Breakthrough promises secure quantum computing at home
11 April 2024
The full power of next-generation quantum computing could soon be harnessed by millions of individuals and companies, thanks to a breakthrough by scientists at Oxford University Physics guaranteeing security and privacy.
Dr Chris Ballance, quantum computing’s up-and-coming star
9 April 2024
Profile of Dr Chris Ballance, Future Leaders Fellow at Oxford University Physics, who is at the forefront of the field of quantum computing, from the initial blue-sky ideas through to leading high-performance quantum systems that are solving real problems.
Major new project will harness AI to transform how zero-emission buildings are designed
22 March 2024
Engineering Physics Research Sustainability & the environment
Researchers from the Departments of Engineering Science and Physics are to join the ZEBAI project. The major new initiative, backed by the European Commission Horizon Programme, aims to revolutionise the way Zero-Emission buildings are designed.
Entering the quantum era
19 March 2024
Innovation and Enterprise Physics Research Spin out
The world’s most powerful computer hasn’t yet been built – but we have the blueprint, says the team behind Oxford spinout Quantum Dynamics. Meanwhile, Chris Ballance, co-founder of spinout Oxford Ionics, says ‘quantum computing is already solving complex computing test cases in seconds – solutions that would otherwise take thousands of years to find.’
Boost to doctoral training will support leading research in areas of national importance
12 March 2024
Chemistry Energy Funding MPLS Materials science Physics Statistics Teaching
The UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, totalling more than £1 billion nationwide, has been announced today by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. It includes funding for over 300 fully-funded DPhil studentships at Oxford in strategic research areas.
Oxford early career researchers shine in Parliamentary competition
6 March 2024
Award Chemistry Computer science Engineering MPLS Maths Medical science Physics
Thirteen early career researchers from Oxford were finalists at this year’s STEM for BRITAIN event, held on Monday at the Houses of Parliament, with three winning awards in their categories.
From The Conversation: Global warming may be behind an increase in the frequency and intensity of cold spells
4 March 2024
Climate Physics The Conversation
Beatriz Monge-Sanz from the Department of Physics discusses a less obvious consequence of global warming which is attracting growing attention from scientists.
Researchers achieve breakthrough in silicon-compatible magnetic whirls
20 February 2024
Functional materials Physics Research
Researchers from the Department of Physics have made a breakthrough in creating and designing magnetic whirls in membranes that can be seamlessly integrated with silicon, which could be used as information carriers in a new generation of green and super-fast computing platforms.
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
Physics Space The Conversation
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.
MPLS researchers honoured in 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
17 January 2024
Associate Professors Fernanda Duarte and Jayne Birkby have been named as Finalists in the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK. The prestigious awards celebrate the past accomplishments and future potential of the UK’s most innovative young scientists and engineers.
Professor Mike Kendall wins Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal
12 January 2024
Head of Oxford University’s Department of Earth Sciences, Professor John-Michael Kendall, has today been awarded the 2024 Gold Medal for Geophysics from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). The award recognises his outstanding work in the field of seismology (the study of earthquakes and seismic waves in the Earth’s interior) and for his support for the next generation of seismic researchers.
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.
Four Oxford academics awarded European Research Council Consolidator Grants
23 November 2023
Award Computer science Funding Physics
Three of those awarded grants are from MPLS Division: Fabrizio Caola, Associate Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics in the Department of Physics; Aleks Kissinger, Associate Professor of Quantum Computing in the Department of Computer Science; and Siddharth Parameswaran, Professor of Theoretical Physics in the Department of Physics
Extraordinary new space phenomenon mystifies scientists
15 November 2023
Astrophysicists at the University of Oxford have helped to discover a spectacularly bright and unusual explosion in a galaxy 4.4 billion light-years away. Luminous fast blue optical transients are characterized by their intense blue light and are amongst the brightest known optical phenomena in the universe.
New training centre will bridge the gap between environmental science and AI to address global environmental challenges
31 October 2023
AI and data science Climate Funding Physics Sustainability & the environment
Backed by over £15 million funding, the new UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for the Environment (The Intelligent Earth Centre) will combine the University’s strengths in artificial intelligence, machine learning, Big Data, and environmental sciences.
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.
From The Conversation: How weather ‘blocks’ have triggered more extreme heatwaves and floods across Europe
15 September 2023
Climate Physics The Conversation
Professor Tim Woollings from the Department of Physics discusses the 'blocking events' that have resulted in Europe’s weather getting stuck in long periods of hot, wet or cool weather this summer.
Professor John Cardy awarded Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
14 September 2023
Professor John Cardy, Emeritus Fellow at All Souls College, has been named as joint winner of the 2024 Breakthrough Prize. The prize recognises his profound contributions to statistical physics and quantum field theory, with diverse and far-reaching applications in different branches of physics and mathematics.