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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Influenza: A case study
This free course, Influenza: A case study, explores the biology of influenza, covering a range of topics including: the virus, infection, replication, mutation, immune responses, pathology, surveillance, diagnosis and treatment.
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Science, Maths & Technology
What danger do asteroids pose to life on earth?
It was a huge asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, so what damage could smaller asteroids do to life on earth. Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at The Open University, Monica Grady, explores the issue.
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Science, Maths & Technology
How much money does the UK really contribute to the European Union?
You've seen the bus. You've heard the arguments. But what does the Office For National Statistics say about the UK's actual net contribution to the EU budget?
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Science, Maths & Technology
Ceramic mould casting
Ceramic slurry is poured over a relief pattern and left to solidify, forming a cavity mould in the shape of the component to be cast. Cope and drag parts are produced. Each ceramic part is hardened by high temperature firing, then fitted together to make one hollow mould in which to cast the molten metal.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Darwin's world-wide web
How did Darwin gather data for his work? What do his surviving letters reveal about him, both as a man and as a scientist? He often seems like a solitary figure, but was this really the case? This album looks at the Darwin Correspondence project, an enormous endeavour that has been running for over thirty years. Today the project web site ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Powder Forging / Hot pressing
A custom blended mix of powders is poured into a cavity mould, and compacted under pressure into a ‘preform’. The preform is heated to forging temperature then rapidly transferred into a forging press, where it is hot pressed into the final cast shape.
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
In the night sky: Orion
In this free course, In the night sky: Orion, you will explore the night sky, discover how stars formed and find out about exoplanets, all through the constellation of Orion.
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Society, Politics & Law
Mashing up the Union Jack
Can Gil Doron’s intriguing proposals to remix different heritages in a national flag aid processes of cultural syncretism?
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Science, Maths & Technology
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…
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Science, Maths & Technology
Rocks in the field
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, processes and composition. This album features The Open University's Glynda Easterbrook and fellow geologist Tony Lee as they visit Northern Ireland to look at some amazing rock forms and some fascinating successions of different depositional environments. This material forms ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Rare diseases: low numbers, high impact
Rare Diseases Day is celebrated annually on the last day of February. This ‘rare day’ which occurs on the 28th February, or once every 4 years, the 29th of February was an apt choice for Rare Diseases Day. Many people do not fully appreciate what a ‘Rare Disease’ is, as they are so uncommon. The article aims to explain rare diseases and raise ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Using lanthanides as medical imaging tools
Discover how an element belonging to the 'rare earth metals' is being used in medicine. Here's how lanthanides' magnetic properties are fantastic for medical imaging: