Cavendish Laboratory

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Official account of the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge. Pioneering physics since 1874.

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Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· 12d

Are you ready to shape the future of physics with #AI? Frontiers is a new training programme for incoming and prospective Physics PhD students at the Cavendish Laboratory in 2026. Gain the skills to tackle tomorrow's biggest scientific challenges. Learn more: buff.ly/wVMRKRO

Two people interacting with augmented reality technology in a futuristic setting

Image credit: Westend61 via Getty Images

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· 13d

💧 How do protons move through water? Using AI-powered quantum simulations, researchers tracked 51 interconnected molecular vibrations simultaneously, revealing that protons move by "hopping" from one water molecule to the next. 🔗 buff.ly/j27SzuA

The image is an illustration of hydrated proton (yellow/green) with six water molecules (blue/grey): quantum simulations of an extended Zundel complex provide new insight into how protons move through water.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· 27d

What happens when a chain flies off the 3rd floor of the Ray Dolby Centre and why does it do *that*? To mark 20 years of the Senior Physics Challenge (SPC), we recreated the famous chain fountain, which was explained by physicist and founder of the SPC Mark Warner and his then-student John Biggins 👀

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· 29d

From the future of quantum computing to the earliest galaxies and a final look inside 'Cavendish 2' iconic 1974 buildings before demolition, the latest CavMag gives you all the news and stories from across the Cavendish community. Read issue 35 : buff.ly/BNpMj4V

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jul 10

After a fantastic first Undergraduate Open Day yesterday, we're looking forward to welcoming more future physicists at the Ray Dolby Centre on Day 2, and giving them a glimpse of what it's like to study Physics at Cambridge. If you're joining us today, we can't wait to meet you!

Prospective students visiting the undergraduate laboratories.

One of the volunteers can be seen helping prospective students by providing information.

Prospective students looking at demonstrations in the laboratory.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jul 7

🍫 Happy World Chocolate Day! The next time you unwrap a chocolate bar, remember - you are holding a fascinating piece of science. Swipe through to explore the physics of chocolate and discover how concepts like crystal structures, viscosity and density shape every bite.

A premium dark chocolate bar with one square broken off on a dark background.
The text reads: World Chocolate Day
Think chocolate is just a sweet treat?
From crystal structures to fluid mechanics, every bite is packed with fascinating physics. Swipe to discover the science behind your favourite chocolate.

A close-up comparison:
• Left: glossy chocolate
• Right: chocolate with white bloom.
The text reads: Why does chocolate turn white? That white coating isn't usually mould - it's called chocolate bloom.
There are two types:
Fat bloom: Cocoa butter melts, moves to the surface and recrystallises.
Sugar bloom: Moisture dissolves sugar, which recrystallises as the water evaporates. It may not look perfect, but it's usually still safe to eat.

Dark Chocolate being poured on a round chocolate.
The text reads: Why doesn't melted chocolate pour like water?
Chocolate is a non-Newtonian fluid.
Unlike water, it doesn't always flow the same way.
It's made of cocoa butter, cocoa particles, sugar and milk solids suspended together.
Temperature and movement change how easily it flows—which is why chocolatiers carefully control both to create the perfect texture.

A macro cross-section of aerated chocolate (like Aero-style bubbles).
The test reads: The sweetest science.
Ever wondered why bubbly chocolate melts so quickly?
Tiny trapped air bubbles mean there's less chocolate in every bite, so your mouth warms it faster, creating that signature melt-in-the-mouth sensation.
From crystal structures and viscosity to air pressure and density, chocolate is full of incredible physics.
This World Chocolate Day, celebrate the science behind every bite.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jul 6

Thinking about studying Physics at Cambridge? Only a few days to go until our Open Days at the Ray Dolby Centre on 9 and 10 July, from 1pm to 4.30 pm. Attend sample lectures, meet our current students, and explore the Natural Sciences course. Book your place now: buff.ly/sW6uJXj

