All articles tagged with #oxford university
A previously unknown ciliate protist, Oligohymenophorea sp. PL0344, discovered in an Oxford pond, uses two standard genetic stop codons to encode different amino acids, defying long-held evolutionary rules. The accidental finding, published in 2023, has led to the identification of similar genetic variations in marine ciliates, highlighting the flexibility of the genetic code in microscopic life.
A large UK study involving nearly one million participants found that drinking beverages at temperatures of 65°C or higher triples the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. While the absolute risk remains low, experts advise letting drinks cool before consumption to mitigate potential cellular damage to the food pipe lining.
A phase 1 trial by Oxford and Moderna is testing an mRNA vaccine (INTERCEPT – Lynch) designed to help the immune system identify and eliminate very early cancer changes in people with Lynch syndrome, potentially shifting care from treatment to prevention; the first participant, Sarah Ewart, marks a step toward validating safety and immune response with a plan to move to phase 2 across UK centres if successful.
Hollywood star Cate Blanchett will serve as a visiting professor at the University of Oxford for the 2026/27 academic year, teaching contemporary theatre at St Catherine's College and engaging with students and the wider campus community.
Oxford physicists have successfully linked two distant quantum computers using photon-based quantum teleportation, performing complex algorithms and paving the way for scalable quantum networks and a future quantum internet.
Larry Ellison is funding a £118 million AI-driven vaccine research project at Oxford University, led by Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, focusing on understanding immunity to bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance using human challenge models and advanced immunology techniques.
Researchers from Oxford have developed a novel AEC-MS method for large-scale analysis of polar and ionic metabolites in biological samples, enhancing capabilities in metabolomics research and enabling new applications in health and disease studies.
Oxford chemists have synthesized a stable cyclocarbon molecule, cyclo[48]carbon, as a catenane, which remains stable in solution at room temperature, enabling easier study of its properties and reactivity.
Oxford physicists set a new world record for qubit operation accuracy with an error rate of just 0.000015%, significantly advancing the development of practical quantum computers by reducing the need for error correction and using room-temperature, electronic control of calcium ion qubits.
The 2025 cohort of U.S. Rhodes Scholars has been announced, with 32 students selected to attend Oxford University for graduate studies. This prestigious scholarship, established in 1903, covers tuition, fees, and living expenses, with a total value of up to $250,000. This year's scholars come from 20 different U.S. colleges, including first-time recipients from Eastern Mennonite University and Pepperdine University. The selection process emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to social impact.
The 2025 cohort of U.S. Rhodes Scholars has been announced, with 32 students selected to attend Oxford University for graduate studies. This prestigious scholarship, established in 1903, covers tuition, fees, and living expenses, with a total value that can reach up to $250,000. This year's scholars come from 20 different colleges, including first-time recipients from Eastern Mennonite University and Pepperdine University. The selection process emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to social impact.
The new R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University has begun its roll-out in the Ivory Coast, aiming to save hundreds of thousands of lives this decade. Meeting the WHO's 75% efficacy target, the affordable vaccine is expected to significantly reduce malaria deaths and potentially eradicate the disease in the future.
A £3 malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford is being rolled out across Africa, starting with babies in the Ivory Coast and South Sudan. The R21 jab, which has shown up to 79% effectiveness in trials, could potentially eradicate malaria within a decade. The Serum Institute has already produced 25 million doses and can scale up to 100 million annually. This new vaccine is more affordable and easier to produce than the previously introduced RTS,S vaccine.
Researchers at Oxford University have provided the first observational proof of "plunging regions" around black holes, where matter stops orbiting and falls directly into the black hole. Using X-ray data from NASA's NuSTAR and NICER telescopes, the study confirms Einstein's prediction about the behavior of matter near black holes and reveals some of the strongest gravitational forces in the galaxy. The findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, mark a significant advancement in understanding black hole dynamics.
Oxford scientists have identified 618 proteins linked to 19 cancer types that can be detected up to seven years before diagnosis, potentially enabling earlier detection and prevention. This breakthrough in proteomics, funded by Cancer Research UK, analyzed over 300,000 cancer cases and aims to develop targeted therapies, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. Further research is needed to understand the exact role of these proteins and develop reliable clinical tests and treatments.