Search results (32)
« Back to NewsScientists find evidence that overturns theories of the origin of water on Earth
16 April 2025
Department of Earth Sciences researchers have helped overturn the popular theory that water on Earth originated from asteroids bombarding its surface. Instead, the material which built our planet was far richer in hydrogen than previously thought.
Researchers and volunteers unite to uncover spectacular space discoveries in new satellite data
20 March 2025
Department of Physics researchers have been at the forefront of studies working with thousands of members of the public to sift through the immense quantities of data from Euclid to shed light on how mysterious forces shaped the evolution of the Universe.
Researchers generate black hole ‘plasma fireballs’ on Earth
14 June 2024
An international team of scientists, led by the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, has developed a novel way to experimentally produce plasma ‘fireballs’ on Earth, opening up a new frontier in laboratory astrophysics.
First proof that 'plunging regions' exist around black holes in space
17 May 2024
An international team led by researchers in the Department of Physics have proved that Einstein was correct about a key prediction concerning black holes. Their study gives the first observational proof that a 'plunging-region' exists around black holes.
From The Conversation: Nasa’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has ended its mission – its success paves the way for more flying vehicles on other planets and moons
30 January 2024
Kevin Olsen, UKSA Mars Science Fellow in the Department of Physics, discusses the extraordinary achievements of the Ingenuity helicopter mission.
Stunning spiral galaxies seen in new James Webb Space Telescope images
29 January 2024
A set of highly detailed images of 19 nearby spiral galaxies from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have been publicly released today. The suite of extraordinary images will provide several new puzzle pieces for astronomers and astrophysicists around the world.
New images reveal what Neptune and Uranus really look like
5 January 2024
Neptune is fondly known for being a rich blue and Uranus green – but a new study has revealed that the two ice giants are actually far closer in colour than typically thought. The research, led by Professor Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics, has been published today in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Oxford Engineering student wins 'Prototypes for Humanity' innovation award at COP28
12 December 2023
'Prototypes for Humanity' recognises innovators in science and engineering, working on solutions for social and environmental issues.
University of Oxford partners with Breakthrough Prize Foundation in search for life beyond Earth
18 October 2023
Oxford will be the international headquarters for the Breakthrough Listen initiative, the largest ever astronomical programme searching for ‘technosignatures’ - evidence of past or present technology that would signal the presence of life beyond planet Earth.
New study reveals source of largest ever Mars quake
17 October 2023
A global team of scientists led by researchers in the Department of Physics have announced the results of an unprecedented collaboration to search for the source of the largest ever seismic event recorded on Mars. The study rules out a meteorite impact, suggesting instead that the quake was the result of enormous tectonic forces within Mars’ crust.
Oxford University-built instrument ready to map water on the Moon
17 August 2023
A thermal imaging camera built by the Department of Physics will form an integral part of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission, scheduled to launch in 2024. This aims to map the distribution of the different forms of water on the surface of the Moon to better understand the lunar water cycle and inform future human missions.
Researchers successfully train a machine learning model in outer space for the first time
28 July 2023
For the first time, researchers have trained a machine learning model in outer space, on board a satellite. This achievement could enable real-time monitoring and decision making for a range of applications, from disaster management to deforestation.
Professor Joe Silk on why we need to go back to the Moon
20 July 2023
One of the most celebrated cosmologists of our time, Professor Joseph Silk (now Emeritus Savilian Professor in the Department of Physics) has made seminal discoveries on the early evolution of the Universe, the nature of dark matter and how we may detect it, and galaxy formation.
Astronomers discover the most distant galaxies yet
5 April 2023
The NASA James Webb Space Telescope discovers of four of the most distant galaxies found to date – confirmed using key instruments developed by the instrument science team with Oxford physicists.
New study shows AI could help locate life on Mars
20 March 2023
A new study involving Department of Computer Science researchers has found that artificial intelligence could accelerate the search for extraterrestrial life by showing the most promising places to look.
Major collaboration reveals new insights on binary star systems
2 March 2023
Researchers from the University of Oxford have contributed to a major international study which has captured a rare and fascinating space phenomenon.
Oxford students successfully send an experiment into space
20 December 2022
In November 2021, a team of graduate students from Oxford teamed up with the International Space School Educational Trust (ISSET) to turn the ideas of secondary school children into real experiments for launch to the International Space Station.
James Webb Space Telescope latest: new milestone in search for distant galaxies
9 December 2022
New findings confirm that Webb has surpassed the Hubble telescope in its ability to observe the early Universe as an international team of astronomers, including scientists from Oxford, has today reported the discovery of the earliest galaxies ever confirmed in our Universe.
New data from James Webb Space Telescope reveals an exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before
23 November 2022
University of Oxford academics have contributed to the most comprehensive molecular and chemical analysis of an exoplanet’s atmosphere, enabled by new data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Two major meteorite impacts reveal new insights about the surface of Mars
28 October 2022
Following two large meteorite impacts on Mars, near-surface seismic waves have been recorded for the first time on a planet other than Earth. The data, analysed by an international team involving University of Oxford researchers, has revealed valuable new information about the structure of the Martian crust.