The Open University

New ‘snap evaporation’ process controls how liquids dry

11 April 2018

Scientists at The Open University (OU) and Northumbria University have discovered a new process called ‘snap evaporation’ – that controls how liquid droplets dry by adjusting their shape and size. This is important because it could affect many everyday tasks, such as minimising watermarks on cars and removing heat from microprocessors within smartphones and computers. […]

7 things you should know about cyber security

6 April 2018

When we think of cyber security many of us think it only relates to big organisations. But our computers, modern TVs, smart phones, tablets, and even some of our household utilities all connect to the internet enabling potential access to our personal data. Knowing how to protect yourself against a cyber-attack can seem overwhelming. Senior […]

Moon offers clues to life beyond our solar system

28 March 2018

You might think that comparing rocks from the Earth and the Moon would be like comparing chalk and cheese, but new research led by academics at the OU has discovered that in many ways, they are almost the same. What’s so great about that? As lead author and Research Fellow, Dr Richard Greenwood, explains this […]

“The Open University was never seen as a lesser choice”

27 March 2018

Bass guitar player in The Franklys Zoe Biggs, 29 from Milton Keynes, attended a few traditional university open days whilst studying her A-Levels. But she was unsure about what career path she wanted, and didn’t want to get into debt studying something she might not then use in the future. An extra level of motivation […]

Mount Etna is ‘sliding into the sea and it’s unstoppable’

26 March 2018

Scientists at The Open University have discovered that the most active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, is gradually sliding into the Mediterranean sea. Although scientists have seen sections of volcanoes move before, this is the first time they have observed the movement of an entire volcano. Using 11 years of GPS measurements from all over […]

Research recommends united action to attract more women into IT leadership

20 March 2018

An OU research project finds there are continuing barriers to overcome to get women better represented in highly-skilled positions in UK Information Technology (IT), with lessons to be learned from their counterparts in India. The global IT sector is characterised by low participation of women, with the UK being no exception. Many attempts have been […]

Remembering inspirational physicist and author Stephen Hawking

14 March 2018

We are extremely saddened to hear that world-renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking passed away today. Famous for his work with black holes and relativity, Professor Hawking inspired many people to look beyond our planet and understand space and the universe better. Despite living for many years with motor neurone disease, his achievements are remarkable. His […]

Search for methane on Mars starts as ExoMars Mission reaches final orbit

13 March 2018

After a year of extremely dangerous aerobraking, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) will reach its final orbit and start collecting data from the atmosphere of Mars. Onboard the Orbiter is an instrument developed by academics from The Open University. Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) will ‘sniff’ the atmosphere for methane – a […]

‘Discrimination needs to stop.’ Being a woman in construction and engineering.

21 February 2018

Although a high achiever academically, Steph Lee, 27, from Newcastle, realised that instead of traditional university, she wanted to start a career and get earning. But she felt she faced discrimination along the way to her dream role in engineering. Despite this, she’s forged ahead in this sector, and has almost completed her Bachelor of Engineering […]

Science isn’t for girls? How Amy proved her doubters wrong

5 February 2018

From a young age, 26-year-old Amy King was fascinated by science. But she was told by her school that “science isn’t for girls” and by a traditional university at interview that she was “too glamorous to be a scientist”. She proved them both wrong, and is on track to achieve her dream of a degree […]

OU News

Category: Science, maths, computing and technology