Search results (113)
« Back to NewsEar to the ground: Locating elephants using ground vibrations
15 July 2021
Researchers from the University of Oxford, Mpala Research Center and Save the Elephants, have used a combination of acoustic microphones and seismometers to locate elephants.
Oxford researchers develop tool to predict where people go after a disaster
12 July 2021
Researchers at Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), have developed an open source software package to estimate displaced populations post-disaster, currently with a focus on earthquakes and cyclones.
Oxford overseas research facility expands to include diagnostics and genetics testing centre
8 July 2021
Biomedical engineering COVID-19 Funding Medical science Physical sciences underpinning health Research
The Oxford-Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research, known as OSCAR, has marked another significant milestone with the launch of OSCAR-Prenetics Innovation and Technology Centre for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics (the OSCAR-Prenetics ITC).
Artificial Intelligence pioneered at Oxford to detect floods launches into space
1 July 2021
AI and data science Computer science Engineering Research Space
A new technology, developed by Oxford researchers, in partnership with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Φ-lab, will pilot the detection of flood events from space. It was deployed on hardware on D-Orbit’s upcoming ‘Wild Ride’ mission being launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, 30 June, 20.00 UK time.
New study finds elephants show risk-avoidance behaviour in response to human-generated seismic cues
30 June 2021
Researchers at the University of Oxford and Save the Elephants have found evidence that African elephants (Loxodonta africana) listen and react to ground vibrations created by human activity.
Oxford scientists show how green mining could pave the way to net zero and provide the metals we need for a sustainable future
30 June 2021
Earth sciences Research Sustainability & the environment
Scientists from the Department of Earth Sciences demonstrate how it is possible to directly extract valuable metals from hot salty fluids (‘brines’) trapped in porous rocks at depths of around 2km below dormant volcanoes.
Botanists name astonishing new species of ‘fairy lantern’ from Malaysian rainforests
29 June 2021
Food security & biodiversity Plant sciences Research
Oxford University scientist, Dr Chris Thorogood, from Oxford Botanic Garden teamed up with Siti-Munirah at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, and local explorer, Dome Nikong, to describe a strange plant from the depths of the Malaysian rainforest.
A breakthrough development in Deep Reinforcement Learning
29 June 2021
Materials science Quantum Research
Dr Natalia Ares from the Department of Materials and a team from Oxford and the University of Basel have been working on a machine learning approach which could significantly accelerate the development of quantum technologies.
International collaboration sheds light on the mechanism of magnetic sensing in birds
23 June 2021
A collaboration of biologists, chemists and physicists from the Universities of Oxford (UK) and Oldenburg (Germany) have been accumulating evidence that the magnetic sense in night migratory birds, such as the European robin, is based on a specific light‐sensitive protein in the eye.
Global Jet Watch: discovery of jets in classical novae
11 June 2021
Scientists at the University of Oxford have discovered that classical nova explosions are accompanied by the ejection of jets of oppositely-directed hot gas and plasma, and that this persists for years following the nova eruption. Previously, such jets had only been encountered emanating from very different systems such as black holes or newly collapsing stars.
Green light for European Space Agency mission to Venus
10 June 2021
Oxford University scientists will play a leading role in a new mission to study the geology and atmosphere of Venus, our neighbouring planet, helping determine whether it was once habitable – and why Earth became the only known planet that can sustain life.
Subatomic particle seen changing to antiparticle and back for the first time
8 June 2021
Physicists have proved that a subatomic particle can switch into its antiparticle alter-ego and back again. An extraordinarily precise measurement made by Oxford researchers using the LHCb experiment at CERN has provided the first evidence that charm mesons can change into their antiparticle and back again.
Science Blog: The wet market sources of Covid-19: bats and pangolins have an alibi
8 June 2021
By David Macdonald, Department of Zoology. The finger of blame has been pointed at wildlife trade in the wet markets of Wuhan, Hubei, China, where this Covid-19 outbreak seems to have originated. But could bats and pangolins really be responsible?
COVID-19 lockdowns significantly reduced transmission of invasive bacterial diseases
3 June 2021
COVID-19 Medical science Research Zoology
A new international study involving University of Oxford researchers has conclusively demonstrated that national lockdowns and public health campaigns introduced at the start of the pandemic have reduced the transmission of bacteria that cause respiratory infections.
SARS-CoV-2 naming system given open platform to harness international scientific collaboration
26 May 2021
Researchers at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh have announced the formalisation of the Pango Network, an international team of experts to oversee the identification and naming of different lineages of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Floating ocean plastic can get a boost to its wave-induced transport because of its size
26 May 2021
Engineering Research Sustainability & the environment
Plastic pollution and other ocean debris are a complex global environmental problem. Every year, ten million tonnes of plastic are estimated to be mismanaged, resulting in entry into the ocean, of which half will float initially. Yet, only 0.3 million tonnes of plastic can be found floating on the surface of the ocean. Where has the rest of the plastic gone?
Oxford plant scientists discover how to alter colour and ripening rates of tomatoes
19 May 2021
Food security & biodiversity Plant sciences Research
The overall process of fruit ripening in tomato (including colour changes and softening) can be changed –speeded up or slowed down – by modifying the expression of a single protein located in subcellular organelles called the plastids. This offers a novel opportunity for crop improvement.
Major academic-industry collaboration to tackle global challenges in sustainability
14 May 2021
Chemistry Climate Energy Research Sustainability & the environment
The University of Oxford joins a major new collaboration with academia and industry to use sustainable chemical technologies to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.
UK–Canada collaboration uses geology to help astronomers find habitable planets
14 May 2021
Earth sciences Physics Research Space
To date, astronomers have identified more than 4,000 confirmed exoplanets but only a fraction have the potential to sustain life. Now, new research is using the geology of early planet formation to help identify those that may be capable of supporting life.
Natural climate change solutions highly effective long term
13 May 2021
Climate Food security & biodiversity Physics Research Zoology
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can contribute to the fight against climate change up to the end of our century, according to new Oxford research in Nature. The analysis suggests that, to limit global temperature rise, we must slash emissions and increase NbS investment to protect, manage and restore ecosystems and land for the future.