News & articles

Black background with white swirls and lights. Credit: H20/Cosmic Dawn selected by Galaxy Zoo Talk Users

OU researchers and partners release thousands of previously unseen space images

Popular citizen science project Galaxy Zoo has released 22,000 high-quality images to the public. Anyone in the world can help astronomers classify pictures taken with one of the most advanced instruments installed on one of the world's leading telescopes.

3rd January 2023

View from above of brown earth with a round crater in it

International study that reveals how Earth got its water, thanks to the OU

Results from a new global research project published in Nature Astronomy indicate asteroids brought water to Earth.

22nd December 2022

A man in a grey jumper standing on the left of two women, one with dark hair and wearing a blue top and the other with dark hair, wearing a black and white dress and a pink scarf, all holding a glass trophy

People's Choice-winning sex-trafficking survivor research recognised

Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at The Open University (OU), presented Dr Margaret Ebubedike and Dr Saraswati Dawadi with The People's Choice award for their research helping sex-trafficking survivors rebuild their lives at a ceremony at the University's Milton Keynes Campus earlier this month.

20th December 2022

View of brown ground from above, with a white, wavy line across it

What does Mars sound like? Rover microphone has recorded the red planet’s dust devils

A dust devil looks a bit like a tornado, but is weaker and rarely lasts more than about a minute. It is a twisting column of warmed air scooting across sun-heated ground, made visible by the dust that it lofts upwards. Although usually benign, occasionally dust devils can kill.

14th December 2022

Man wearing virtual reality goggles in a virtual reality games arcade with yellow and blue lights

New extended reality studios to expand research into learning

The Open University has received £5.8M from the Office for Students to develop extended reality studios to expand its teaching and learning with augmented and virtual reality.

9th December 2022

Lady wearing glasses and a blue top, standing in front of trees

Aspects of empowerment in legislation and education

The Open University hosted Professor Stephanie Pywell’s inaugural lecture on 6 December 2022.

7th December 2022

Close up of a cake in a metal tin sitting on a rack inside an oven

Bake Your Research winners raise study, environment and space

This year’s Open University (OU) Graduate School Bake Your Research competition winners have reflected OU priorities in their baking, particularly around the theme of sustainability.

5th December 2022

Wooden board with miniature oil rig, plastic leaves and solar panels on it

Our US$10 trillion global energy bill dwarfs what’s needed to limit global heating

The world’s energy bill for 2022 is set to be the highest ever, topping US$10 trillion (£8.3 trillion). This is the total price paid for all forms of energy across all sectors by all people. Something like 80% of this bill is for coal, oil or gas, or for electricity generated from these fossil fuels.

29th November 2022

Object consisting of a blue box sitting within a white box, with brown straps each side

UK Space Agency extends funding for OU space imaging project

The UK Space Agency has signalled its commitment to OU space research by increasing its funding for a pioneering space imaging project by more than £287,000. The grant adds to the £114,000 the agency invested in the project in 2021.

22nd November 2022

Improving the experience of witnesses in health and care professional practice proceedings

In a world first, researchers have been funded to study the experience of witnesses who give evidence in professional conduct hearings about care provided by health and social care professionals.

15th November 2022

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