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View of the landslide zone around the South Sawyer Glacier that triggered the megatsunami in Tracy Arm fjord. This photo was taken during a U.S. Geological Survey field reconnaissance flight on August 13, 2025. Credit: John Lyons/U.S. Geological Survey.

Second largest megatsunami triggered long-lived waves in Alaska fjord

University of Oxford researchers have contributed to a study which identified the second-highest tsunami ever recorded, triggered by a landslide in southeast Alaska last year. The findings have been published today in the journal Science.

A patient receiving radiotherapy treatment from a linear accelerator, with green positioning lasers visible

FLASH radiotherapy project promises fewer side effects for cancer patients

Researchers from the Department of Physics and the Department of Oncology are joining forces to develop a new approach to radiotherapy that delivers radiation at dose rates a thousand times higher than current treatments, with the potential to significantly reduce side effects for patients.

Silhouette of a person holding an umbrella on a rainy city street at night, with blurred headlights and reflections on wet pavement.

New study shows why rainfall remains hard to predict in a warming world

A new study led by the Department of Physics and ETH Zurich reveals that a key part of the climate system, the large-scale wind patterns that determine where rain falls, can be underestimated by current climate models, helping explain why forecasts of regional rainfall remain uncertain.

Red-footed boobies (Sula sula) nesting in Pisonia tree. Credit: The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).

Fungi found to be the crucial ingredient for restoring tropical islands

Oxford researchers have contributed to a new study which has demonstrated that symbiotic fungi play a critical role in maintaining and restoring tropical island ecosystems. The findings offer new insight into how some of the world’s most biodiverse and fragile environments can recover from human disturbance.

An overlay of the predicted ultrasound field (blue-red) on a two-dimensional image of the skull and brain showing the targeting accuracy of the lens. Credit: John Eraifej.

Study shows that non-invasive ultrasound shows promise for treating Parkinson’s disease

Institute of Biomedical Engineering researchers have shown for the first time that ultrasound could have similar effects on brain activity in Parkinson’s sufferers as implanted deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes.

Welcome

We are home to the mathematical, physical, engineering and life sciences at Oxford. Our academic departments regularly appear at the highest levels in world rankings and have been evaluated as conducting world-leading and internationally excellent research in UK research assessments.

MPLS Division encompasses 7,400 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 1,200 leading science researchers, and 1,690 faculty and professional services staff. In 2020/21 we attracted £109.3m in research contracts and awards from industry.

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If you cannot access a hub but think you should be able to, please email communications@mpls.ox.ac.uk

MPLS Division SharePoint Intranet

Second largest megatsunami triggered long-lived waves in Alaska fjord

FLASH radiotherapy project promises fewer side effects for cancer patients

New study shows why rainfall remains hard to predict in a warming world

Fungi found to be the crucial ingredient for restoring tropical islands

Study shows that non-invasive ultrasound shows promise for treating Parkinson’s disease

Welcome

MPLS Division SharePoint Intranet

MPLS Events

Utopianism and Early Modern Scientific Collaboration

Exploring and overcoming Imposter Phenomenon (in-person)

Graduate Lightning Talks

Rethinking healthy cities – To what extent can urban health be designed?

Controlled Human Challenge

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Second largest megatsunami triggered long-lived waves in Alaska fjord

Welcome

MPLS Division SharePoint Intranet

MPLS Events

Utopianism and Early Modern Scientific Collaboration

Exploring and overcoming Imposter Phenomenon (in-person)

Graduate Lightning Talks

Rethinking healthy cities – To what extent can urban health be designed?

Controlled Human Challenge