Christmas Holiday Orders - Last Posting/Courier Dates 2024

16th Dec 2024

... and seasonal best wishes from everyone at Cochranes of Oxford.

Bank Holiday closures: 1st, 8th and 29th May

28th Apr 2023

We will be closed on 1st, 8th and 29th May

Hello from BETT 2023

30th Mar 2023

Our stand is attracting lots of admiration at BETT 2023

Discoveries in Atlanta

27th Mar 2023

The NSTA conference in Atlanta was high energy

Christmas Holiday Closure -

23rd Dec 2022

... and seasonal best wishes from everyone at Cochranes of Oxford.

Postal Worker Strikes: Anticipated delivery delays

28 September 2022

We anticipate 2-5 day delays to deliveries made by post for orders placed between 28th September and 2nd October.

The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: Monday 19th September

13th Sep 2022

In respect for the life and death of the Queen we will be closed on Monday 19th September.

Holiday Order Dates: Last orders and delivery times

13th Dec 2021

We will be closed from 23rd December pm until 4th January.

On this day in 1969

20th Jul 2021

On this day in 1808

30th Jun 2021

Magnesium was discovered

The longest day

21st Jun 2021

Happy Summer Equinox to the northern hemisphere

Let's go fly a kite

16th May 2021

A tale of two kites forty years apart

Deliveries to the EU: The free trade deal

25th Mar 2021

Deliveries to the EU will be sent net of taxes

Holiday Orders, Brexit: Delivery times and deliveries to the EU

23rd Dec 2020

Orders place now will be despatched from 4th January.

COVID-19 UPDATE: We have reinstated our express delivery options

1st Sep 2020

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, we are continuing to support our customers...

BESA publishes Learning After Lockdown support pack for schools

4th Aug 2020

As schools make preparations for the start of the new school year in September, the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) has published guidance to support schools’ plans for the safe return of their staff and pupils.

Back to School (or University!) with Cochranes of Oxford sets

14 July 2020

We're gearing up for Back to School and University orders at Cochranes of Oxford HQ in the heart of the Cotswolds, England, UK.

Home Schooling Tips and Sets Available

18th May 2020

Whilst we #StayHome and look after ourselves at this time, there are many resources available from us which can assist in home schooling science topics!

Get Set, Demonstrate! It's British Science Week 2020

9th Mar 2020

It's British Science Week 2020 - what activities do you have planned?

The Sun - Key Facts About Our Closest Star

12th Feb 2020

The Sun is an average yellow dwarf star that lies at the heart of our Solar System. It is the engine that drives the orbits and dynamics of the planets, and gives warmth and life to planet Earth.

Get Involved: British Science Week, 6 - 15 March 2020

4th Feb 2020

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, featuring entertaining and engaging events and activities across the UK for people of all ages.

Weird and Wonderful Elements in the Periodic Table

15th Jan 2020

The Cold War arms race, Ancient Egyptian make-up and medieval laxatives. What do all these things have in common?

Wolf Moon and Penumbral Eclipse Tonight

10th Jan 2020

Tonight we shall see the splendid Wolf Moon and penumbral eclipse.

Behind the Scenes: How Cochranes Creates Custom Molecular Models

11th Dec 2019

We asked Tom Cochrane how he goes about creating a bespoke molecular model request from a customer..

Remembering Sir Harry Kroto and his BuckyBall Discovery

7th Oct 2019

Today we remember Professor Sir Harold Kroto, born on this day 1939...

What is the autumnal equinox?

24th Sep 2019

The autumnal equinox occurs in September each year, and in the northern hemisphere the date marks the end of summer and beginning of autumn.

Water Found for First Time on Potentially Habitable Planet

12th Sep 2019

Astronomers have for the first time discovered water in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting within the habitable zone of a distant star.

NASA Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Historic Moon Landing

18th Jul 2019

NASA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon mission and are looking to the future of exploration on the Moon and Mars with a live, two-hour television broadcast Friday, July 19, and partner-led events taking place across the USA from July 16 through July 20.

Jodrell Bank Observatory named as newest UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK

8th Jul 2019

... The observatory becomes the 32nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK and joins the prestigious list alongside international sites such as Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

Orbit Model System Proves a Hit at Kingston Grammar School

21st Jun 2019

"Model building proved quite fiddly and tricky to complete in the time, but some excellent progress on an atom-scale model using @CochranesOxford Orbit model system."

