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NCCR Genesis approved for funding by Swiss federal government

2 February 2026

The Swiss federal government has approved funding for six new National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs). NCCR Genesis, one of the six Centres, is led by ETH Zurich in collaboration with the University of Lausanne. How did life on Earth begin? Are we alone in the universe, or is it teeming with life? What sparks...

In December, this telescope in the Canary Islands will soon start looking for an Earth twin. Clark Baker

A new hunt for an Earth analog begins: A collaboration of a dozen research institutes led by astrophysicist Didier Queloz from the University of Cambridge

18 December 2025

Over the last three decades, astronomers have discovered more than 6,000 planets outside our solar system — yet none that look just like home. That might be about to change. A new telescope project kicking off in the Canary Islands in mid-December is tasked with one main objective: to find an Earth twin. The Terra Hunting...

LCLU PI Emily Mitchell Receives the European Research Council Consolidator Grant

10 December 2025

Dr Emily Mitchell, a mid-career researcher at the University of Cambridge and member of LCLU, has been awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant — one of the most competitive research awards in Europe. This year, eight Cambridge researchers share part of the ERC’s record €728 million funding pot, supporting frontier...

The Future Of Space Is More Than Human by Robin Wordsworth

31 October 2025

When the Hubble Space Telescope first launched in 1990, it quickly became clear that something was not right. Images that should have been razor-sharp looked scarcely better than those taken by an amateur telescope on Earth. Once the source of the problem — a microns-thick defect affecting the primary mirror — was...

2026-2027 Kavli-Laukien Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University

29 October 2025

Applications are once again invited to the Kavli-Laukien Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Origins of Life Initiative at Harvard University. The Kavli-Laukien Fellowship program supports young developing independent scholars to pursue innovative research in the emerging field of origins of life science and astrobiology. It...

Calls for NOMIS-ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships

Call for NOMIS–ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025

5 September 2025

The NOMIS Foundation ETH Fellowship Programme supports postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich within the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life . The programme is intended to foster the development of young interdisciplinary researchers in the field of the origin and prevalence of life who have demonstrated scientific...

Bioplastic habitat inside the planetary environment chamber. Credit: Wordsworth group

Extraterrestrial Habitats: Bioplastics for Life Beyond Earth

3 July 2025

Researchers demonstrate algae growth under Mars-like pressures If humans are ever going to live beyond Earth, they’ll need to construct habitats. But transporting enough industrial material to create livable spaces would be incredibly challenging and expensive. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of...

Is Earth Unique in the Universe?

19 May 2025

Professor Nikku Madhusudhan and Professor Nicholas Tosca gave an insight on how Cambridge is exploring the possibility of other habitable planets, and whether the planet Earth is unique. The event was part of The Future of Physical Sciences Webinar Series on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 The webinar was chaired by Professor...

Call for Nominations: Annual PhD Prize in Origins of Life Research

7 May 2025

Eligibility Period: July 2024 – June 2025 The Origins Federation is soliciting nominations of outstanding recent PhD graduates. The annual PhD Prize in Origins of Life research is awarded for the best Ph.D. thesis-related work by a graduate student from one of the four Origins Federation institutions. Each institution will...

Strongest hints yet of biological activity outside the solar system

17 April 2025

Astronomers have detected the most promising signs yet of a possible biosignature outside the solar system, although they remain cautious. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, have detected the chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or...

NCCR Genesis approved for funding by Swiss federal government

A new hunt for an Earth analog begins: A collaboration of a dozen research institutes led by astrophysicist Didier Queloz from the University of Cambridge

LCLU PI Emily Mitchell Receives the European Research Council Consolidator Grant

The Future Of Space Is More Than Human by Robin Wordsworth

2026-2027 Kavli-Laukien Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University

Call for NOMIS–ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025

Extraterrestrial Habitats: Bioplastics for Life Beyond Earth

Is Earth Unique in the Universe?

Call for Nominations: Annual PhD Prize in Origins of Life Research

Strongest hints yet of biological activity outside the solar system

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