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Physicists and students from the Physics Department use data modelling to fight the spread of Covid-19

A team led by Prof. Frank Krauss and including Prof. Richard Bower and 8 of our Ph.D. students from the Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Intensive Science (CDT) have created a simulation in the form of an agent-based model, which describes the spread of an epidemic such as COVID-19 through a virtual population.
Image manipulation of the coronavirus inside the globe

Astronomers apply their skills to cancer research

You might not think that studying the universe could benefit research into serious illnesses like cancer, but Durham’s astronomers have joined forces with cancer researchers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Cancer and astronomy

Skyrmions spinning off the track!

Many possible spintronic applications of skyrmions involve their motion along pre-determined race tracks. Skyrmions can be moved with much lower energy than ferromagnetic domain walls, but there is a problem. Among the many unusual properties of skyrmions is the tendency of their direction of motion to deviate from that of a driving force; the angle by which they diverge is known as the skyrmion Hall angle and is a result of the topology giving rise to a Magnus force in its equation of motion.

Dr Jurgen Schmoll, Astronomer and Instrument Scientist at Durham, captures superb images of partial solar eclipse

Dr Jurgen Schmoll, Astronomer and Instrument Scientist within CfAI and the Department of Physics here at Durham, has captured superb images and timelapse video of today's partial solar eclipse.

Supporting business through astronomy

Durham’s astronomers and cosmologists are increasingly sharing their knowledge and expertise to support business. From washing powder to x-ray machines, our experts are helping to improve products for customers and enhance research and development in industry.
Clothes hanging on line

A world leader in Astronomy and Cosmology

We’re a world leader in Astronomy and Cosmology and our students are taught by some of the best researchers in their field.
Cosmic Ray Cosmo Simulation

CfAI helps NASA develop Lunar Thermal Mapper to detect and map water on the lunar surface

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) at Durham University will participate in the development of the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) infrared multispectral image
Montage of three pictures: Main image is of a mock-up of the lunar trailblazer in orbit above the moon, and 2 images of a mirror prototype (front and back) made in 2020 for the Atmospheric Physics group at Oxford. A complete prototype was assembled and tested and this led to the successful proposal of this design for the Lunar Traiblazer.

Durham Physics students rise to the space challenge

A team of undergraduate students from the Department of Physics has been selected to perform experiments in artificial hypergravity as part of a competition run by the European Space Agency (ESA). Competing against students from all over Europe, the team comprising 2nd year physics students Alex Prior, Jochem Langen and Paolo Barrios and known as ‘The Levitators’, was one of only 3 selected as part of ESA’s ‘Spin Your Thesis! 2021’ Competition.
Levitators logo

Developing x-ray holography for 3D tomographic imaging of magnetic nanosized objects

Fourier transform holography is a standard technique for visualising small objects. Recently members of the UK Skyrmion Project have achieved an important step towards being able to provide 3D tomographic images of magnetic objects. Using the SEXTANTS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron PhD student Luke Turnbull and others were able to produce high-resolution x-ray images of the magnetic textures in a thin s

Durham quasar physicist Vicky takes Silver Medal in parliamentary scientific research competition

Durham quasar physicist Vicky takes Silver Medal in parliamentary scientific research competition. Victoria Fawcett, a postgraduate research student at Durham University has won Silver for the excellence of her physics research in a national competition, receiving a £750 prize and a medal.
Photograph of Vicky Fawcett

Physics Department Development Talent scheme awards four early career researchers

The Physics Department Development Talent scheme promotes, enhances and encourages the possibility of early career researchers developing their research careers within the Department by providing support in the form of up to £10 000 in flexible funding.
ultracold RbCs molecules
Cosmic Ray Cosmo Simulation

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