The Open University

The heartbreaking story of the flying mathematicians of World War I

10 August 2017

Keith Lucas was killed instantly when his BE2 biplane collided with that of a colleague over Salisbury Plain on October 5, 1916. As a captain in the Royal Flying Corps, Lucas would have known that his death was a very real risk of the work he was doing in support of Britain’s war effort. But […]

Behind the numbers: should all over 60s be taking statins?

2 August 2017

There has been a flurry of media reports over new research from Harvard University suggesting that “almost all” men over 60 and women over 75 should be taking statins to reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack. The research explores the likelihood of people having a cardiovascular event across age ranges and aims to […]

Scientists find some of Mars’ youngest volcanoes – and discover they could have supported life

26 July 2017

4000 km wide view of Mars’ (colour-coded topgraphy) Coprates Chasma. NASA/USGS/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G Neukum), CC BY-SA It may seem that Mars was once a much more exciting planet. True, there are dust storms and possible water-seeps occurring today, but billions of years ago it was a dramatic place with huge volcanoes, a giant canyon […]

Soapbox Science MK 2017: how to make a mountain and the stories seashells tell

24 July 2017

Science is all about furthering our understanding of ourselves, the planet, and the Universe. Two Female academics from the OU will be sharing their love of research with members of the public in Milton Keynes at Soapbox Science MK 2017. Lecturer in Environment, Earth, and Ecosystems Sciences, Dr Pallavi Anand, and PhD Researcher, Stacy Phillips, […]

The BepiColombo spacecraft is ready to solve the many mysteries of Mercury

11 July 2017

The €1.65 billion BepiColombo spacecraft is now being unstacked for final tests after being displayed in its launch configuration to the world’s press at the European Space Agency’s Space Technology and Research Centre. The six-metre high assembly will soon be shipped to Kourou in French Guyana where it is anticipated to launch in October 2018. […]

OU joins new EU research to track radicalisation online

10 July 2017

The OU is among more than 20 partners across Europe launching a new research project to examine online radicalisation. The project, called Trivalent, will look at ways to protect citizens around the globe from being targeted, and potentially enticed into endorsing and propagating violent radical content. Comprehensive understanding The OU’s part in the project is led […]

Robotic telescopes COAST and PIRATE / Credit: Alan Cayless (The Open University)

OU brings astronomical telescopes to students in their home

5 July 2017

The OU Faculty of STEM is celebrating the inauguration of its remotely-controlled robotic telescopes, which will bring astronomy and space science to life for students whenever and wherever they are in the world. For almost half a century, the OU has been developing the latest digital technology to enhance the learning experience of students. The inauguration of […]

How your pile of laundry fills the sea with plastic pollution

4 July 2017

Microplastic pollution is one of the newest environmental issues on the block. After decades of intense observation and campaigning by conservation groups, awareness of microplastic pollution has fortunately grown. There is now worldwide concern about tiny pieces of plastic litter that are having a harmful impact on marine species and habitats. Large plastic litter has […]

OU professor elected as President of the Geological Society of London

30 June 2017

Professor of Earth Sciences, Nick Rogers, has recently been elected to the role of President of the Geological Society of London. The role has been designated following his 20 year fellowship to the Society, the six years he has spent serving on the Council, and in recognition of his standing in scientific research. Founded in […]

OU research to improve welfare of working animals

29 June 2017

Researchers from the OU are developing technology that will improve the mental health, performance, and welfare of Mobility Assistance Dogs across the UK. Supporting dogs to support humans The OU Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) Lab, which is dedicated to researching and developing interactive technology to support animals, improve their welfare and foster positive human-animal relationships, is […]

OU News

Category: Science, maths, computing and technology