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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology

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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OU / BBC content to watch during this year’s Scam Safe Week

OU / BBC content to watch during this year’s Scam Safe Week

Following the success of last year’s inaugural initiative, BBC Scam Safe week is back. Starting on 23 November, Scam Safe week features content from across the BBC including co-productions with The Open University (OU). With scammers growing bolder amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, experts aim to provide a timely piece of public service into the […]

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The OU marks National Engineering Day with tribute to trailblazing graduate

The OU marks National Engineering Day with tribute to trailblazing graduate

The Open University (OU) is proud to commemorate National Engineering Day on 13 November by celebrating extraordinary engineering talent. In collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, a striking new piece of digital artwork will be virtually projected onto the OU’s Walton Hall building in Milton Keynes highlighting the contributions of four inspirational engineers. The […]

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JWST observations of the transit of a super-earth exoplanet revealed hints of a sulphur-rich atmosphere

JWST observations of the transit of a super-earth exoplanet revealed hints of a sulphur-rich atmosphere

Researchers, including academics from The Open University (OU) have discovered a possible sulphur-rich atmosphere of exoplanet L 98-59 d, signalling possible volcanoes on its surface. The study, which has been undertaken using observations from NASA’s James Webb Telescope (JWST) has been published in two papers in The Astrophysical Journal. Experts observed one transit of the […]

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Emilie wearing a blue lab coat surrounded by scientific equipment,

‘OU study unlocked the career I’d always wanted’

For many years Emilie, 47, put her professional aspirations aside, working hard to pay the bills and be present as a mum. It wasn’t until her son completed his degree that Emilie decided it was her turn to shine, embarking on an Open University (OU) degree that would unlock the career she dreamed of. Now […]

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Radio series Rare Earth returns for another season

Radio series Rare Earth returns for another season

Tune into BBC Radio 4 weekly from today (18 October) to listen to the third season of OU / BBC radio series, Rare Earth, with environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski. Rare Earth digs into some of the biggest environmental issues facing our planet today, with fascinating insights from experts. Listeners can tune […]

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Euclid space mission reveals first piece of its map of the Universe

Euclid space mission reveals first piece of its map of the Universe

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid mission, supported by UK scientists at The Open University (OU) has unveiled new stunning images of stars and galaxies, forming the first section of its cosmic atlas. This first chunk of the map, which is a huge mosaic of 208 gigapixels, was revealed today at the International Astronautical Congress […]

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New Clues from Asteroid Ryugu reveal how Earth became a habitable planet

New Clues from Asteroid Ryugu reveal how Earth became a habitable planet

Open University scientists Professor Ian Franchi and Dr Richard Greenwood have played a key role in new research that reveals clues about how Earth became a planet capable of supporting life. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, reveals that phosphorus-rich compounds discovered in samples from Asteroid Ryugu could have played a vital role in making […]

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