:Brian Cox (physicist)

Cox was born on 3 March 1968 in the Royal Oldham Hospital, later living in nearby Chadderton from 1971.{{Who's Who |title=COX, Prof. Brian Edward |id=U261949 |volume=2016 |edition=online Oxford University Press |location=Oxford}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/sep/14/cern.particlephysics |title=Putting the fizz into physics |first=David |last=Smith |work=The Observer |date=14 September 2008 |access-date=14 September 2008 |location=London |archive-date=1 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501103640/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/sep/14/cern.particlephysics |url-status=live }}Human Universe – 4. A Place in Space and Time He has a younger sister. His parents worked for The Yorkshire Bank, his mother as a cashier and his father as a middle-manager in the same branch.{{Cite news |title=The Times Saturday September 12th 2015 Weekend section }} He recalls a happy childhood in Oldham that included pursuits such as dance, gymnastics, and plane and bus spotting. He attended the private Hulme Grammar School{{cite web |url=http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/alumni |title=Oldham Hulme Grammar Alumni |publisher=Oldham Hulme Grammar School |archive-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219055944/http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/alumni/ |url-status=dead }} in Oldham from 1979 to 1986.{{cite web

|url=http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/news/view/congratulations_to_professor_brian_cox_obe |title=Congratulations to Professor Brian Cox OBE |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=3 March 2011 |publisher=Oldham Hulme Grammar School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308204040/http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/news/view/congratulations_to_professor_brian_cox_obe |archive-date=8 March 2011}}{{cite web |title=Alumni |url=http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/common/alumni_gen.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707075646/http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/common/alumni_gen.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2013 |work=Oldham Hulme Grammar School website |publisher=Oldham Hulme Grammar School |access-date=23 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12344973 |title=Brian Cox: Science is not 'dominated by old men' |work=BBC News |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=12 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412231215/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12344973 |url-status=live }}

Cox has stated in many interviews and in an episode of Wonders of the Universe{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zdhtg |title=BBC Two Programmes – Wonders of the Universe |access-date=29 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402065141/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zdhtg |archive-date=2 April 2011 }} that when he was 12, the book Cosmos by Carl Sagan was a key factor in inspiring him to become a physicist. He said on The Jonathan Ross Show that he performed poorly on his maths A-level exam: "I got a D ... I was really not very good ... I found out you need to practise."{{cite news |title=Jonathan Ross welcomes Matt Smith to his Friday night show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/03_march/26/ross.shtml |work=BBC Press Office |type=press release |access-date=4 October 2012 |date=26 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421200522/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/03_march/26/ross.shtml |archive-date=21 April 2014 }}

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Cox was a keyboard player with the rock band Dare.{{cite news |title=A Life in the Day: Dr Brian Cox |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3403949.ece |newspaper=The Times |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=6 January 2011 |location=London |first1=Philippe |last1=Naughton |first2=Miles |last2=Costello |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705172637/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3403949.ece |archive-date=5 July 2008}} Dare released two albums with Cox – Out of the Silence in 1988 and Blood from Stone in 1991. He subsequently joined dance act D:Ream,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2010/apr/04/brian-cox-observer-profile |title=Brian Cox: The man with the stars in his eyes |author=Caspar Llewellyn Smith |newspaper=The Observer |date=4 April 2010 |access-date=6 December 2010 |location=London |archive-date=7 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107041905/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2010/apr/04/brian-cox-observer-profile |url-status=live }} a group that had several hits in the UK charts.[http://www.everyhit.co.uk/ UK top 40 hit database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122034912/http://everyhit.co.uk/ |date=22 November 2015 }}, EveryHit.co.uk (search result for D:Ream), done 6 September 2008 Cox wrote the foreword of the official Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark biography, OMD: Pretending to See the Future (2018), having been an "obsessive" fan of the band in his youth. He said of their songs, "They shaped my character and inspired me to make music."{{cite book|last=Houghton|first=Richard|date=2018|chapter=Foreword|title=OMD: Pretending to See the Future|publisher=This Day in Music Books|isbn=978-1-999592-72-1}}

