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« Back to NewsApe ancestors and Neanderthals likely kissed, new analysis finds
19 November 2025
A new study led by the Department of Biology has found evidence that kissing evolved in the common ancestor of humans and other large apes around 21 million years ago, and that Neanderthals likely kissed as well.
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt appointed Chair of AI@Oxford Research
12 November 2025
The University of Oxford has announced that Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Principal of Jesus College and Professorial Research Fellow in Computer Science, has been appointed Chair of AI@Oxford Research, a new role to champion and coordinate Oxford’s world-class research in artificial intelligence (AI).
Island reptiles face extinction before they are even studied
6 November 2025
A new study led by the Department of Biology reveals that reptiles confined to islands are facing a double jeopardy. Despite being more likely to go extinct than mainland species, they remain largely ignored by researchers compared to their mainland counterparts.
Expert Comment: Building faster, building fairer: can we make growth work for nature?
29 October 2025
Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland, Department of Biology, explains why conservationists and researchers are concerned about the proposed Planning & Infrastructure Bill, and what needs to change for UK growth to not come at nature’s expense.
Life and Mind building opens in Oxford
15 October 2025
Oxford University has opened a £200 million world-class teaching and research facility with the potential to tackle global challenges of life and mind.
MPLS Division researchers recognised in the 2025 Royal Society Awards
27 August 2025
Professor Kayla King (Department of Biology), Professor Philipp Kukura (Department of Chemistry) and Professor Michael Wooldridge (Department of Computer Science) are amongst the four Oxford researchers recognised in the 2025 Royal Society Awards.
Saving bees with ‘superfoods’: new engineered supplement found to boost colony reproduction
20 August 2025
A new study led by the University of Oxford could provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution to help tackle the devastating decline in honeybees. An engineered food supplement, designed to provide essential compounds found in plant pollen, was found to significantly enhance colony reproduction. The results have been published today in the journal Nature.
Soul mate or sole mate?
31 July 2025
Oxford researchers tracking wild great tits over multiple seasons have discovered that bird couples show clear behavioural signs of impending "divorce" months before they actually separate.
Livestock and lions make uneasy neighbours: how a fence upgrade helped protect domestic and wild animals in Tanzania
22 July 2025
Amy Dickman, from WildCRU, is one of the researchers behind a recent Conversation article exploring how upgraded fencing in Tanzania is helping to reduce conflict between people, livestock and large carnivores. The piece looks at how communities can better coexist with lions and other predators while protecting both livelihoods and wildlife.
Tool use declines with age in wild chimpanzees
15 July 2025
New research led by University of Oxford researchers has found that old age likely impacts the habitual tool-use behaviours of some wild chimpanzees – although the extent to which different individuals are affected appears to be highly variable.
In The Conversation: Nature-friendly farming budget swells in UK – but cuts elsewhere make recovery fraught
7 July 2025
Nature-friendly farming budgets are increasing through schemes like the ELM programme – but could cuts elsewhere undermine overall progress? Professor Nathalie Seddon from the Department of Biology investigates for The Conversation UK.
Oxford’s Animal Vibration Lab showcased at Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
1 July 2025
Department of Biology research on animal seismic senses will be featured at the Royal Society’s annual free celebration of world-leading science. The Summer Science Exhibition runs from 1-6 July 2025 at the Royal Society in London.
Oxford scientists in King’s Birthday Honours 2025
14 June 2025
The King's Birthday Honours 2025 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, including members of the MPLS Division and wider University.
Study finds dehorning rhinos drastically reduces poaching
6 June 2025
Department of Biology researchers have contributed to an international study which found that dehorning rhinos resulted in a drastic reduction in poaching of these endangered animals. The findings have been published this week in the journal Science.
New ARIA award aims to deliver a revolution in sustainable agriculture
3 June 2025
Researchers in the Department of Biology and Wild Bioscience Ltd are to receive backing of a £6.7 million grant from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to pioneer a new synthetic biology approach which promises to improve yields in potato and wheat.
The Royal Society elects five scientists from the MPLS Division as Fellows
20 May 2025
Seven academics from the University of Oxford, including five from the Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS) have been elected as Royal Society Fellows.
Oxford welcomes new Schmidt AI in Science Fellows
29 April 2025
Ten new Fellows have joined the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship programme at the University of Oxford. Now entering its third year, the programme is helping to accelerate the next scientific revolution by applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to research across the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematical sciences.
Paying fishers to release endangered catches can aid conservation but only if done right
24 April 2025
The study, led by the Department of Biology and published in Science Advances, is the world’s first randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of an incentive-based marine conservation programme conclusively.
From The Conversation: If we must bring back extinct species, let’s focus on the giant herbivores
16 April 2025
An impressive feat for Colossal Biosciences would be re-engineering large animals to provide lost ecological functions writes Professor Tim Coulson in The Conversation.
Linnean Medal 2025 awarded to wildlife biologist Professor David Macdonald
9 April 2025
Professor David Macdonald, who founded the Department of Biology’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), has been awarded the Linnean Medal for long-standing and significant contributions to natural sciences.