Skip to main content
Research and Business
A purple illustration of the planet with virtual connections

Current Research

Research that makes a difference.

Durham is an ancient seat of learning and a leading world University which, since its establishment in 1832, has developed a distinctive reputation for leadership and innovation in education and research.
Research and Business
Scientists examine DNA models in modern Neurological Research Laboratory

Research, scholarship and ideas are at the core of Durham University. We are home to some of the most talented researchers and scholars from around the world, tackling global issues, and making a difference to people's lives. Research directly informs our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and, in partnership with policy-makers, industry, the public sector, and communities around the world, shapes local, national and international agendas.

Discover More

What's new?

Filter:

Widely available extreme porn is normalising sexual violence

Widely available extreme pornography on mainstream platforms is eroticising masculine dominance and normalising sexual violence, according to leading law professor Clare McGlynn.

Research news
Someone scrolling on a mobile phone.

Universities: 'enemies of the enemies of the open society'

Professor Karen O'Brien, our Vice-Chancellor, addressed the 2026 Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit on the role of universities in open, civil societies. This is her speech.
Alumni news
Woman standin behind lecter

Astronomers release gigantic cosmological simulation dataset

Our physicists and their collaborators in Leiden are making public one of the largest datasets in cosmology, offering scientists around the world a new way to explore how the Universe evolves.
Global research
A visualisation of the most massive cluster in the simulation of a cube. Blue, purple, yellow and white colours swirl against a dark blue back drop.

New toolkit supports professionals working with neurodivergent men who commit domestic abuse

A new toolkit to support professionals working with neurodivergent men who commit domestic abuse has been launched by our Department of Sociology’s Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA).
Research news
A graphic showing a number of figures in light and dark blue silhouette.

Milky Way’s neighbouring galaxies could tell us about the infant Universe

New research has found that ultra-faint satellite galaxy systems orbiting our Milky Way could tell us about the conditions of the early Universe – and why some galaxies grew while others didn’t.
Global research
A computer simulation image showing stars and gaseous material in a simulated ultra-faint dwarf galaxy in yellow, orange, purple and pink colours.

Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities – but a US style Christian nationalism is lurking elsewhere

Has Christianity become a nationalist weapon used to defend a particular form of British culture? Professor Mathew Guest from our Department of Theology and Religion looks at the shifts in society.
Research news
Two hands holding a Bible.

Novel house design cuts childhood malaria significantly

A major study involving Durham University shows that a radical rethink of rural housing design in sub-Saharan Africa can protect children from the three deadliest childhood diseases.
Research news
A two-storey Star Home
Discover More News

Widely available extreme porn is normalising sexual violence

Widely available extreme pornography on mainstream platforms is eroticising masculine dominance and normalising sexual violence, according to leading law professor Clare McGlynn.

Someone scrolling on a mobile phone.

New toolkit supports professionals working with neurodivergent men who commit domestic abuse

A new toolkit to support professionals working with neurodivergent men who commit domestic abuse has been launched by our Department of Sociology’s Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA).
A graphic showing a number of figures in light and dark blue silhouette.

Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities – but a US style Christian nationalism is lurking elsewhere

Has Christianity become a nationalist weapon used to defend a particular form of British culture? Professor Mathew Guest from our Department of Theology and Religion looks at the shifts in society.
Two hands holding a Bible.
This is the image alt text

Explore our global research

Discover how our research is changing lives around the world using the button below. We also have a static PDF version available.

Read our research brochure

Durham University Research

Play video 1

Thought Leadership

Universities: 'enemies of the enemies of the open society'

Professor Karen O'Brien, our Vice-Chancellor, addressed the 2026 Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit on the role of universities in open, civil societies. This is her speech.

Alumni news
Woman standin behind lecter

Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities – but a US style Christian nationalism is lurking elsewhere

Has Christianity become a nationalist weapon used to defend a particular form of British culture? Professor Mathew Guest from our Department of Theology and Religion looks at the shifts in society.
Research news
Two hands holding a Bible.

The old adage that people leave managers, not companies is true – but only up to a point

Exploring why employees leave their jobs, PhD candidate Jafni Bin Johari Jiken and DBA graduate and alumnus Dr Asrif Yusoff from Durham University Business School examine how leadership and workplace conditions shape staff retention.
Research news
Overwhelmed business man in office surrounded by co workers
Discover more comment and opinion