Cox continues to perform sporadically. In 2015, he appeared as a guest keyboardist during a performance of the song "Your Silent Face" by New Order.{{cite web|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news-new-order-why-europe-made-us-what-we-are-today-15838/|title=New Order: Why Europe made us what we are today|last=Sumner|first=Bernard|author-link=Bernard Sumner|date=30 November 2016|website=The New European|access-date=9 September 2022}} He played a live rendition of OMD's "Enola Gay", alongside frontman Andy McCluskey, in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/culture/omds-andy-mccluskey-im-really-happy-that-i-dont-have-to-pander-to-a-tiktok-generation-to-get-my-songs-heard-22960473|title=OMD's Andy McCluskey: 'I'm really happy that I don't have to pander to a TikTok generation to get my songs heard'|last=Brayden|first=Kate|date=4 April 2023|website=Hot Press|access-date=3 November 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404165128/https://www.hotpress.com/culture/omds-andy-mccluskey-im-really-happy-that-i-dont-have-to-pander-to-a-tiktok-generation-to-get-my-songs-heard-22960473|archive-date=4 April 2023}} On 29 June 2024, Cox appeared at the Glastonbury Festival with D:Ream to perform "Things Can Only Get Better".{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-professor-brian-cox-reunite-with-dream-for-things-can-only-get-better-at-glastonbury-2024-3770118 |title=Watch Professor Brian Cox reunite with D:Ream for 'Things Can Only Get Better' at Glastonbury 2024

|author=Alex Rigotti |newspaper=The NME |date=29 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |location=London}}

Cox studied physics at the University of Manchester during his music career. In 1991, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with first-class honours in physics. After D:Ream disbanded in 1997, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in high-energy particle physics at the University of Manchester in 1998.{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Brian Edward |last=Cox |title=Double diffraction dissociation at large momentum transfer |publisher=University of Manchester |year=1998 |url=http://www-h1.desy.de/psfiles/theses/h1th-679.pdf |website=desy.de |oclc=644443338 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114112943/http://www-h1.desy.de/psfiles/theses/h1th-679.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2014 |id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.675409}}}} His thesis, Double Diffraction Dissociation at Large Momentum Transfer, was supervised by Robin Marshall{{Who's Who |title=Marshall, Prof. Robin |id=U26756 |volume=2015 |edition=online Oxford University Press}} and based on research he did on the H1 experiment at the Hadron Elektron Ring Anlage (HERA){{Cite book |last1=Cox |first1=B. |title=AIP Conference Proceedings |author-link1=Brian Cox (physicist) |chapter=A review of forward proton tagging at 420m at the LHC, and relevant results from the Tevatron and HERA |doi=10.1063/1.1896693 |volume=753 |pages=103–111 |year=2005 |arxiv=hep-ph/0409144 |s2cid=16324151 }} particle accelerator at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg, Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.apolloschildren.com:16080/brian/ |title=Professor Brian Cox |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123123111/http://www.apolloschildren.com:16080/brian/ |archive-date=23 January 2013 |website=The Official Website of Professor Brian Cox}}

Cox is a particle physicist at the University of Manchester.{{cite news |title=The Inventory: Brian Cox |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fe29e308-0bd8-11e3-8f77-00144feabdc0 |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=Financial Times |archive-date=21 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821234009/https://www.ft.com/content/fe29e308-0bd8-11e3-8f77-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live }} He worked on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC){{Cite journal |last1=Cox |first1=B. |author-link1=Brian Cox (physicist) |last2=Forshaw |first2=J. |author-link2=Jeff Forshaw|last3=Lee |first3=J. |last4=Monk |first4=J. |last5=Pilaftsis |first5=A. |title=Observing a light CP-violating Higgs boson in diffraction |doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.68.075004 |journal=Physical Review D |volume=68 |issue=7 |page=075004 |year=2003 |arxiv=hep-ph/0303206 |bibcode=2003PhRvD..68g5004C|s2cid=326990 }}{{Cite journal |last1=Cox |first1=B. |author-link1=Brian Cox (physicist) |last2=Forshaw |first2=J.|author-link2=Jeff Forshaw|last3=Heinemann |first3=B. |title=Double diffractive higgs and di-photon production at the Tevatron and LHC |doi=10.1016/S0370-2693(02)02144-5 |journal=Physics Letters B |volume=540 |issue=3–4 |pages=263–268 |year=2002 |arxiv=hep-ph/0110173 |bibcode=2002PhLB..540..263C|s2cid=16540924 }} at CERN,{{TED speaker|brian_cox}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_on_cern_s_supercollider |title=Brian Cox: CERN's supercollider – TED Talk |author=Brian Cox |date=29 April 2008 |publisher=ted.com |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-date=27 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127100344/https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_on_cern_s_supercollider |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_what_went_wrong_at_the_lhc |title=Brian Cox: What went wrong at the LHC – TED Talk |author=Brian Cox |date=May 2009 |publisher=ted.com |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917051920/https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_what_went_wrong_at_the_lhc |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_why_we_need_the_explorers |title=Brian Cox: Why we need the explorers – TED Talk |author=Brian Cox |date=3 June 2010 |publisher=ted.com |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-date=9 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109104900/https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_why_we_need_the_explorers |url-status=live }} near Geneva, Switzerland.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.physletb.2012.08.021 |title=Observation of a new boson at a mass of 125 GeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC |journal=Physics Letters B |volume=716 |issue=1 |page=30 |year=2012 |last1=Chatrchyan |first1=S. |last2=Khachatryan |first2=V. |last3=Sirunyan |first3=A. M. |last4=Tumasyan |first4=A. |last5=Adam |first5=W. |last6=Aguilo |first6=E. |last7=Bergauer |first7=T. |last8=Dragicevic |first8=M. |last9=Erö |first9=J. |last10=Fabjan |first10=C. |last11=Friedl |first11=M. |last12=Frühwirth |first12=R. |last13=Ghete |first13=V. M. |last14=Hammer |first14=J. |last15=Hoch |first15=M. |last16=Hörmann |first16=N. |last17=Hrubec |first17=J. |last18=Jeitler |first18=M. |last19=Kiesenhofer |first19=W. |last20=Knünz |first20=V. |last21=Krammer |first21=M. |last22=Krätschmer |first22=I. |last23=Liko |first23=D. |last24=Majerotto |first24=W. |last25=Mikulec |first25=I. |last26=Pernicka |first26=M. |last27=Rahbaran |first27=B. |last28=Rohringer |first28=C. |last29=Rohringer |first29=H. |last30=Schöfbeck |first30=R. |display-authors=29|arxiv=1207.7235 |bibcode=2012PhLB..716...30C }}{{Cite journal |doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.65.096014 |title=WW scattering at the CERN LHC |journal=Physical Review D |volume=65 |issue=9 |page=096014 |year=2002 |last1=Butterworth |first1=J. M. |author-link1=Jon Butterworth |last2=Cox |first2=B. E. |author-link2=Brian Cox (physicist) |last3=Forshaw |first3=J. R. |author-link3=Jeff Forshaw |arxiv=hep-ph/0201098 |bibcode=2002PhRvD..65i6014B |s2cid=118887006 |url=http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/9349/1/9349.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805180414/https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/9349/1/9349.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Scopus id}}{{cite web|url=https://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Cox_B/0/1/0/all/0/1|title=arXiv.org Search|publisher=arxiv.org|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626220545/https://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Cox_B/0/1/0/all/0/1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://inspirebeta.net/search?ln=en&p=brian+cox&f=author|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222122859/http://inspirebeta.net/search?ln=en&p=brian+cox&f=author|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2013|title=brian cox – Search Results – INSPIRE-HEP|publisher=inspirebeta.net}} He previously held a Royal Society University Research Fellowship and a Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) advanced research fellowship.

Cox has co-written several books on physics including Why does E=mc²?{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Brian |last2=Forshaw |first2=Jeff |author-link2=Jeff Forshaw|title=Why Does E=mc²? : (And Why Should We Care?) |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge, MA |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-306-81876-9 }} and The Quantum Universe, both with Jeff Forshaw.{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Brian |last2=Forshaw |first2=Jeff |author-link2=Jeff Forshaw|title=The Quantum Universe : everything that can happen does happens |publisher=Allen Lane |location=London |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84614-432-5 }} He has supervised or co-supervised several PhD students to completion including Tamsin Edwards.{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Graham |last=Jones |title=Measurement of dijet production at √s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector |publisher=University of Manchester |year=2011 |url=http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.553328 |access-date=16 May 2014 |archive-date=25 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125110200/http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.553328 |url-status=dead }}{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=James William |last=Monk |title=Study of central exclusive production |publisher=University of Manchester |year=2006 |url=http://www.hep.man.ac.uk/u/forshaw/monk.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2019 |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626220550/http://www.hep.man.ac.uk/u/forshaw/monk.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Irina Naskova |last=Nasteva |title=Exclusive Higgs production and decay to WW(*) at the LHC and semiconductor tracker studies for the ATLAS detector |publisher=University of Manchester |year=2006 |url=http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21194931120001631 |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211213534/http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21194931120001631 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Andres Felipe |last=Osorio Oliveros |title=WW scattering studies for a future linear collider |publisher=University of Manchester |year=2006 |url=http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21195660680001631 |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117041201/http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21195660680001631 |archive-date=17 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Andrew Denis |last=Pilkington |title=Central exclusive production in TeV energies |publisher=University of Manchester |year=2006 |url=http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21167659030001631 |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211161037/http://man-fe.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?vid=MU_VU1&doc=44MAN_ALMA_DS21167659030001631 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}

File:Professor Brian Cox at the Science Foo Camp -- 11 August 2008.jpg in 2008]]

Cox has appeared in many science programmes for BBC radio and television,{{cite web |url=http://eden.uktv.co.uk/people/brian-cox/ |title=Prof Brian Cox |website=uktv.co.uk |publisher=UKTV |access-date=5 September 2013 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210917/https://eden.uktv.co.uk/people/brian-cox/ |url-status=dead }} including In Einstein's Shadow,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/ineinsteinsshadow.shtml |title=In Einstein's shadow |work=BBC Radio 4 |date=January 2005 |access-date=6 September 2008 |url-status=live |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417220535/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/ineinsteinsshadow.shtml}} the BBC Horizon series,{{cite web | title = Professor Brian Cox | url = http://www.sueridermanagement.co.uk/presenters/BrianCox/briancox.htm | publisher = Sue Rider Management | access-date = 6 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180203212836/http://www.sueridermanagement.co.uk/presenters/BrianCox/briancox.htm | archive-date = 3 February 2018 | url-status = dead }} ("The Six Billion Dollar Experiment", "What on Earth is Wrong with Gravity?", "Do You Know What Time It Is?", and "Can we Make a Star on Earth?") and as a voice-over for the BBC's Bitesize revision programmes. He presented the five-part BBC Two television series Wonders of the Solar System in early 2010 and a follow-up four-part series, Wonders of the Universe, which began on 6 March 2011.{{cite web | title = Wonders of the Solar System | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qyxfb | publisher = BBC | access-date = 4 April 2010 | archive-date = 4 December 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171204150026/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qyxfb | url-status = live }} Wonders of Life, which he describes as "a physicist's take on life/natural history", was broadcast in 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/mar/24/brian-cox-wonders-universe?commentpage=8#comment-10089245 |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Brian Cox answers your questions about life, the universe and everything |date=24 March 2011 |archive-date=13 December 2017 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213204421/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/mar/24/brian-cox-wonders-universe?commentpage=8#comment-10089245 |url-status=live }} He co-presents Space Hoppers and has also featured in Dani's House on CBBC.{{cite web | title = Space Hoppers | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rhdfn | publisher = BBC | access-date = 4 April 2010 | archive-date = 3 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180803155949/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rhdfn | url-status = live }}

Cox also presented a three-part BBC series called Science Britannica which sees him explore the contribution of British scientists over the last 350 years, as well as the relationship between British science and the public perception thereof.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01d56dn |access-date=6 August 2014 |title=Science Britannica |publisher=BBC |archive-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112060832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01d56dn |url-status=live }}

BBC Two commissioned Cox to copresent Stargazing Live, a three-day live astronomy series in January 2011 – co-presented with comedian Dara Ó Briain and featuring chat show host Jonathan Ross{{cite news |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/ross-returns-to-bbc-for-stargazing-series/5020981.article |title=Ross returns to BBC for Stargazing series |last=Neilan |first=Catherine |work=Broadcast |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=25 November 2010 |archive-date=16 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316171709/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/ross-returns-to-bbc-for-stargazing-series/5020981.article |url-status=live }} – linked to events across the United Kingdom. A second and a third series featuring a variety of guests ran in January 2012 and January 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/nasse_materials.shtml |title=Saul Nassé, Controller of Learning – Speech at the Institute of Materials, London |work=BBC Press Office |type=press release |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=6 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223012846/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/nasse_materials.shtml}}

Since November 2009, Cox has co-presented a BBC Radio 4 "comedy science magazine programme", The Infinite Monkey Cage, with comedian Robin Ince.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/2010/06/ |title=Live chat: science fiction vs science fact |first=Steve |last=Bowbrick |work=BBC Radio 4 |date=28 June 2010 |access-date=6 July 2010 |archive-date=15 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015193326/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/2010/06/ |url-status=live }} Guests have included comedians Tim Minchin, Alexei Sayle, Dara Ó Briain, and scientists including Alice Roberts of the BBC show The Incredible Human Journey, Callum Roberts,{{Cite web |url=https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/35107-callum-roberts |title=Callum Roberts Profile {{!}} University of Exeter |website=experts.exeter.ac.uk |access-date=3 December 2024 |archive-date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925185253/https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/35107-callum-roberts |url-status=live }} a chief scientific advisor for Blue Planet,{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcu.ie/news/news/2019/09/chief-advisor-to-bbcs-blue-planet-to-speak-at-planet-ocean-event-in-dcu |title=Chief Advisor to BBC's Blue Planet to speak at Planet Ocean event in DCU |website=dcu.ie |date=18 September 2019 |access-date=3 December 2024 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204084604/https://www.dcu.ie/news/news/2019/09/chief-advisor-to-bbcs-blue-planet-to-speak-at-planet-ocean-event-in-dcu |url-status=live }} and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085tq49|title=The Infinite Monkey Cage Christmas Special, The Infinite Monkey Cage – BBC Radio 4|website=BBC|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930075627/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085tq49|url-status=live}} Cox also appeared in Ince's Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People. He was a regular contributor to the BBC 6 Music Breakfast Show (and the Afternoon Show since 2019) with Shaun Keaveny, with a weekly feature, and an annual Christmas special{{Cite web|title=Ep 253 - The Two Brians Christmas Special - Brian Eno and Prof Brian Cox join Shaun|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cnnt|url-status=live|access-date=4 November 2021|website=BBC|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101093442/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cnnt |archive-date=1 January 2021 }} with Keaveny and Brian Eno. He appeared on 24 July 2009 episode of Robert Llewellyn's CarPool podcast series.CarPool, [http://www.llewtube.com/ Brian Cox on CarPool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423114846/http://www.llewtube.com/ |date=23 April 2009 }}, 24 July 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.

Cox has also appeared numerous times at TED, giving talks on the LHC and particle physics.{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/speakers/brian_cox |title=Brian Cox |work=TED |access-date=6 January 2011 |archive-date=15 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315031128/http://www.ted.com/speakers/brian_cox |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_on_cern_s_supercollider |title=Brian Cox: CERN's supercollider |work=TED |date=March 2008 |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-date=27 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127100344/https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_cox_on_cern_s_supercollider |url-status=live }} In 2009 he appeared in People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive.{{cite web |url=http://atlas.ch/news/2009/sexiest-physicist.html |title=ATLAS physicist voted sexiest in the world |first=Ceri |last=Perkins |work=ATLAS eNews |date=February 2009 |access-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723123307/http://atlas.ch/news/2009/sexiest-physicist.html |archive-date=23 July 2011 }} In 2010, he was featured in The Case for Mars by Symphony of Science. In November 2010 he made a promotional appearance in the Covent Garden Apple Store, talking about his new e-book set to accompany his new television series as well as answering audience questions.{{cite web|url=https://corporate.harpercollins.co.uk/press-releases/landmark-apple-store-event-for-professor-cox/ |title=Landmark Apple Store Event for Professor Cox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705182028/https://corporate.harpercollins.co.uk/press-releases/landmark-apple-store-event-for-professor-cox/ |archive-date=5 July 2022 |type=press release |work=HarperCollins |date=24 November 2010 |access-date=26 March 2025}}

