The Open University

What makes a good Christmas number one?

25 December 2015

Dr Catherine Tackley from the OU’s music department examines what makes certain songs a hit at Christmas time. The official UK singles chart began in 1952, but many of the songs (as distinct from traditional Christmas carols) which remain popular at Christmas were established before that. ‘Jingle Bells’ by James Lord Pierpoint, dates back to 1857; […]

The magical Solar System discoveries we made in 2015

24 December 2015

It has been a busy year for Solar System exploration – and particularly our galactic neighbourhood’s small icy bodies. Comets, asteroids, Kuiper Belt Objects and planetary satellites have all been in the news – from stunning images of comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko at the start of the year, to the recent close-up of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, […]

Does Santa exist? The dilemma for the caring professions

24 December 2015

Marc Cornock is an academic lawyer and Senior Lecturer at The Open University, and he also writes regularly for the Nursing Standard. In this article, he explores the dilemma faced by those in caring professions when asked “is Santa real?” The Santa question isn’t just for parents It’s the question many parents dread in the build up […]

The choirmaster whose carols became the sound of Christmas

23 December 2015

At 3pm on Christmas Eve, millions of radios around the world will be tuned to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel in Cambridge in time to hear the pure voice of a single boy chorister singing one of the hardest solos of the church calendar, the first verse of “Once […]

‘Twas millennia before Christmas

23 December 2015

Who doesn’t love Christmas? The tree standing proud, adorned with baubles, lights, and surrounded by gifts; the radio singing festive songs, whilst the turkey slowly roasts in the oven; and the family gathered around the television with the grandparents eagerly awaiting the Queen’s Christmas Speech. Where did it all begin? Reader in British History at […]

Star Wars: Talk like Yoda

22 December 2015

How does Star Wars’ Yoda structure a sentence? And how does it differ to the way we tend to speak in contemporary English? This one minute film presented by Fernando Rosell-Aguilar, Senior Lecturer in Languages at The Open University, breaks down the mechanics of Yoda speech in this crash course on speaking Yodish. For more Open […]

Methane emissions in Arctic cold season higher than expected

22 December 2015

A major new study has found that, contrary to previous assumptions, the Arctic tundra releases at least as much methane during its cold season as it does during the summer. The study led by San Diego State University (SDSU) found that far more methane is escaping from Arctic tundra during the cold months when the […]

Coping with depression and the Christmas blues

21 December 2015

For many, this time of year isn’t always full of glad tidings and joy. Open University Psychologist, Professor Darren Langdridge talks about the Winter blues, practical ways to manage your mood, and how to deal with the expectations many have around Christmas time. Listen to Darren Langdridge’s podcast

“A load of hot air? The carbon footprint of the Paris climate conference’s Twitter deluge”

18 December 2015

I am sure that it has not escaped you that there was a major climate change conference taking place in Paris recently. I won’t become embroiled in the climate debate, as everyone has an opinion. But I am interested in (or is it hot air) at events such as this — when they are shared […]

Space exploration – inspiring the next generation

18 December 2015

Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, Monica Grady, drafted this letter in response to the article “Boldly Gone”, which was published in The Times on Friday 18 December 2015. Sir, It was my privilege to be in Baikonur to observe Major Tim Peake’s launch into space— not just another European Space Agency astronaut, but the first from the UK. I […]

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