Science

Imaging the Earth from space

A space camera developed at the OU’s e2v Centre for Electronic Imaging (CEI), will be aboard the first of a new generation of micro-satellites.

Chemical reactions in space that could be the precursors of life.

Space appears to be a lifeless void, but new research is revealing that even in this cold and empty environment, chemical reactions can occur which could be the precursors of life.

Unravelling the origins of life

New insights into our solar system, the possible origins of life on Earth and whether life may exist on planets around other stars.

Searching for life on Mars

The OU is leading the UK’s involvement in the next mission to Mars.

ExoMars is a series of missions to Mars scheduled for launch in 2016 and 2018. Its principle objectives are to search for signs of past or present life on Mars and to investigate trace gases such as methane in the atmosphere, to better understand the evolution and habitability of Mars.

Beneath the surface of Iceland’s volcanoes

Gravity measurements of magma indicate possible precursors to a new eruption in Iceland.

Research for safety-critical applications

Professors Mike Fitzpatrick and John Bouchard of the OU’s Materials Engineering Group are leading research into the structural integrity of safetycritical applications in the aerospace and nuclear industries. Work on the characterisation of material properties and internal stresses helps to ensure safety of the designs.

A virtual microscope for extra-terrestrial rocks

‘Space Eyeful’ engages the public with planetary science.

Space Eyeful provides a website where the general public can study space rock samples which hold the key to the origin of our Solar System.

Studying comets to find out more about Earth’s origins

Our Earth was formed from the build-up of smaller chunks of material billions of years ago. Comets are pieces of debris left over from that era, and studying them reveals more about Earth’s origins.

Protecting our nuclear submariners

Expertise honed in exploring outer space is being turned to protecting the health and safety of crews on board nuclear submarines, a vital part of our national defences.

New insights into the death of a planet

OU research has for the first time identified a star swallowing a planet.

Astronomers had known this was a theoretical possibility when a planet and a star get too close, but it had never been seen before.