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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology

Mystery mounds reveal the history of water on Mars: study discovers erosion the size of the UK

Mystery mounds reveal the history of water on Mars: study discovers erosion the size of the UK

A team led by a researcher at London’s Natural History Museum and The Open University (OU), Dr Joe McNeil, have published a study into the history of water on Mars’ surface, how the surface evolved, and its potential to support life. The experts used high-resolution images and compositional data captured by orbiters to understand the […]

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Woman with long-dark-brown hair standing in front of an OU banner in her graduation robes

‘Studying with the OU has broadened my horizons’

Fallon, 38, achieved a BSc (Honours) Mathematics and Statistics from The Open University (OU) whilst studying from her home in Malta. Gaining a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree has always been her dream and she hopes to inspire other women to join the industry. “I’ve loved the science subjects since I was young, […]

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BepiColombo swings by Mercury for the final time

BepiColombo swings by Mercury for the final time

On 8 January 2025, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission flew past Mercury for the sixth time, successfully completing the final ‘gravity assist manoeuvre’ needed to steer it into orbit around the planet in late 2026. As with BepiColombo’s previous flybys, the spacecraft’s monitoring cameras (M-CAMs) did not disappoint. “Wonderful to see” David Rothery (Professor of Planetary Geosciences) […]

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Photo of a young man with a beard a long-hair in a ponytail, wearing a shirt, waistcoat and tie.

‘I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved, even against the odds’

George, 28, from Brighton, has just graduated with a BSc (Honours) Computing & IT from The Open University (OU). Since completing his degree, his career has gone from strength-to-strength thanks to his studies, with promotions and even a nomination for Business Analyst of the Year 2024. However, George’s study journey hasn’t been without its challenges. […]

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Moon Night brings science to life at the OU

Moon Night brings science to life at the OU

On Friday 13 December, The Open University’s Milton Keynes campus hosted a celebration of lunar science and exploration, offering opportunities for learning and discovery to visitors of all ages. More than 210 people visited the Walton Hall campus to take part in the two interactive events this year. A creative school competition focused on designing […]

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Open University Walton Hall Campus

CORE receives funding for five years from Microsoft’s open data initiative to increase access to open scientific research

CORE, an Open Access infrastructure operated by The Open University, has been awarded significant funding for the next five years from Microsoft, as part of its’ support for increasing access to data and scientific research.  Since 2020, Microsoft has worked to close the data divide and help organisations of all sizes realise the benefits of […]

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OU academics discover new type of salt that could exist on icy moons

OU academics discover new type of salt that could exist on icy moons

A team of researchers from The Open University (OU), UCL, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and Diamond Light Source have just announced the discovery of a new type of salty ice that could exist at the icy ocean moons of Jupiter and Saturn. In a new paper led by OU researcher Dr Rachael Hamp, the […]

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New study provides evidence that parrots can communicate needs and emotions with humans

New study provides evidence that parrots can communicate needs and emotions with humans

New research has provided ground breaking evidence that parrots are able to express their wants and feelings with humans via digital tools. The results showed that the birds, kept in human care, could exercise a form of communication when selecting from a digital tablet ‘speech board’ with selectable options. Research papers, co-authored by Professor Clara Mancini […]

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Presenter Justin Rowlatt in a flight simulator, copyright Attaboy TV

Production reveals the truth behind those cheap holiday flights

Cheap flights have transformed the holiday industry and the way we fly around the globe. A new OU-BBC co-production takes a closer look at these bargain deals which have helped many people travel to the sun. Cheap Flights: What They Really Mean For You is a one-off documentary to be broadcast on Thursday 28 November […]

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Fossilised water flow from the early Solar System found in an Antarctic meteorite

Fossilised water flow from the early Solar System found in an Antarctic meteorite

I’ll let you in on a secret, some space rocks (meteorites in their common vernacular) preserve water held inside minerals. They are important because they likely played a significant role in the recipe for building habitable worlds, primarily by delivering water to the otherwise dry inner solar system planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars). But […]

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