News

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…

The WArm Climate Stability of West Antarctic ice sheet in the last INterglacial (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 scientists think it was last as warm as…

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 lecturers and staff at the …

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 Earth and hit headlines in 201…

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 the field. The awards will b…

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 development. Cambridge was one…

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 pieces of equipment or items the…

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 changing seawater salinity. By reg…