News

New research involving the University of Cambridge shows that prehistoric megatooth sharks — the biggest sharks that ever lived — were the ultimate top predators, operating higher up the food chain than any other marine predators through history. The study, published in Science Advances, shows that Megalodon — the largest of the megatooth sharks, c…

The unusual behaviour of sulphur in Venus’ atmosphere cannot be explained by an ‘aerial’ form of extra-terrestrial life, according to a new study. Research from the University of Cambridge used a combination of biochemistry and atmospheric chemistry to test the ‘life in the clouds’ hypothesis, which astronomers have speculated about for decades, an…

We often admire Cambridge’s historic buildings and beautiful views. But we should also look down at what lies beneath our feet, according to Marian Holness, Professor in Earth Sciences and Trinity College Fellow. And nowhere more so than the cobbles in front of Trinity’s Great Gate. To the untrained eye they might look like boring brown stones, but…

Tiny earthquakes, originating deep within Earth’s crust, could help scientists trace how magma moves beneath Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula — notable for its dramatic lava fountains of 2021 and continued unrest. Cambridge Earth Science’s Tim Greenfield, who is presenting today at EGU, has analysed records of these barely-detectable earthquakes acros…

The International Association of Sedimentologist (IAS) has named Cambridge Earth Science’s Dr Neil Davies as the recipient of the Johannes Walther Award. This important award is given every two years to a scientist who is considered to have made a major impact in the field of sedimentology.The award recognizes Neil’s outstanding work on the interac…

Model results presented at this year’s EGU Geophysical Assembly show how the topography of a planet is a key factor determining if it will have oceans of water on or just below its surface, or whether it will be a barren desert.Scientists describe Earth as an ocean world – it is the only known astronomical body to host surface water needed for life…

A new Cambridge-based project, led by earth scientist Dr Sasha Turchyn, will create a dedicated hub for research into greenhouse gases related to natural and human-induced climate change.Turchyn was awarded a NERC Capital Grant for the LASER-ENVI project, which will use lab-based and field-deployable laser spectrometers to measure gases including c…

New research led by the University of Cambridge is the first to take a detailed snapshot of an unusual pocket of rock at the boundary layer with Earth’s core, some three thousand kilometres beneath the surface. The enigmatic area of rock, which is located almost directly beneath the Hawaiian Islands, is one of several ultra-low velocity zones – so-…

In a new article published in Geoscientist Magazine, Olivia Hogg - a PhD student in our Department - explores how metal deposits around volcanoes could pave the way for a more sustainable future.Olivia is in her second year of research; investigating how metals are released from volcanoes and the processes involved in ore formation. Olivia’s work f…

The results from the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) have highlighted the global impact of Cambridge’s research in the field of Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. The Times Higher Education ranked Cambridge first for Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences in REF 2021. 73% of Cambridge’s overall submissions within the Earth Syste…

In September 2021 the Department took delivery of a new electron microprobe: a powerful, non-destructive technique that measures the chemical composition of wide-ranging solid materials.  Microprobe analysis has been a central analytical tool in Earth Sciences for decades.  The upgraded electron source will allow for improved beam stability and hig…

On Saturday 23rd April the Sedgwick Museum and Department of Earth Sciences hosted their first joint family event in celebration of Earth Day.The Earth Clinic explored what scientists are doing to understand and help our changing planet — as well as empowering young people to make informed decisions on environmental issues like climate change.The p…

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 on is only a very tiny part …

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, palaeontologists from the Un…

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 spent over 39 months performi…