article icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Haven't we been told there's water on Mars before?
The recent announcement wasn't the first time astronomers have spoken about water on Mars - but this time, it's what's in the water that has excited NASA, explains Dave Rothery.
video icon
Society, Politics & Law
Five smart technologies helping the visually impaired
Cutting-edge research is enabling the development of new potentially life-changing prototypes aimed at serving those with disabilities says, Dr Oliver Zanetti.
video icon
Society, Politics & Law
How data is making our cities smarter
Data research may lead to more efficient, sustainable and democratic societies says Gillian Rose, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Oxford.
video icon
Society, Politics & Law
How do you know you are in a smart city?
Integrated urban technology is less apparent when it is functioning well says, Gillian Rose, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Oxford.
article icon
History & The Arts
Charles Dickens and the dinosaurs
How was Charles Dickens influenced by Victorian interest in dinosaurs? John C Murray explores how Dickens might have been shaped by the work of Richard Owen in this review of Gowan Dawson's Dickens, Dinosaurs, and Design in Victorian Literature and Culture 44.4
video icon
Science, Maths & Technology
A trip to Mercury
The OU's Dave Rothery recently gave a Tedx talk on what he's learned as part of the team preparing for the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission to Mercury.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Life in the Palaeozoic
Fossils are a glimpse into the distant past and fascinate young and old alike. This free course, Life in the Palaeozoic, will introduce you to the explosion of evolution that took place during the Palaeozoic era. You will look at the many different types of creatures that existed at that time and how they managed to evolve to exist on land.
article icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Seven projects that show we are in a golden age of engineering
What are some of the country's high-profile engineering projects?
article icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Pluto comes into sharp focus – but it’s still not a planet
New Horizons is giving us the chance to see Pluto, close-up, for the first time. But familiarity won't restore Pluto's planet status.
article icon
Science, Maths & Technology
If Infinity Wars had peer review instead of script editors
Bill Sullivan imagines the feedback facing The Avengers, if Hollywood worked the way scientific journals work. WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS.
article icon
Education & Development
Tomorrow's Ed
What's possible in the future of education? We've pulled together some of our best FREE learning content pondering this question...
article icon
Nature & Environment
Plastic planet
The discovery of plastic unleashed humanity's creativity, as we embraced the magic of this versatile product. But it was at a cost - has the material which made the 21st Century brought about an environmental catastrophe?