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New ‘mini halo’ discovery deepens our understanding of how the early Universe was formed

Astronomers have uncovered a vast cloud of energetic particles surrounding one of the most distant galaxy clusters ever observed, marking a major step forward in understanding the hidden forces that shape the cosmos.
The mini-halo depicted in tones of pink and blue in a dark starry sky

‘World-class’ research showcased during Europe-wide summit

The global impact of our research has been highlighted during a visit by the European Research Council Scientific Council.
A man pointing to some scientific equipment, as he speaks with two women

Durham scientists play key role in global space survey as first Rubin Observatory images released

Scientists from our top-rated Physics department are playing a major role in the world’s most ambitious space project, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), led by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
NSF-DOE Rubin Trifid and Lagoon nebulas 25k pixels wide

ERC Spotlight: Professor Simon Cornish and global milestones in quantum physics

We will host the European Research Council's (ERC) Scientific Council Meeting this June. Leading up to the visit, we are highlighting some of the projects at Durham that are happening thanks to support from the ERC.
Professor Simon Cornish is pictured against the background of Durham Cathedral in the distance

The Rochester Lecture 2025 will be delivered by Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Anne L'Huillier

When an intense laser interacts with a gas of atoms, high-order harmonics are generated. In the time domain, this radiation forms a train of extremely short light pulses, of the order of 100 attoseconds. Attosecond pulses allow the study of the dynamics of electrons in atoms and molecules, using pump-probe techniques. Anne L'Huillier's lecture will highlight some of the key steps of the field of attosecond science. Her talk is titled 'The Route to Attosecond Light Pulses'.
Photo of Anne L'Hullier stood beneath a tree in autumn colours

New study casts doubt on the likelihood of Milky Way collision with Andromeda

New research has cast doubt on the long-held theory that our galaxy, the Milky Way, will collide with its largest neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy, in 4.5 billion years-time.
A graphic depicting a collision between Milky Way and Andromeda

Prestigious award for physicist exploring the dawn of the Universe

Congratulations to Professor Ryan Cooke from our Department of Physics who is the joint recipient of the 2025 Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize.
Professor Ryan Cook looking straight to camera and smiling. He is stood in front of shelves of books.

Space mission discovers ‘bullet-like’ winds shooting from a supermassive black hole

Researchers have discovered that ultra-fast wind surrounding a supermassive black hole is not smooth and continuous as previously assumed, but instead resembles a rapid-fire stream of gas ‘bullets’.
An artist’s impression of high-speed winds, illustrated in white, being ejected from the vicinity of a supermassive black hole.

Emma McCabe delivers Lonsdale Prize winning lecture at the British Crystallographic Association (BCA)'s spring meeting.

The Lonsdale Lecture Prize is awarded annually by the early-stage crystallography group (ESCG) of the British Crystallographic Association in memory of Dame Kathleen Lonsdale. Dr Emma McCabe (Durham condensed matter physics) was honoured to be awarded this prize at the BCA spring meeting 2025.
The title slide of the prize winning lecture

Two of our scientists awarded prestigious quantum fellowships

Two researchers from our top-rated Physics department have been awarded prestigious Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
EPSRC Quantum fellowship 2025 recipients

Two of our scientists awarded prestigious quantum fellowships

Two researchers from our top-rated Physics department have been awarded prestigious Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
EPSRC Quantum fellowship 2025 recipients

QuASAR, the Quantum Atom-Experiment for Sensing and fundamental Research, launched in conjunction with Boulby Underground Laboratory

Durham University physicists and the Boulby Underground Laboratory have initiated a collaborative effort to assess the feasibility of deploying the "QuASAR" experiment. This partnership marks a novel venture, as researchers from both institutions work together to investigate the practicalities of operating a cold-atom quantum sensor 1.1 kilometres underground.
Durham University team visiting Boulby Underground Laboratory
Cosmic Ray Cosmo Simulation

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