Cox gave the Royal Television Society's 2010 Huw Wheldon Memorial Lecture on "Science, a Challenge to TV Orthodoxy", in which he examined problems in media coverage of science and news about science. It was subsequently broadcast on BBC Two. On 4 March, a talk entitled "Frankenstein's Science" at the National Theatre featured Cox in discussion with biographer Richard Holmes on Mary Shelley's exploration of humanity's desire to bring life to an inanimate object and whether the notion is possible, in both the 19th century and today.{{cite web |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/8187/news/prof-brian-cox-to-reveal-frankenstein-science/ |title=Brian Cox To Reveal Frankenstein Science |publisher=westendtheatre.com |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=27 January 2018 |archive-date=27 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127203037/https://www.westendtheatre.com/8187/news/prof-brian-cox-to-reveal-frankenstein-science/ |url-status=live }}

On 6 March 2011, Cox appeared as a guest at Patrick Moore's 700th episode anniversary of The Sky at Night. He has said that he is a lifelong fan of the programme, and that it helped inspire him to become a physicist. On 10 March 2011, he gave the Ninth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture.

File:ICLR 2025 - Brian Cox 02.jpg Technology for Change Asia]]

Cox was the science advisor for the science fiction film Sunshine. On the DVD release, he provides an audio commentary where he discusses scientific accuracies (and inaccuracies) depicted in the film. He also was featured on the Discovery Channel special Megaworld: Switzerland. In 2013, he presented another series of Wonders of Life.

On 14 November 2013, BBC Two broadcast The Science of Doctor Who in celebration of Doctor Who{{'}}s 50th anniversary, in which Cox tackles the mysteries of time travel. The lecture was recorded at the Royal Institution Faraday Lecture Theatre. The BBC subsequently broadcast Human Universe and Forces of Nature also presented by Cox.

A longtime fan of the Monty Python comedy troupe, in July 2014 Cox appeared on stage on the final night of their 10-date live show, Monty Python Live (Mostly). He also appears on the documentary telefilm Monty Python: The Meaning of Live.{{cite web|last=Harvey |first=Dennis |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/monty-python-the-meaning-of-live-review-1201485406/ |title=Film Review: 'Monty Python: The Meaning of Live' |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819150628/https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/monty-python-the-meaning-of-live-review-1201485406/ |archive-date=19 August 2019 |work=Variety |date=2 May 2015}}

In 2017, Cox appeared in the children's television programme Postman Pat, voicing space expert Professor Ryan Farrow.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-03-29/brian-cox-just-inspired-a-new-generation-of-physicists-with-an-appearance-on-postman-pat/|title=Brian Cox just inspired a new generation of physicists with an appearance on Postman Pat|first=Thomas|last=Ling|magazine=Radio Times|date=29 March 2017|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411065923/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-03-29/brian-cox-just-inspired-a-new-generation-of-physicists-with-an-appearance-on-postman-pat/|url-status=live}}

• Dare – Out of the Silence (1988)
• Dare – Blood from Stone (1991)
• D:Ream – D:Ream on Volume 1 (1993)
• D:Ream – In Memory Of... (2011)

• Why Does E=mc²? (And Why Should We Care?) (with Jeff Forshaw) (2009)
• Wonders of the Solar System (with Andrew Cohen) (2010)
• Wonders of the Universe (with Andrew Cohen) (2011)
• The Quantum Universe (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does) with Jeff Forshaw (2011)
• Wonders of Life: Exploring the Most Extraordinary Phenomenon in the Universe (with Andrew Cohen) (2013)
• Human Universe (with Andrew Cohen) (2014)
• Forces of Nature (with Andrew Cohen) (2016)
• Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos (with Jeff Forshaw) (2016){{Cite book|title=Universal: a guide to the cosmos|last1=Cox|first1=Brian|last2=Forshaw|first2=J R.|publisher=Allen Lane|edition=1st|isbn=9781846144363|location=London|oclc=965118761|year = 2016}}
• Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe (with Jeff Forshaw) (2022)

