University of Oxford, Department of Physics

Professor Myles Allen (Head of AOPP) hosting the last Afternoon of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics back at the end of April, with guest speakers, Professor Tim Palmer FRS who talked about 'The D-Day Weather Forecasts'; and Dr Carly Howett, who talked about 'Life on Jupiter’s Moon Europa?'. The photo was taken in the Martin Wood lecture theatre.

You may have heard of ions, but have you ever seen one trapped middair in a vacuum in a black box underground?  Two of our DPhil students, William Cutler and Sophie Decoppet, gave us a tour of the ABaQuS Trapped Ion Quantum Computing Lab.  This lab participated in our Lab to Life event last week. For one evening a year, the Department of Physics opens its doors for visitors to explore our laboratories, attend short talks, and engage with hands-on stalls.  Check it out!

The Sir Martin Wood Prize Lecture - 8 June - 2pm 'Innovation of Gel Science Based on the Creation of Homogeneous Gels' Professor Takamasa Sakai  (Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan) Professor Sakai was awarded the Sir Martin Wood Prize at the Millennium Science Forum which took place in November 2025. The Millennium Science Forum was established in 1998 to promote scientific exchange between Britain and Japan and recognize the work of outstanding young Japanese researchers. The prize is named after Sir Martin Wood, founder of Oxford Instruments. This event is open to general public, but the talk will include technical concepts.  Registration required, please be seated by 13:55hs. More info and to register, use link in bio or visit https://lnkd.in/eKyyU8p5

Around the department....views of the entrance of the Clarendon Lab through the windows of the reception at the Beecroft Building. Behind you can see University Parks ;)

How have gravitational waves challenged our understanding of the cosmos? Professor Matias Zaldarriaga (Institute for Advanced Study, USA) delivers this year’s Halley Lecture, exploring the unexpected populations of stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. Join us in person at the Martin Wood Complex or stream online via Zoom to discover the new puzzles reshaping modern astrophysics.  The 2026 Halley Lecture will take place on May 26, in person and online, 5 to 7pm BST. Check our events page (link to our website in bio) for more details and link to join online. Alternatively, visit

These particles were seen at 'Physics: Lab to Life', a yearly event held last week. For one evening each year, we open our doors to show how our research moves from the lab into everyday life. It included short talks, hands-on stalls, and guided lab tours, giving you multiple ways to explore and engage. Did you attend? Share your thoughts...

Dr Thomas Spieksma has been awarded the prestigious IDA PhD Prize for his outstanding thesis, ‘Exploring black hole environments’. His research investigates how plasma and dark matter affect black holes and their gravitational-wave signatures. This work opens exciting new avenues for next-generation detectors, demonstrating how we can use black holes as tools to search for new fundamental physics. Read more via link in bio or visit https://lnkd.in/eeVBNkid

Are cracks appearing in our model of the Universe? Videos from "An accelerating Universe" are now ready to watch via our YouTube channel (link in bio, or scan the QR code on the image). Join Professors David Alonso, Pedro Ferreira, Maria Vincenzi, and Adrianne Slyz as they review the latest cosmological data, debate the mysteries of dark energy, and explore what these new uncertainties mean for the future of astrophysics. #physics #astrophysics

Coal pollution is actively reducing solar power output, particularly where both industries expand side by side. A new study led by Dr Rui Song from the Department of Physics and colleagues at UCL mapped 140,000 global solar installations, revealing that airborne pollution particles cut solar electricity generation by 5.8% in 2023. This is equivalent to 111 terawatt-hours of lost energy. Read the findings published in Nature Sustainability via link in bio or visit https://lnkd.in/e7bTEe-i

'In conversation with: Professor Daniela Bortoletto & Professor Mark Thomson' is out now. In January this year, British experimental particle physicist and Oxford University alumnus Mark Thomson took up the role of CERN Director-General. Here he talks with Professor Daniela Bortoletto, Head of Particle Physics at Oxford University, about overseeing CERN’s next major upgrades, plans for a Future Circular Collider, what being Director-General involves, and fond memories of his years at Oxford’s Physics Department. Read at https://lnkd.in/ex8-EMKW #CERN #physics