The Open University

Putting algae and seaweed on the menu could help save our seafood

15 December 2017

If we have to feed 9.8 billion people by 2050, food from the ocean will have to play a major role. Ending hunger and malnutrition while meeting the demand for more meat and fish as the world grows richer will require 60% more food by the middle of the century. But around 90% of the […]

A glass of whisky could help you get your head around deep time

11 December 2017

The Scottish geologist James Hutton made a proposal in 1788 that, at the time, was extraordinarily controversial. He described Earth as a “beautiful machine”, constantly subjected to long-term decay and regeneration, that could only be understood over many millions of years. This may not sound that contentious, but the challenge this posed to humanity’s sense […]

7 amazing things digital wearable devices are helping us do

5 December 2017

For the past 15 years Professor Blaine Price has sported every smartwatch and digital health wearable device imaginable, earning him the nickname of ‘Inspector Gadget’ at home. He has always been active but found that since coming to the UK, he had gained a little bit of weight. Using his personal data from the past […]

Scientists solve mystery of missing methane source in Amazon Rainforest

4 December 2017

Environmental scientists from the OU have discovered that trees growing in the Amazon floodplains surrounding the Amazon River emit as much methane (CH4) into the atmosphere as all of the world’s oceans. These trees growing in seasonal wetland areas of the Amazon contribute between 15.1 and 21.2 million tonnes of CH4 to the atmosphere every […]

How websites watch your every move and ignore privacy settings

27 November 2017

Hundreds of the world’s top websites routinely track a user’s every keystroke, mouse movement and input into a web form – even before it’s submitted or later abandoned, according to the results of a study from researchers at Princeton University. And there’s a nasty side-effect: personal identifiable data, such as medical information, passwords and credit […]

Bali volcano: expert comment

27 November 2017

Professor David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, gives his expert view on the emerging situation in Bali, as Mount Agung threatens a major eruption: “The volcano Agung might at last be delivering the large eruption that has been feared for several weeks. Ash is rising to a height of about 30 thousand feet, and dispersing […]

Scientists discover evidence of recent water flows on Mars

22 November 2017

A team of scientists led by The Open University has discovered evidence of recent glacial meltwater on Mars, despite the widely-held view that the recent climate was too cold for ice to melt. Planetary scientists from the OU, in collaboration with University College Dublin, the University of Cambridge and the University of Nantes (CNRS), have […]

Discovery of cigar-shaped asteroid from outer space could help unveil secrets of extrasolar worlds

21 November 2017

It came from outer space … and went back there two weeks later, having astonished and excited astronomers and planetary scientists. A cigar-shaped object, less than half a kilometre long and barely bright enough to be detected by the world’s most powerful telescopes, payed us a flying visit in October this year – reminding us […]

Is Iceland’s tallest volcano awakening?

13 November 2017

Two women and a boy took refuge on the roof … but it was carried away by the deluge of water, and as far as the eye could reach, the three unfortunate persons were seen clinging to the roof. One of the women was afterwards found among the mud of the jökulhlaup [Icelandic term for […]

OU academic recognised for “outstanding contributions” to equality in science

10 November 2017

Associate Director for Academic Professional Development (APD), Dr Anne Adams and her team, have been announced the winner of the WISE Tech Innovation Award for the WISE Awards 2017. The WISE Awards 2017 recognise the outstanding contributions to gender balance in science, technology and engineering, of individuals and organisations. The entry submitted by the all-women team at the OU focused […]

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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology