News

Researcher spotlight: Prof Helen Williams

5 April 2022

Prof Helen Williams joined the Department of Earth Sciences in 2016 and is currently Professor of Geochemistry. She reflects on her life and work with Erin Martin-Jones. Why are you interested in Earth’s interior? What really fascinates me is how the chemistry of Earth’s interior has changed over time. The surface we live...

Dense bones allowed Spinosaurus to hunt underwater

23 March 2022

Spinosaurus is the biggest carnivorous dinosaur ever discovered—even bigger than T. rex —but the way it hunted has been a subject of debate for decades. Based on its skeleton, some scientists have proposed that Spinosaurus could swim, but others believe that it waded in the water like a heron. To help solve this mystery...

Dr Neil Davies receives Pilkington Prize for teaching excellence

17 March 2022

Dr Neil Davies , who is Lecturer in Sedimentary Geology and Fellow of Churchill College, has been awarded the prestigious Pilkington Prize in recognition of his teaching excellence. It is often said that the best geologist is the one that has seen the most rocks, and Dr Neil Davies has probably seen more than most, having...

Research project spotlight: West Antarctic ice sheet responses to climatic changes

15 March 2022

The WA rm C limate S tability of W est A ntarctic ice sheet in the last IN terglacial ( WACSWAIN ) project, led by Cambridge Earth Sciences' Professor Eric Wolff , aims to understand the possible collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet during the Last Interglacial (roughly 120,000 years ago). This time period is when...

Photo of stool reaching books in library

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022

8 March 2022

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on achievements and progress made, recognize challenges and focus greater attention on women’s rights and achieving equal opportunity status in all walks of life. We look back over a year of research news and blog posts from women in our Department; from graduate students to...

Microscopic view on asteroid collisions could help us understand planet formation

23 February 2022

A new way of dating collisions between asteroids and planetary bodies throughout our Solar System’s history could help scientists reconstruct how and when planets were born. The research, which was led by the University of Cambridge, combined dating and microscopic analysis of the Chelyabinsk meteorite — which fell to...

Professor Marie Edmonds recognised as Geochemistry Fellow

15 February 2022

The Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry have awarded Professor Marie Edmonds with the title of Geochemistry Fellow. In total sixteen geochemists were recognised this year. The award was established in 1996 to honour outstanding scientists who have, over the years, made a major contribution to...

Illustration showing the 17 UN sustainable development goals

Geology for Global Development meeting highlights research efforts to realize sustainable development

14 February 2022

Cambridge’s Geology for Global Development network met on Friday 11 February for their inaugural mini-conference, highlighting how research in the Department is helping realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Geology for Global Development is a charity set up to champion the role of geology in sustainable...

Photos of women researchers in the Department smiling

Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022

11 February 2022

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), a celebration of women and girls in science led by UNESCO and UN-Women . We celebrate by bringing together stories from women researchers across our Department, highlighting the variety of roles within Earth Sciences. We asked our researchers what...

Photo of mussels along shoreline with snow covered mountains in background

Blue mussels show extraordinary resilience to climate change, but will it be enough?

31 January 2022

A new study has uncovered the mechanisms that help Arctic mussels cope with environmental stress caused by climate change. The research, published in the journal Genes , observed how the blue mussel Mytilus edulis turns on and off genetic switches in response to human-induced impacts like rising air temperature and...

Researcher spotlight: Prof Helen Williams

Dense bones allowed Spinosaurus to hunt underwater

Dr Neil Davies receives Pilkington Prize for teaching excellence

Research project spotlight: West Antarctic ice sheet responses to climatic changes

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022

Microscopic view on asteroid collisions could help us understand planet formation

Professor Marie Edmonds recognised as Geochemistry Fellow

Geology for Global Development meeting highlights research efforts to realize sustainable development

Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022

Blue mussels show extraordinary resilience to climate change, but will it be enough?

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