Prospective student with family getting more information about Isaac Science

Prospective student enquiring about societies during 2025 Open Day

Prospective students attending 2025 Open day

Prospective student with family attending 2025 Open day

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jul 2

Good luck to the UK’s International Physics Olympiad team, who completed their final training camp at the Cavendish before heading to Colombia for #IPhO2026. Practicals and theory prep done, those 5 bright young minds are ready to take on the world stage! We’ll be cheering you on from Cambridge! 👏

Students working on physics experiments and attending a classroom lecture with a chalkboard.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jul 1

Researchers from the AION collaboration, including Cavendish physicists, have demonstrated a key technique to cancel laser noise in atom interferometers under real-world conditions. The work marks an important milestone in developing the quantum technologies of the future: buff.ly/bdEi0VG

Polarisation of blue laser light being adjusted before cooling atoms to near absolute zero. Credit: Dr Thomas Walker. © Imperial College London.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 30

📢 We're hiring: IonQ Project Manager Want to help deliver one of the UK's most exciting quantum initiatives? Join the University of Cambridge to support our landmark partnership with IonQ, which will bring the UK's most powerful quantum computer to Cambridge. Apply by 12 July: buff.ly/Lznjd0B

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 26

Thank you to everyone who joined the inaugural Dolby Symposium last week 🎉 This year's theme, AI in Science, inspired great talks and discussion. The Dolby Symposium will be back on 17 June 2027 - stay tuned for next year’s theme!

Mete Atatüre, Head of Department, Cavendish Laboratory with John Jumper, Google DeepMind

Panel discussion in progress on 'AI for Science and Society'

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 24

Thinking of studying Physics at Cambridge? Visit us in our new home the Ray Dolby Centre during #CambridgeOpenDays on 9 and 10 July, from 1pm to 4.30pm. Register: buff.ly/BAWzIOJ General information stands can also be found at the Student Services Centre, from 9.30am to 4.30pm on both days.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 22

Those who worked with Peter remember not only his exceptional scientific insight but also his commitment to mentoring colleagues and students. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, former students and colleagues. He will be so greatly missed. 2/2

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 22

We're deeply saddened by the death of Prof Peter Littlewood, internationally renowned condensed matter physicist and former Head of the Cavendish. Peter’s lifelong ties to the Department, as a student, researcher, professor and leader, left a lasting impact on our community. 1/2

Peter Littlewood in his Head of Department office

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 17

Huge congratulations to Roberto Maiolino for his 2026 Feltrinelli Prize in Physics from the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, for his pioneering work on galaxies and massive black holes across cosmic times. Roberto received the prize in a ceremony attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella 📷️

Roberto Maiolino with the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 16

🎉 We turn 152 today! 🎉 It is hard to believe that it has already been a little over a year since we officially opened the doors to the #RayDolbyCentre. In this past year, the Centre has become a vibrant home for our community. Here’s to this year of many firsts and many more to come ✨

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 15

Didier Queloz has long been on our #PeopleDoingPhysics ideal guest list, so we're excited to share this new episode. Listen to Didier discuss his path into physics, his search for life in the universe, and why failing and bouncing back matters in research. Available everywhere and 👉️ buff.ly/lerXKtb

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 10

⚡The rain and lightning over Cambridge today remind us of this stunning image of the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO), captured by a local resident during an electrical storm last month. What a show of drama and beauty! ✨ 📸 Photo credit: Douglas Thompson #RadioAstronomy

This stunning photograph was taken by local resident from near the facility, perfectly showcasing the dramatic power and beauty of the night sky above MRAO. 📸 Photo credit: Douglas Thompson

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 8

Join us for the next Big Science Colloquium with Prof Sarah Seager (MIT): 'From Lab to Cosmos: The Possibility for Life in Non-Water Planetary Environments' 📅 Tuesday 9 June from 4.15pm 📍 Ray Dolby Centre, Cambridge Free and open to all members of the University. For more details 👉️ buff.ly/g4MVc9P