Hydrocarbon Molecular Models Task Set for Students at Istituto San Giovanni Bosco

1st Apr 2019

Teacher Ettore Putortì set his students a task using Cochranes of Oxford molecular model sets...

Celebrating 1929 Nobel Prize Winner, Biochemist Hans von Euler-Chelpin

15th Feb 2019

Hans von Euler-Chelpin, (born on this day 15th February, 1873 in Augsburg, Germany), was a Swedish biochemist who shared the 1929 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Sir Arthur Harden for work on the role of enzymes in the fermentation of sugar.

Discovering Nature's Geometry with Cochranes' Models at the Universite de Pau

8th Jan 2019

Cochranes' Molecular Models were used by Université de Pau at the 2018 Science Festival in France

Catching out the diamond fakes

14th Nov 2018

Cochranes' diamond model is used by DeBeers to educate jewellers on how to spot synthetics

Understanding - and eradicating - chemical weapons

31st Oct 2018

Cochranes' molecular models are being used by policymakers to understand chemical weapon formulations

Cochranes' Magnaprobes supplied to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

29th Oct 2018

Our Magnaprobes are being used by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in their fascinating research on magnetic and atomic excitations.

The building blocks of DNA

26th Oct 2018

US biochemist Arthur Kornberg's work helped to unravel the secrets of DNA

Kathleen Lonsdale, crystallographer, proves that benzene is flat

9th Oct 2018

Women in STEM - deducing the planar structure of benzene

Recycling week - every week!

24th Sep 2018

We are committed to a sustainable environment alongside educational excellence

Chemical structure becomes clear

19th Sep 2018

Discovering the structure of chemical compounds

DNA helps catch a killer

10th Sep 2018

Scientist unlocks the secrets of DNA profiling to bring criminals to justice

First Nobel Prize for Chemistry

30th Aug 2018

Pioneering work in chemistry includes formulating the theory of the tetrahedral Carbon atom

Crystals and Chemistry at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History

16th Aug 2018

Chemistry becomes crystal clear when using Cochranes models

Cochranes' DNA model wows CEBIT

25th Jul 2018

Hewlett Packard uses supercomputing - and a Cochranes' DNA model - at CEBIT.

British Physics Olympiad 2018 Experimental Project - Kubic Bubbles

27th Jun 2018

This year's experiment for the 2018 British Physics Olympiad is using soap film bubbles!

Kite-making masterclass with the OYAP Trust

19th Apr 2018

The OYAP Trust in Bicester have sent us photographs from their 2 day Kite Making Masterclass with Doug Irvine

DNA at Ely Cathedral Science Festival

11 Sep 2017

The Orbit Proview DNA model was a key part of an exhibition during the first Ely Cathedral Science Festival 'From Dinosaurs to DNA'.

Sponsor of Imperial Festival Art installation

5 May 2016

See our connectors in action in a large installation as part of the Sensorium project at the Imperial Festival, London

From Early Pioneers of Mathematics Education to the Current Curriculum

by Cochranes

Mathematical inspiration - from the 1960s

Ideas for outreach activities

20 September 2014

Stuck for inspiration for your next outreach activity? Help is at hand!

UFO-SAM among best recreational kites

12 Aug 2014

Daily Telegraph lists the UFO-SAM as one of the best recreational kites. Try it now.

Guest blog - from Uganda

by Jean M Johnson

Read our guest blog on how our models are being used to teach chemistry in Uganda

New stand for DNA Proview model

20 June 2013

Show off our Proview DNA Model with this elegant display stand.

Fun at the Education Show

19 Mar 2013

Thanks to everyone who dropped by to see our stand and try out our new maths set.

8m long carbon nanotube

10 Jan 2013

Can anyone beat the length of this amazing construction by the University of Cambridge

Quadruplex DNA

25 Sep 2012

Some beautiful models made by the University of Cambridge

In Print - 50 year anniversary

23 Jul 2012

Read all about our 50th anniversary in the Oxford Times In Business magazine

Teaching in Uganda

24 May 2012

Some great pictures of our models in action in Africa