The Open University

Is it a dwarf planet, an asteroid or a comet?

10 December 2015

When Guiseppe Piazzi reported his observations of a minor planet in 1801, he originally thought it might be a comet. But follow-up observations by fellow astronomers suggested that Ceres was actually an asteroid. So it’s somewhat ironic that the latest results from NASA’s Dawn mission suggest this asteroid is confusingly similar to a comet. Dawn […]

Opened Padlock on digital background. Image: Thinkstock

Cyber attack causes universities across the country to lose internet connection

8 December 2015

Universities across the country have been losing internet connections today because of a cyber attack. The publicly-funded academic computer network has been affected by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack causing many universities, including The Open University, to lose connections, preventing access to external websites. The network, known as Janet, is responsible for the […]

Twin civilisations? How life on an exoplanet could spread to its neighbour

3 December 2015

Imagine two nearby exoplanets orbiting the same sun, each with its own indigenous civilisation. They’re going through history either as companionable neighbours or deadly rivals. This is a familiar situation in science fiction, but could it ever happen? With the rapidly growing number of habitable exoplanets being discovered, this scenario may seem plausible. Now a […]

Can Christmas tree lights really play havoc with your Wi-Fi?

1 December 2015

Before we all declare that this is a bit of “Bah Humbug!”, it’s correct that your Christmas fairy lights really could be a Wi-Fi downer. But then so could many other devices. Ultimately, it is a matter of how much of a problem they actually cause. The science behind the warning Casting your minds back […]

New research concludes sea-level rise may be slower than first thought

20 November 2015

A new international study by scientists from the UK and France has concluded that, whilst melting ice in Antarctica will contribute to sea-level rise over the next century, the consequences may not be as serious as first thought. Published in the respected academic journal, Nature, the study predicts the consequences of the retreat of the […]

The five most Earth-like exoplanets (so far)

19 November 2015

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read that the “first Earth-like exoplanet” has been discovered. With nearly 2000 exoplanets found to date, it is no wonder so many of them will resemble our planet in some way. But which exoplanets are similar enough to the Earth that they could actually be habitable? […]

Seven spectacular weather events – and what causes them

17 November 2015

The weather might seem like it creates weeks of dreary, grey drizzle. But it can also put on a truly sensational – and, often, deadly – show. But what explains these explosive events? The Earth’s atmosphere is driven by heating from the Sun. Weather is the response of the atmosphere to the uneven pattern of […]

Science Beyond Fiction: OU researcher speaks at first TEDxESA Conference

12 November 2015

OU researcher from the Faculty of Science, Geraint (Taff) Morgan, was one of 12 keynote speakers at the launch of the first ever TEDx and European Space Agency (ESA) event. In his speech, entitled Down to Earth, Taff explored how technology from the Philae lander can be translated to daily life to uncover bedbugs in […]

Microbiology Society accolade for OU student

12 November 2015

An OU student has scooped a top prize for his achievements in microbiology. Michael Howard, 62, from Worcestershire, has been awarded the Undergraduate Microbiology Prize by the Microbiology Society. He’s been studying for an Open Degree with The Open University, focusing on biology, since March 2012, and was commended for the excellent progress he’s been making […]

Is processed meat safe to eat? OU academic reflects on stats

26 October 2015

Processed meat has been reclassified to sit alongside substances like asbestos and cigarettes. Does this mark the end of the ‘Full English’, or is there more to it? The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have reclassified processed meat to Group 1, alongside other products that are “carcinogenic to humans”. Professor […]

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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology