Many people in the UK have been gazing skyward during October, as Comet 3A, dubbed the 'comet of the century' became visible for the first time in 80,000 years. Our scientists scrutinise the cosmos in great detail. But how did medieval chroniclers interpret the skies and their wonders? Giles Gasper from our Department of History and Brian Tanner from our Department of Physics investigate.

Research Project Grant 2024

Massive congratulations to Professor Jonathan Saha, Dr Radha Kapuria, and Dr Chris Bahl for winning the Durham University's Global Curriculum Award 2024.

Dr Tom Hamilton from our Department of History has discovered criminal records revealing a rare, 400-year-old legal case which successfully prosecuted a soldier for sexual crimes during Europe’s notoriously violent Wars of Religion.

The Environmental Histories and Futures of the North East (EHFNE) project brings together North East academic researchers in the social sciences and humanities and community organisations to create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The project aims to foster future research partnerships that centre local interests and community priorities through regular seminars and community steering group meetings.

Winter celebrations such as Christmas and New Year have long been associated with feasting. But, what are now seen as festive food traditions (think mince pies and richly spiced fruit cakes) were once a bold and daring foodie adventure.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of one of Durham’s most striking bridges.

In 2023, Durham University hosted a major two-day conference on nineteenth-century political history. Organise! Organise! Organise! Collective Action, Associational Culture and the Politics of Organisation in Britain and Ireland, c.1790-1914 was run by Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the History Department. Photo credit: Dr Kathryn Rix

To mark Black History Month 2023, Dr Liam Liburd organised the History Now! event ‘Black History in the North East’, and took part in a Royal Historical Society (RHS) Roundtable ‘Black British History: Where Now, Where Next?’

Professor Julie-Marie Strange from our Department of History and Professor Jane Hamlett from the University of London explore concerns over the cost of keeping pets in the UK.

On the launch of her book, Music in Colonial Punjab: Courtesans, Bards, and Connoisseurs, Radha Kapuria tells us how she developed an interest in this subject, and wider significance of social histories like this in understanding political events and the world beyond them.

Join the author, Dr Radha Kapuria (Durham, History), in conversation with Prof Laura Leante (Durham, Music), Dr Maryam Mirza (Durham, English Studies), and Dr Christopher Bahl (Durham, History).