The actions of backwards contamination in light of COVID-19
If a bacteria from outer space was brought back to Earth, what regulations and space governance exists to ensure that this doesn't cause harm? This article explores...
Read now ❯The actions of backwards contamination in light of COVID-19
Enceladus: A habitable ice world?
Is it possible that Enceladus, one of the moons of Saturn, could potentially host life? Grace Richards, a PhD student at The Open University, explores...
Read now ❯Enceladus: A habitable ice world?
Is there life on Mars?
Mars is often depicted as an inhospitable world, but is this true? Mario Toubes-Rodrigo, a PhD student at The Open University, explores...
Read now ❯Is there life on Mars?
15 minutes on Mars
Have you ever looked up into the night sky at the red planet and wanted to know more? Now here’s your chance to explore Mars.
Take part now ❯15 minutes on Mars
Can Space Technologies solve the Sustainable Development Goals?
How can scientific and technological innovations solve global problems, and how can they be used inclusively? Devyani Gajjar explores…
Read now ❯Can Space Technologies solve the Sustainable Development Goals?
Phobos – an asteroid masquerading as a moon of Mars?
Zoe Morland, a PhD student in The School of Physical Sciences, looks at Phobos - one of Mars' moons and how space agencies are going to investigate its composition.
Read now ❯Phobos – an asteroid masquerading as a moon of Mars?
Dr Manish Patel and Dr Stephen Lewis on Landing on Mars
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is about to land on the red planet. In this short video, our OU academics explain their role in the remarkable mission.
Watch now ❯Dr Manish Patel and Dr Stephen Lewis on Landing on Mars
60 Second Adventures In Astronomy: Life on Mars
Discover how asteroids and microbes flying through space could hold the secret to life on Earth - and maybe even Mars
Watch now ❯60 Second Adventures In Astronomy: Life on Mars
As Cassini reaches the end, we should prepare the next mission
What Cassini taught us about Saturn's moons is a start. We look back at its amazing journey, and Monica Grady argues we should now be thinking about sending the next probe.
Watch now ❯As Cassini reaches the end, we should prepare the next mission
What do volcanoes tell us about the possibility of life on Mars?
Discoveries of volcanoes on the surface of the Red Planet suggests that life could once have been supported there. Dave Rothery explains how.
Read now ❯What do volcanoes tell us about the possibility of life on Mars?
What do we know about the seven Earth-like planets?
Yesterday, space scientists announced the discovery of a star that is being orbited by seven Earth-like planets. Here's Dave Rothery with what you need to know.
Watch now ❯What do we know about the seven Earth-like planets?
What missing lander means for Europe’s quest to find life on Mars
Loss of the Mars lander from its recent probe is diappointing, but the search for life on Mars goes on.
Read now ❯What missing lander means for Europe’s quest to find life on Mars
Dr Matt Balme on modelling the landscape of Mars
In this 3 minute video, Dr Matt Balme in The Open University's Space Science research priority area, gives us a tour of his laboratory and shows how he models the landscape of Mars.
Watch now ❯Dr Matt Balme on modelling the landscape of Mars
360 Degrees of Separation
How does Surrealism relate to Freud? What does Freud have to do with the Prisoner's dilemma? Josie Long takes you on a whistle-stop tour and finds the connections between Surrealism, Psychoanalysis, Game Theory, Nuclear Fission and microbes that may have played a key role in the origins of life.
Watch now ❯360 Degrees of Separation
Live long and prosper?
How can the crew of the Enterprise walk around and breathe on any planet they encounter?
Read now ❯Live long and prosper?
Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere
The new discipline of astrobiology that is, the science of searching for extraterrestrial life, is not only rapdly growing, but has also captured the public imagination. This free course, Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere, examines the emergence of icy satellites of distant planets as potential sites of extraterrestrial life, looks at the potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa, and speculates on the ethics of searching for life elsewhere in the solar system.
Learn more ❯Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere
An introduction to exoplanets
This free course, An introduction to exoplanets, introduces our galaxy's population of planets, and some of their many surprises. It explains the methods used by astronomers to study exoplanets, and provides a general introduction to the methods of scientific inquiry. The course culminates in discussion of life elsewhere in our Galaxy.
Learn more ❯An introduction to exoplanets
Moons of our Solar System
In this free course, Moons of our Solar System, explore the many moons of our Solar System. Find out what makes them special. Should we send humans to our Moon again?
Learn more ❯Moons of our Solar SystemYou can find out more about Astrobiology at The Open University on the AstrobiologyOU website.
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