University of Oxford

NEW: Oxford has been named the world's number one University for a record-breaking 11th consecutive year in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Oxford has held the top spot since 2017 – the longest run at number one in the rankings' history. [1/3]

What shapes Israeli politics beyond election results? As Israel heads to the polls, @politicsoxford.bsky.social's Prof Yaacov Yadgar explores the historical narratives and beliefs that underpin Israeli politics, and why they may endure beyond the election. Read his analysis⬇️ https://bit.ly/4Bs3f9l

Congratulations to three Oxford researchers awarded the 2026 Philip Leverhulme Prizes 👏 - Dr Anjali Hinch - Dr Kaibo Hu - Professor James Read Selected from over 400 nominations, the prizes recognise outstanding research. Find out more ⬇️ @leverhulme.ac.uk https://bit.ly/3Uospoy

More than just the goddess of love and beauty…✨ Once worshipped as an all-powerful deity, Aphrodite’s transformation is explored in a new exhibition at the @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social, spanning 5,000 years of art and mythology. More info ⬇️ https://bit.ly/47CYT1z

Democracy, identity or political polarisation? As Brazil prepares to vote, Oxford's Anna Petherick and João Areal explore what new survey data reveals about the factors shaping voters' decisions. Read their expert analysis ⬇️ https://bit.ly/48buuri

@oxpop.bsky.social researchers have identified blood proteins linked to the risk of developing prostate cancer, including aggressive forms, more than a decade later. The findings could help improve future risk identification ⬇️ https://bit.ly/47wj41b

El Niño could drive UK food prices even higher 🛒 As an exceptionally strong El Niño develops, @oxmartinschool.bsky.social's Prof Paul Behrens explores the risks to UK food prices and the importance of preparing for potential disruption. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4hV9Ily

AI is being hailed as one of humanity’s greatest innovations, yet the companies developing it are warning of its potentially catastrophic risks. @oii.ox.ac.uk academics argue that AI must deliver more than economic growth, prioritising public well-being. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4i8XZA5

Extreme temperatures are putting pressure on the UK’s electricity grid 🌡️ A new report, co-authored by @oxfordphysics.bsky.social DPhil candidate Matthew Wright, reveals how heatwaves and freezing conditions are affecting energy supply ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4zFuX0C

Three Oxford early-career researchers who are creating innovative solutions to modern problems have been chosen for Research Fellowships by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/47ssjiT

Making matriculation memories outside the Radcliffe Camera 🎓 📷 Instagram | Bennierlandsen, OxfordSaidMBA, Abe.1 & Amelierxsee

From dreaming of Oxford at 10 years old to making it a reality 🥹 Cheryl is a Chevening Scholar studying for a Master of Public Policy at the @blavatnikschool.bsky.social School of Government and a member of @kelloggoxford.bsky.social. 📷 Instagram | Chancheryl_

Today is the last time the sun will set in Oxford after 6pm. The next time the sun sets after 6pm will be in March 2027. And so the early evenings begin. 📷 Instagram | ObservingOxford

Some metals become brittle in extreme cold. These ones don’t 🧊 Oxford researchers have uncovered how two experimental metal alloys resist cracking at -253°C. The discovery could help develop tougher materials for aerospace, energy and transport Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4hPWd6M

These aren’t your average holiday postcards 📮 From volcanoes in New Zealand 🌋 to coral reefs in the Seychelles 🐢, scientists from @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social are taking us around the world. Five destinations. Five stories. One incredible planet 🌍 Explore ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4ys9Wpp

A record-breaking El Niño could bring a colder winter to the UK ❄️ @dspi-oxford.bsky.social's Dr Chloe Brimicombe explains how changes in the Pacific Ocean can influence UK weather ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4zsrAKo

From self-driving cars to robot dogs, Oxford’s robotics research is helping shape the future 🤖 This year, the Oxford Robotics Institute celebrates 10 years of pioneering research in robotics and AI. Discover more ⬇️ https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-10-08-oxford-robotics-institute-celebrates-ten-years

Oxford research published last month found that ketamine reduces activity in a brain region involved in processing negative experiences. @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social's findings offer new clues about its rapid antidepressant effects. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4dA2DEy

The UK has the tools to tackle modern slavery, but its policies aren’t always working together. @oxfordlawfac.bsky.social Dr Marija Jovanovic explains how gaps between immigration, employment and criminal justice policies can leave survivors without the protection they need ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4jm8gdc

An autumnal sunset over Oxford 🍂🌅 📸 Instagram | DrTSuleymanov (September, 2026)

Dr Siân Wilson is developing pioneering approaches to understand how the brain develops before birth that could transform the future of maternal and child health. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4AZbNo9

On this day in 1920, women were awarded degrees from the University for the first time. 📷 | St Anne’s College

A border can divide families, even in death. @compasoxford.bsky.social's Dr Myriam Cherti explores the challenges of identifying those who die at borders and how states can help families find their loved ones. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3TTN2J2

