that would make a difference,” he says. And with the development of the anti-Covid drug remdesivir, he has.

Researchers show why blues and greens are the brightest in nature

Image of blue Macaw courtesy Will Zhang, Pixabay

Sep 14 2020

Researchers here have shown why structural colour in nature produces blue and green hues which appear much brighter than red, yellow or orange.

Researcher fuses fashion with science

Areeb Mahtey by Nick Saffell

Aug 26 2020

Areeb Mahtey, who is studying for a PhD in epigenetics, explains why science and fashion have more in common than you might think, and how in the future he hopes to combine his two passions.

Fighting fatigue in lithium-ion batteries

Image of coin cells courtesy Department of Chemistry photography

Aug 24 2020

Researchers have identified a potential new degradation mechanism for electric vehicle batteries – a key step to designing effective methods to improve battery lifetime.

Wireless device makes clean fuel from sunlight, CO2 and water

Image of Dr Qian Wang courtesy University of Cambridge

Aug 20 2020

Researchers here have developed a stand-alone device that converts sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into a carbon-neutral fuel, without requiring any additional components or electricity.

Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds

Courtesy University of Cambridge

Aug 10 2020

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Researchers have found that a common plant owes the dazzling blue colour of its fruit to fat in its cellular structure, the first time this type of colour production has been observed in nature.

Cambridge Crystallography pioneer wins Ewald Prize

Image courtesy IUCr

Aug 6 2020

Dr Olga Kennard FRS has been awarded the 12th Ewald Prize "for her invaluable pioneering contribution to the development of crystallographic databases".

Protein engineering pioneer awarded Royal Society Copley Medal

Courtesy Nathan Pitt, Department of Chemistry

Aug 4 2020

Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Fersht of this Department has been named as the 2020 winner of the world's oldest scientific prize, the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal.

Four-stranded DNA structures found to play role in breast cancer

DNA structure courtesy Thomas Splettstoesser

Aug 4 2020

Four stranded DNA structures – known as G-quadruplexes – have been shown to play a role in certain types of breast cancer for the first time, providing a potential new target for personalised medicine.

Hughes Medal recognises Grey's energy research

Professor Clare Grey courtesy Department of Chemistry Photography

Aug 3 2020

Professor Clare Grey has been awarded the Royal Society 2020 Hughes Medal.

Alumnus makes a difference with anti-Covid drug

Researchers show why blues and greens are the brightest in nature

Researcher fuses fashion with science

Fighting fatigue in lithium-ion batteries

Wireless device makes clean fuel from sunlight, CO2 and water

Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds

Cambridge Crystallography pioneer wins Ewald Prize

Protein engineering pioneer awarded Royal Society Copley Medal

Four-stranded DNA structures found to play role in breast cancer

Hughes Medal recognises Grey's energy research

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