Cox has received many awards for his efforts to popularize science. In 2002 he was elected an International Fellow of The Explorers Club and in 2006 he received the British Association's Lord Kelvin Award for this work. He held a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship (an early-career Research Fellowship scheme) from 2006 to 2013.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429121525/https://royalsociety.org/people/brian-cox-12855/ |archive-date=29 April 2016 |url=https://royalsociety.org/people/brian-cox-12855/ |publisher=Royal Society |title=Professor Brian Cox OBE FRS |author=Anon |year=2016 |location=London }} One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from the royalsociety.org website where: {{blockquote|"All text published under the heading 'Biography' on Fellow profile pages is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License." --{{cite web |url=https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |title=Royal Society Terms, conditions and policies |access-date=29 April 2016 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925220834/https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |url-status=live }}}} A frequent lecturer, he was keynote speaker at the Australian Science Festival in 2006, and in 2010 won the Institute of Physics Kelvin Medal and Prize for his work in communicating the appeal and excitement of physics to the general public.{{cite web |url=http://www.iop.org/about/awards/education/kelvin/medallists/page_43988.html |title=2010 Kelvin medal and prize |publisher=Institute of Physics |year=2014 |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229172210/http://www.iop.org/about/awards/education/kelvin/medallists/page_43988.html |url-status=live }}

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to science{{cite web |url=https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/rock-star-scientist-professor-brian-cox-is-made-an-obe-for-services-to-science/ |title=Rock star scientist Professor Brian Cox is made an OBE for services to science |website=Manchester.ac.uk |date=12 June 2010 |access-date=22 May 2020 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227005512/https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/rock-star-scientist-professor-brian-cox-is-made-an-obe-for-services-to-science/ |url-status=live }} and promoted to Commander of the same Order (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the promotion of science.{{London Gazette|issue=63135|supp=y|page=B9|date=10 October 2020}}

On 15 March 2011, he won Best Presenter and Best Science/Natural History programme by the Royal Television Society for Wonders of the Universe. On 25 March 2011, he won twice at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for 'Best Performer' in a non-acting role, while Wonders of the Solar System was named best documentary series of 2010.{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Brian |last2=Cohen |first2=Andrew |title=Wonders of the Solar System |publisher=Collins |location=London |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-00-738690-1 }}{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Brian |last2=Cohen |first2=Andrew |title=Wonders of the Universe |publisher=Harper Design |location=New York |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-06-211054-1 }}

In July 2012, Cox was conferred the honorary award of Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv) from the University of Huddersfield, presented by Sir Patrick Stewart.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19004302 |date=26 July 2012 |title=Brian Cox receives degree from Sir Patrick Stewart |work=BBC News |access-date=12 November 2012 |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412162107/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19004302 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.hud.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates/ |title=Honorary Graduates - University of Huddersfield |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308154715/https://www.hud.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates/ |archive-date=8 March 2021 |website=hud.ac.uk}} Later that year, he was awarded the Institute of Physics President's medal by Sir Peter Knight, following which he gave a speech on the value of education in science and the need to invest more in future generations of scientists.{{cite web|url=http://www.iop.org/about/awards/2012/page_57524.html|title=IOP Awards 2012: Professor Brian Cox delivers a key note speech|access-date=5 October 2012|archive-date=15 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415013252/http://www.iop.org/about/awards/2012/page_57524.html|url-status=live}} On 5 October 2012, Cox was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv) by the Open University for his "Exceptional contribution to Education and Culture".{{cite web|url=http://www8.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/file/Graduate-Directory-2012-WEB.pdf |title=Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Presentation of Graduates |publisher=The Open University |year=2012 |access-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221235231/http://www.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/file/Graduate-Directory-2012-WEB.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2014 }} In 2012 he also was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize of the Royal Society "for his excellent work in science communication."{{cite web |url=http://royalsociety.org/awards/michael-faraday-prize/ |title=The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize |publisher=Royal Society |access-date=17 October 2012 |archive-date=13 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013025354/http://royalsociety.org/awards/michael-faraday-prize/ |url-status=live }} He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2016. In 2022, he was awarded the Hawking Fellowship by the Cambridge Union in the University of Cambridge.{{cite web |title=Brian Cox awarded Hawking Fellowship |url=https://www.hawking.org.uk/news/the-professor-hawking-fellowship-committee-announce-2022-recipient-as-professor-brian-cox |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728005144/https://www.hawking.org.uk/news/the-professor-hawking-fellowship-committee-announce-2022-recipient-as-professor-brian-cox |url-status=live }}