From Oxford scholar to creating opportunities for the next generation 🎓 Oxford alumna Shabana Basij-Rasikh has donated $2.5 million to fund a scholarship enabling an Afghan woman to pursue a master’s degree at Oxford each year. More info ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4s4lTQq

Science comes to life at #IFOx2026 this October 🔬 Join Oxford researchers to: 🧲 Watch levitating superconductors 🎨 Explore colourful chemistry 🩺 Try your hand at surgery 🌌 Discover dark matter through dance Find out more ⬇️

NEW: 252 million children under five across 97 developing countries are undernourished, multidimensionally poor, or both. Research from @ophioxford.bsky.social reveals the scale of childhood poverty and inequality worldwide. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4dTvK5V

A new portrait of Oxford’s Chancellor, Lord Hague, has been unveiled. Painted by Louise Pragnell, the portrait celebrates Oxford’s 160th recorded Chancellor, continuing a role that dates back at least 800 years. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4zo8B3v

What do you want to know about AI? We recently put audience questions to Professor Robert Trager, Co-Director of @aigioxfordmartin.bsky.social, and one of the world’s leading experts on AI governance. ▶️ Watch the full Q&A on YouTube: youtu.be/cD8HKfAveeU

On This Day in 2024, the Northern Lights lit up the skies above Oxford 😍 📷 | Marisa Basali (via @bodleian.ox.ac.uk)

NEW: the secret to how penicillin is made has finally been revealed more than 80 years after the drug was developed at Oxford. Researchers have captured previously unseen stages in how nature builds its antibiotic structure. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4yBpiIV

NEW: Oxford researchers have discovered how specialised immune cells in the brain can remove harmful protein clumps from neurons, opening up potential new avenues for treating Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson's disease affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4rRfxDQ

Freshers arriving at Keble College, 1933. 🧳📚 Some things have changed rather a lot since then. Others, not so much. The suitcases. The stacks of books. The challenge of carrying everything in one trip. Welcome to Oxford 💙 #ThrowbackThursday

NEW: Phase I clinical study has been launched in Uganda, evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of a candidate vaccine against Bundibugyo virus disease, a severe form of Ebola virus. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4y578OA

Four longstanding supporters of the University of Oxford have been recognised with Distinguished Friend of Oxford Awards, celebrating their exceptional contributions to the life and work of the Collegiate University. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3TI9eWs

‘Our study challenges the idea that smoking itself has a protective effect for Parkinson’s.’ New research from @oxpop.bsky.social suggests carbon monoxide may play a role in the lower risk of Parkinson’s seen in smokers. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4AU21Dq

'Over 2 billion people worldwide are using or benefiting from a piece of research that came from Oxford… That’s impact.' In her 2026 Oration, Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey reflects on Oxford’s impact and looks to what comes next. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4yD9i9k

NEW: Animals may have evolved up to 200 million years before their first appearance in the fossil record. The findings challenge key assumptions scientists have used to date the origins of animal life. Find out more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4jEFgxd

Oxford after dark, featuring Simpkin IV 🐈‍⬛ 📷 Instagram | ObservingOxford

What did you need to bring to Oxford as a fresher more than a century ago? 🎓 Hertford College’s packing list included four dusters, six bedroom towels and enough crockery for luncheon and afternoon tea. 📷 | Hertford College #WelcomeToOxford

The debate around the triple lock goes beyond cost 💷 Prof Tim Vlandas, from @dspi-oxford.bsky.social, examines what proposed pension reforms could mean for economic growth ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3W3AoI4

87% of Eritrea’s maritime trade by value depends on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. @ecioxford.bsky.social's Dr Johannes Lumma explores which countries are most exposed to disruption of the crucial shipping route, which carries around 15% of global seaborne trade. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4j3TYhb

We are delighted to announce that the speaker at the 2026 Europaeum Annual Lecture will be the Rt Hon Lord William Hague of Richmond, Chancellor of the University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk. 📅 Wednesday 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM. In person in Oxford and online. More info: tinyurl.com/yss3brh9

Oxford has joined a global movement to advance equality and equity for women and girls in sport 🏃‍♀️ Last month, Oxford and Active Oxfordshire signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, backed by 700+ organisations worldwide. Find out more ⬇️

Brazil’s 2026 elections will decide more than the presidency 🇧🇷 As Congress gains greater influence over federal spending, @blavatnikschool.bsky.social's Dr Amanda Domingos explores what this means for representation and who benefits from public money ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4rHrc8g

Preparing young people for the future of work means developing skills that help them adapt as work changes. @oii.ox.ac.uk's Dr Fabian Stephany explores how an ageing workforce, the green transition and AI are reshaping the demand for skills ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4hzFao6

This #BlackHistoryMonth, explore talks, events, stories and resources across Oxford – from the iconicity of Africa to race and fairness in the age of AI. Discover what’s on ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4hq2upy

Autumnal views from Exeter College 🍂 📷 Instagram | Juncao_Oxford (November, 2025)

Researchers are developing more precise ways to target the neural circuits involved in learning, with potential applications across sport, music, surgery and rehabilitation. As the technology advances, discover what the science tells us about its potential ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4yjkXtT