Risk and uncertainty

Topic description and stories

From cybercrime to earthquakes, influenza to air travel, research on risk and uncertainty reflects issues that are of paramount importance.

Using experts ‘inexpertly’ leads to policy failure, warn researchers

14 Oct 2015

Evidence shows that experts are frequently fallible, say leading risk researchers, and policy makers should not act on expert advice without using...

Emissions from melting permafrost could cost $43 trillion

21 Sep 2015

New analysis of the effects of melting permafrost in the Arctic points to $43 trillion in extra economic damage by the end of the next century, on...

Cities at risk

07 Sep 2015

New model says world cities face expected losses of $4.6 trillion in economic output over the next decade as a result of natural or man-made...

Antidepressants and pain killers: should we be worried?

15 Jul 2015

New research has identified an increased risk of brain haemorrhage from the combined use of antidepressant medicines and medicines such as ibuprofen...

Traders’ hormones ‘may destabilise financial markets’

02 Jul 2015

The hormones testosterone and cortisol may destabilise financial markets by making traders take more risks, according to a study published today in...

Lake on the surface of Lirung Glacier. The rapid drainage of such lakes may cause flooding downstream and may have contributed to devastating mudflows during the earthquake.

Perspectives on the Nepal earthquake

28 Apr 2015

As the death toll continues to rise in Nepal, Senior Lecturer Dr Ian Willis, and PhD student Evan Miles, from the Scott Polar Research Institute...

Nepal shows its vulnerability after devastating earthquake

27 Apr 2015

Following the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal this weekend, Simon Redfern, Professor in Earth Sciences at University of Cambridge, explains...

Planning for war: a guide for businesses

19 Feb 2015

Dr Andrew Coburn of the Cambridge Judge Business School writes on The Conversation website about how business leaders have reawakened to the risk of...