The Open University

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 […]

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 […]

The biological reason why it’s so hard for teenagers to wake up early for school

15 January 2018

In societies the world over, teenagers are blamed for staying up late, then struggling to wake up in the morning. While it’s true that plenty of teenagers (like many adults) do have bad bedtime habits, researchers have long since proven that this global problem has a biological cause. In 2004, researchers at the University of […]

Predicting volcanic eruptions – new technique developed by scientists

1 January 2018

Scientists have developed a new method for forecasting the probability of an active volcano erupting. Scientists from The Open University (OU) have developed a new technique to help predict when a volcano is most likely to erupt based on measurements of how much nearby ground swells. The ‘inflation’, or gradual swelling, of the ground that […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mexico Earthquake: Expert reaction

20 September 2017

Prof David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University, said: “The epicentre of yesterday’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Mexico was about 500 km from the magnitude 8.1 quake of 8 September. There is no direct connection between the two, although they are both consequences of the convergence of the Pacific floor (here belonging to […]

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Category: Science