All content
Hundreds of educational interactives, games, quizzes, videos and podcasts, plus 1000s of articles written by academic experts and guest contributors.
Science, Maths & Technology
My career goal: digital
Your technical expertise and analytical precision could propel a cutting-edge digital career. You'll find a variety of relevant training resources as well as first-hand experiences of programmers and web developers on this page.
Science, Maths & Technology
Design Hub
Welcome to the Design Hub. Enjoy exploring tasters of OU design teaching materials as well as a wide range of design related articles.
Science, Maths & Technology
Astrobiology on OpenLearn
Astrobiology explores whether there might be life elsewhere in the Universe. We've got a fantastic range of FREE resources on OpenLearn so that you can learn more about this fascinating area.
Education & Development
The importance of education for students in secure environments
Marina Postlethwaite Bowler looks at the benefits of education for students in secure environments (SiSE) and the challenges faced by SiSE learners.
Science, Maths & Technology
A new mission to the icy moons of Jupiter
In April 2023, the European Space Agency launched the JUICE (JUpiter ICy Moons Explorer) mission. JUICE will explore the environment around Jupiter and study its three icy moons (Ganymede, Europa and Callisto). Could moons like these, orbiting giant gas planets, be habitable?
History & The Arts
Star Wars: May the Course be with you
You don't have to be in a galaxy far, far away to learn more about Star Wars. Let the force awaken your curiosity and explore now...
Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to complex analysis
This free course, Introduction to complex analysis, is an extract from the third level Open University course M337 Complex Analysis, which develops the theory of functions of a complex variable, emphasising their geometric properties and indicating some applications.
Science, Maths & Technology
Meteoric
Rocks hurtling through space shape the surface of the moons and planets as collide – and now you can use your skill and knowledge to make your own mark. Can you cover a target percentage of a planet or a moon’s surface with impact craters – by choosing meteroids based on size, make-up and speed and aiming them at your chosen target.
Science, Maths & Technology
Between humanity and space
Dr Natalie Trevino recently joined AstrobiologyOU at the Open University as a post-doctoral researcher in space ethics. Her research considers the future of space exploration and the relationship of humans and space. She reflected on how she came to AstrobiologyOU and her plans for future work, in conversation with Ann Grand, a fellow member of ...
Nature & Environment
Why is snow so hard to predict?
New York famously faced a snowmageddon in 2015 which didn't appear. Just why do forecasters struggle to predict snow?
Science, Maths & Technology
How our brain changes as we grow old: the Blood Brain Barrier breakdown
What's the Blood Brain Barrier and how does studying this help us to find out more about diseases associated with ageing such as Alzheimer’s? OU research student, Eduardo Frias-Anaya explains:
Science, Maths & Technology
Mythbusting moons
Would we have tides if we had no Moon? Is a ‘supermoon’ an important event? Can moons have moons? Enjoy this short animation.