We work hard to ensure that our technologies, skills and expertise benefit society and the economy; read more about how our research impacts lives all around the world.
Research from the Department of Physics established the concept of a ‘global carbon budget’, a limited cumulative amount of CO2 that can be emitted before global average temperatures rise above a target threshold.
Turning fundamental research into commercial success: a highly accurate measurement technique initially developed for an academic project has been given a commercial application through Etalon AG, a German spin-out company
Oxford University is at the forefront of the UK’s efforts to build the first generation of quantum computers with world-leading performance. Quantum computing has the potential to transform areas of our lives such as healthcare, finance and security
The Global Jet Watch project combines cutting edge astrophysics research with unique and inspirational outreach work – by locating telescopes in carefully selected residential schools
The Zooniverse is a citizen scientist platform underpinned by research from the Department of Physics; it has engaged more than 2,100,000 registered volunteers in 248 projects over a broad range of topics.
The Department of Physics' key role in the ATLAS collaboration and its search for the Higgs boson led to the development of the citizen science project Higgs Hunters.
Researchers from the Department of Physics at Oxford developed a new formula to accurately measure the warming impact of methane emissions – essential to informing climate policy.
Dr Alexy Karenowska identified an unexpected application for her fundamental research into microwave magnetic systems: creating detail-rich 3D models to help at-risk cultural heritage.
A desktop microscope manufactured by Oxford Nanoimaging, a spin-out from Oxford’s Department of Physics, can view individual molecules performing chemical reactions in real-time – even inside living cells.