Researchers find oldest undisputed evidence of Earth’s magnetic field
24 April 2024
A new study, led by the University of Oxford and MIT, has recovered a 3.7-billion-year-old record of Earth’s magnetic field, and found that it appears remarkably similar to the field surrounding Earth today. The findings have been published today in the Journal of Geophysical Research.
Study shows that island bats are valuable allies for farmers
17 April 2024
The 17th April is international bat appreciation day and a new study has highlighted how these secretive mammals can be valuable allies for farmers, by feeding on important agricultural pests. The findings demonstrate that encouraging bat species can be a win-win for both conservation efforts and local farmers.
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.
More social birds are more adventurous feeders, study finds
4 April 2024
A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford has found that birds that are more social are more likely to use novel sources of food. The findings have been published in iScience.
Colistin resistant bacteria found in mothers and newborn babies in Nigeria
27 March 2024
Antimicrobial resistance Medical science Research
Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) and Cardiff University have found evidence that bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, were present in mothers and babies under a week old in Nigeria in 2016, despite limited clinical use of colistin at that time in the country.
Study finds that bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants
26 March 2024
Biology Food security & biodiversity Research
New research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has revealed that plant species recommended as ‘pollinator friendly’ in Europe begin flowering up to a month too late in the spring to effectively contribute to wild bee conservation.
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.
AI ethics are ignoring children, say Oxford researchers
21 March 2024
AI and data science Computer science Research
Researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures (EWADA) and Department of Computer Science have called for a more considered approach when embedding ethical principles in the development and governance of AI for children.
Oxford researchers uncover remarkable archive of ancient human brains
20 March 2024
A new study conducted by researchers from the Department of Earth Sciences has challenged previously held views that brain preservation in the archaeological record is extremely rare.
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.’
Oxford Martin researchers explore global views on data privacy
19 March 2024
AI and data science Computer science Research
Department of Computer Science researchers from the University of Oxford’s Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures (EWADA) are trying to better understand people’s values over who manages the sharing of their personal information online through an expansive research project.
Researchers discover a coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean
12 March 2024
Biology Earth sciences Food security & biodiversity Research
Despite being scattered across more than a million square kilometres, new research has revealed that remote coral reefs across the Seychelles are closely related. A network of ocean currents scatter significant numbers of larvae between these distant islands, acting as a ‘coral superhighway.’
The world’s most prolific carbon-fixing enzyme is slowly getting better
7 March 2024
Biology Food security & biodiversity Research
New research led by the University of Oxford has found that rubisco – the enzyme that fuels all life on Earth – is not stuck in an evolutionary rut after all; it is improving all the time – just very, very slowly. These insights could potentially open up new routes to strengthen food security.
Like charges attract?
1 March 2024
It’s not only opposites that attract – new study shows like-charged particles can come together
Study reveals high number of persistent COVID-19 infections in the general population
21 February 2024
Biology COVID-19 Medical science Research
A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that a high proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population lead to persistent infections lasting a month or more. The findings have been published today in the journal Nature.
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.
Innovative technique reveals that leaping atoms remember where they have been
15 February 2024
Researchers have used a new technique to measure the movement of charged particles (ions) on the fastest ever timescale, revealing new insights into fundamental transport processes. These include the first demonstration that the flow of atoms or ions possesses a ‘memory.’ The results have been published in the journal Nature.
Oxford scientists launch ambitious roadmap for a circular carbon plastics economy
1 February 2024
Chemistry Research Sustainability & the environment
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry/Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Plastics have outlined ambitious targets to help deliver a sustainable and net zero plastic economy, arguing for a rethinking of the technical, economic, and policy paradigms that have entrenched the status-quo.
Researchers develop hedgehog safety test for robotic lawnmowers
16 January 2024
Researchers at the Department of Biology have developed a new test to assess how dangerous robotic lawnmowers are to hedgehogs. They hope this will lead to a certification scheme that will allow consumers to choose ‘hedgehog-friendly’ mowers to help protect these lovable mammals.
New study uses machine learning to bridge the reality gap in quantum devices
10 January 2024
A study led by the Department of Engineering Science has used the power of machine learning to overcome a key challenge affecting quantum devices. For the first time, the findings reveal a way to close the ‘reality gap’: the difference between predicted and observed behaviour from quantum devices.