A team of astronomers, led by Dr James Nightingale from our Department of Physics, has discovered one of the biggest black holes ever found by taking advantage of a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.

We’re a world leader in Astronomy and Cosmology and our students are taught by some of the best researchers in their field.

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) at Durham University will participate in the development of the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) infrared multispectral image

National Day of Reflection

Durham quasar physicist Vicky takes Silver Medal in parliamentary scientific research competition. Victoria Fawcett, a postgraduate research student at Durham University has won Silver for the excellence of her physics research in a national competition, receiving a £750 prize and a medal.

A team of undergraduate students from the Department of Physics has been selected to perform experiments in artificial hypergravity as part of a competition run by the European Space Agency (ESA). Competing against students from all over Europe, the team comprising 2nd year physics students Alex Prior, Jochem Langen and Paolo Barrios and known as ‘The Levitators’, was one of only 3 selected as part of ESA’s ‘Spin Your Thesis! 2021’ Competition.

Fourier transform holography is a standard technique for visualising small objects. Recently members of the UK Skyrmion Project have achieved an important step towards being able to provide 3D tomographic images of magnetic objects. Using the SEXTANTS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron PhD student Luke Turnbull and others were able to produce high-resolution x-ray images of the magnetic textures in a thin s

The Physics Department Development Talent scheme promotes, enhances and encourages the possibility of early career researchers developing their research careers within the Department by providing support in the form of up to £10 000 in flexible funding.

A world-leading Durham cosmologist has been recognised as being “of Nobel class” for his work on the evolution of the universe.

As the world becomes ever more dependent on imaging, computers and communication, research by our physicists could help revolutionise how these technologies work.

Researchers from the Quantum Light and Matter section in the department of physics have recently demonstrated the coherent manipulation of the internal rotational state of molecules cooled to within one-millionth of a degree of absolute zero.

Our astronomers are part of an international team behind the successful first research flight of an innovative balloon-borne telescope that will investigate the mystery of dark matter.