Cox has voiced his concerns about Brexit, saying he feels it is a "weakening of our interaction with our neighbouring countries" and that "it cannot be the right trajectory".{{cite news | title = UK needs a visionary leader, says Professor Brian Cox | url = https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2017/05/04/news/uk-needs-a-visionary-leader-says-professor-brian-cox-1017573/ | work = The Irish News | date = 4 May 2017 | access-date = 25 June 2018 | archive-date = 12 September 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190912071115/https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2017/05/04/news/uk-needs-a-visionary-leader-says-professor-brian-cox-1017573/ | url-status = live }} On 23 June 2018, the People's Vote march was held in London to mark the second anniversary of the referendum to leave the European Union. Cox tweeted, "if [a people's vote were] held on known exit terms and leave commanded majority, I'd back it as settled, informed decision. That's my argument for having one".{{cite news | title = 'At least 100,000' march for vote on final Brexit deal | url = https://news.sky.com/story/live-thousands-marching-for-vote-on-final-brexit-deal-11414177 | work = Sky News | date = 23 June 2018 | access-date = 25 June 2018 | archive-date = 13 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180713035518/https://news.sky.com/story/live-thousands-marching-for-vote-on-final-brexit-deal-11414177 | url-status = live }} Cox has said referring to the will of "the British people" should be banned from political discourse, calling the phrase's usage by Conservative MP Priti Patel "inflammatory and divisive".{{cite news|url=https://unherd.com/thepost/silly-season-hits-the-blue-tick-brigade/|title=Silly season comes to the Blue Tick brigade|date=12 August 2020|website=unherd.com}}

In 2003, Cox married American television presenter and writer Gia Milinovich in Duluth, Minnesota. They have a son, born in 2009, and Milinovich has a son from a previous relationship. They currently live in Battersea, London.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iYw7AAAAQBAJ&pg=PP8 |title=The Wonder of Brian Cox – The Unauthorised Biography of the Man Who Brought Science to the Nation |publisher=John Blake Publishing Ltd |author=Falk, Ben |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84358-953-2}}

Despite lacking a belief in deities, Cox has rejected the label "atheist" and has instead preferred to describe himself as having "no personal faith".{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=Mark |title=Professor Brian Cox condemns 'toxic' rows between science and religion |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/professor.brian.cox.condemns.toxic.rows.between.science.and.religion/95038.htm |website=Christian Today |access-date=12 September 2016 |date=9 September 2016 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911203651/http://www.christiantoday.com/article/professor.brian.cox.condemns.toxic.rows.between.science.and.religion/95038.htm |url-status=live }} In 2009, he contributed to the charity book The Atheist's Guide to Christmas.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/series/the-atheist-guide-to-christmas |title=Authors read their contributions to Ariane Sherine's book |location=London |work=The Guardian |date=2 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202140306/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/series/the-atheist-guide-to-christmas |archive-date=2 February 2017 }} He is a humanist, and is a Distinguished Supporter of Humanists UK.{{cite web |url=http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters/brian_cox |title=Professor Brian Cox OBE |publisher=British Humanist Association |access-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516223747/http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters/brian_cox |archive-date=16 May 2011 }} In June 2019, Cox explained that he cannot be sure there is no God and that science cannot answer every question.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07br0zk|title=BBC Radio 5 live – In Short, Professor Brian Cox: 'I can't be sure there is no God'|website=BBC|date=10 June 2019|language=en-GB|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612213526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07br0zk|url-status=live}}

Cox is a supporter of the football club Oldham Athletic and has held a season ticket at the club.

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• {{IMDb name|2207118}}
• [https://universeodon.com/@profbriancox Prof Brian Cox] on [https://universeodon.com Mastodon]
• {{discogs artist|Brian Cox}}

{{People's Vote}}

{{FRS 2016}}

{{RTS Programme Award for Best Presenter}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Brian Edward}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Academics of the University of Manchester

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Category:British science communicators

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