As the world turns its attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major new Open University research project has secured £201,665 from the Swiss National Science Foundation to examine how football crowds, police forces and stadium authorities interact during high-profile matches and how these interactions can be managed more safely and effectively across Europe.

Researchers from The Open University, working with colleagues from University College London and Diamond Light Source, have revealed in a new paper how seemingly simple salts on the surface of the Solar System’s icy moons can provide important clues about their interior workings.

A new publication from the Commonwealth of Learning, authored by Professor Sara de Freitas and Professor Denise Whitelock at The Open University's Institute of Educational Technology, offers timely guidance on the responsible use of conversational agents in tertiary education

In their inaugural lectures on 23 June 2026, Professors Victoria Nicholas and Francesco Crea explored how the right support helps Open University students thrive, and how changes in how cells read DNA can drive cancer — and how this knowledge is opening the door to more precise treatments.