Overlaid display of candidate dark matter production event at an LHC with a Gravitational Lens image of the mass distribution in the Bullet Cluster from the Hubble telescope.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 4

Final few days to register for the Dolby Symposium: AI in Science. 📅 18 June |📍 Ray Dolby Centre, Cambridge Hear from Nobel Prize laureate John Jumper (Google DeepMind) and an outstanding line-up of speakers. Register for this free one-day event before 08 June: www.phy.cam.ac.uk/event/dolby-...

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 3

Welcome to Marcos Guimarães (@mhdguimaraes.bsky.social), our new Associate Professor in the Physics of Energy Materials 💫 His work on charge, light, spin and magnetism in quantum van der Waals materials advances energy-efficient information technologies. Delighted to have you on board Marcos!

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 2

A new radio antenna system is being built at the mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory near Cambridge📡 The instrument will help REACH scientists study signals from more than 13 billion years ago, when the first stars and galaxies began to form. Learn more about the REACH project: buff.ly/bL61gPz

Cavendish Researchers who are building a new radio telescope in Cambridge

Precision radio antenna system being built at Lords Bridge for the REACH project.

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Jun 1

Cavendish researchers have discovered a new way to make “forbidden” molecular triplet states shine🔬✨ The findings, published in Nature Chemistry, could lead to brighter #OLED materials, improved imaging technologies, and future quantum sensing applications. Read the paper: buff.ly/IbDB3N7

Image description: Triplet states glowing on anthracene molecules attached to lanthanide nanocrystals in solution
Image credit: Rakesh Arul, Huangtianzhi Zhu, Google Gemini, Powerpoint

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· May 22

Spring is in the air at the Cavendish Laboratory 🌸 From the apple tree at the Battcock Centre to the blossoms surrounding the Ray Dolby Centre and the Mullard's telescopes in all their springtime glory, the season is unmistakably in full swing. A gentle reminder to pause and take it all in.

Apple tree at the Battcock Centre - Courtesy of Eloy de Lera Acedo.

MERLIN radio telescope at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO)

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· May 18

Our latest episode of #PeopleDoingPhysics is live. This time we speak to Siddharth Shankar Saxena (Montu to everyone) about mentorship, belonging and dealing with failure. All this plus a dash of superconductivity. Listen on your favourite podcast app or 👉️ buff.ly/GgsVkgk

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· May 15

The Mercedes Formula One Team is at the Ray Dolby Centre today for a showcase event for students and postdocs. Organised by the #CareersService at the University of Cambridge, the event offers a unique opportunity to explore careers across engineering, technology, strategy, and more.

F1 simulation experience during the showcase event

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· May 12

What gives rise to life in the universe? Prof Didier Queloz, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe, explores the origins of life and humanity’s quest to understand our place in the cosmos in this EXPeditions video - buff.ly/0Pe91zb

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· May 5

The Cavendish Photo Competition 2026 is now open 📸 Our theme this year: 'Big and Small: exploring the breadth of Physics at the Cavendish'. From the smallest particles to the largest structures in the universe, show us how you see physics across scales 👀 Competition details: buff.ly/bLoF5Rx

The Hidden Heart of HARPS3 by Samantha Thompson, First Prize 2025

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Apr 30

Welcome to Easter Term! Teaching for first-year students starts today in the Ray Dolby Centre, and final-year students start their exams this week. Wishing everyone a successful start to the term🌸

Students conducting experiments in the undergraduate labs

Cavendish Laboratory@cambridgephysics· Apr 24

Last Friday we signed the BMU–Cavendish Initiative, the first partnership of its kind between Cambridge and British Management University in Uzbekistan. This will enable student/faculty exchanges and joint research in materials for AI, health and sustainability. Read more 👉️https://buff.ly/JGU7SJJ