University of Durham
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Mysterious ’Dark Dwarfs’ may be hiding at the heart of the Milky Way
A new study has proposed the existence of a new type of cosmic object that could be hiding at the centre of our galaxy.
Working to answer the ultimate question - are we alone in the Universe?
Dr Cyril Bourgenot from our Centre for Advanced Instrumentation is part of a team developing cutting-edge technology to enable astronomers to look deeper into the Universe. He is presenting this work as part of the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2025, which is being hosted by Durham University this week.
Chimpanzees adopt social ’fads’ even when they serve no purpose
Chimpanzees have been observed copying quirky social behaviours from one another - wearing grass in their ears and bottoms - despite these actions offering no apparent practical benefit. It reveals that chimpanzees, like humans, are capable of socially transmitting arbitrary customs, suggesting that our closest relatives may share deeper roots with human culture than previously thought.
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.
Report tackles modern air pollution
Professor Brian Castellani, from our Department of Sociology, has made significant contributions to a new report identifying air pollution as a public health crisis. The report, published by the Royal College of Physicians' (RCP), examines the effects of air pollution on health throughout a person's life.
Spotlight on: Dr Katherine McDonald - understanding the ancient world through language
The languages of the past can tell us more about human history than we might have thought. As a specialist in the ancient languages of Italy, Katherine McDonald uses linguistic detective work to uncover what life was like over 2,000 years ago.
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.
Shakespeare’s ’Upstart Crow’ insult may have come from a collaborator
A team of researchers, including Dr Rachel White from our Department of English Studies, has presented new evidence about one of the most famous insults in English literature - the phrase 'upstart crow' aimed at William Shakespeare.
Dr Kai Wang sheds new light on cosmic connections at National Astronomy Meeting
Dr Kai Wang from our top-rated Physics department has presented his research at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM2025). His new findings may reshape how scientists understand our place in the universe.
National Astronomy Meeting 2025 - exploring Durham’s rich astronomical research
Almost a thousand of the world's top space scientists will visit Durham University next week (7 to 11 July) as we host the UK's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025. NAM is the flagship annual event of the UK's Royal Astronomical Society and sees scientists present the latest in cutting-edge space research.
Using GPS trackers to study red deer behaviour in Scotland
Researchers are tracking the movement of red deer in the Highlands of Scotland using GPS collars as part of a new project. The project will provide information on how the deer move around the area, where they prefer to be and how they use the landscape.
Scientists play key role in global space survey as first Rubin Observatory images released
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.
Pioneering collaboration will create new Green Corridors in the North East
We're part of a collaboration to create three new 'Green Corridors' in the North East of England, transforming urban, suburban, and rural areas across the region. Connecting nature, history and culture.
ERC Spotlight: Professor Lynda Boothroyd and the body image intervention programme
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.
Understanding the impact of human persecution on baboons
Human persecution leads to anxiety and physiological stress amongst baboons. That's according to the findings of new research by our Department of Anthropology. The study looked at how a group of baboons living in Alldays, South Africa, responded following two fatal shootings by humans.

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