Society & culture - ScienceNordic

The Viking Ships can’t wait

OPINION: Each day that construction is delayed, valuable time in the race to preserve this cultural heritage is wasted. The government should not mess about at this point - it should guarantee steady progress of the project.

The planned new Viking Age Museum in Oslo told to cut a billion NOK

The Norwegian Minister of Research, Ola Borten Moe from the Centre Party, has delivered a clear message: The cost of building a new Viking Age museum in Oslo must be reduced by a billion NOK.

Why do people buy the equity funds that have the worst returns?

Economics researchers in Norway have come closer to an explanation to a major paradox.

Heading towards mushroom wonderland

The cultural role of psychedelic mushrooms and how they affect the body.

Why has the Danish welfare model remained so strong against Covid-19?

A CBS researcher has developed a ‘butterfly model’ that she believes can answer precisely that question – and help prepare the rest of the world for similar crises.

Norwegian Nobel prize winners shocked by cuts in government research spending

“We’ve been doing this for 30 years now, and we’ve never seen cuts as dramatic as these,” say Nobel prize winners Edvard and May-Britt Moser.

When will the next economic crisis hit?

An important lesson from economic crises is that they are so distinct from each other.

Minister forces resignation of the board of the Research Council of Norway. “This is about whether ten-year-olds with cancer diagnoses should live or die” says rector

“What do you really want from your universities?” asks Curt Rice.

Mysterious medieval moat found in the middle of Oslo: "Could suggest a desperate need for defense"

An untouched area of land in the middle of the city presented a puzzle to the archaeologists. Until they realized what it was: King Haakon Haakonsson’s moat. But why did the King build what was by then an outdated defense system?

Hit them where it hurts: Producers of fast fashion should pay the most

OPINION: How best to deal with the negative environmental impact of the clothing industry? The writers behind this opinion suggest a system in which those who sell large volumes of clothes that don't last pay the most.

Critical colleagues may prevent researchers from stepping into the public eye

Researchers are particularly worried about criticism from colleagues and superiors working in the same field, according to sociologist Marte Mangset. She has interviewed researchers who study gender, immigration and climate research, and studied factors that may prevent them from expressing themselves in the media.

The nightman emptied the toilets of the city in the 17th century. It was dirty work, and his kids were considered dirty too

“Working as a nightman was one of the few ways you could be pardoned and escape the death penalty,” says historian Ragnhild Hutchison. She's not sure it was a better option.

This is the best treatment for Achilles tendon ruptures

Your first run in springtime could end with a bang. Especially if you are not well trained. Norwegian researchers have now confirmed what the best treatment is.

Researchers: Western ideas of Africa are hypocritical fantasies

COMMENT: Africa is corrupt, absurd, dangerous and wild. Or is it? Danish social scientists severely criticise our Western delusions about the continent and its people.

Chance separates the strongest from the weakest

COMMENT: Studies show that an element of luck and contingency determines whether actions are considered intelligent – both in a computer's algorithms and in executive offices.

New Norwegian debt register saves more people from the debt trap

Those who lend money must now make much better credit assessments, researchers find.

Ukrainian women engage in resistance and should be in the peace talks

OPINION: Despite both women’s agency and victimization in Ukraine, they have not been included in peace talks so far. A recent survey finds that Ukrainians believe they should be.

Hugs are back in Norway

As Norwegians get back to hugging, the numbers of deaths due to Covid are also at peak. Why does one researcher say that this is completely fine?

How will Russia respond to a NATO application from Sweden and Finland?

It looks like both Sweden and Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership. This may happen as early as May. How will Putin and his advisors react?

War in Ukraine could last for months

OPINION: The war in and over Ukraine has already lasted nearly two months. There is little reason to assume that it will be over anytime soon.

A lost Viking town discovered in the 1950s is stored away in this basement

Not until recently have researchers really started studying a thousand-year-old Norwegian town we know surprisingly little about.

“Western equipment has changed the war, but we should have given much more,” says researcher

Like most other countries, Norway is sending equipment which is relatively old, yet still works.

Why do men kill their partners?

Women have a much higher risk of being killed by their boyfriends or ex-husbands than vice versa. Often, these men have several risk factors that can be interpreted as ‘red flags’.

What the evolution of the hero in Norwegian fabulations can tell us about ourselves

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: How has the Norwegian fantastic hero changed over time, and what can this tell us about ourselves?

People who are unable to pay their debt are twice as likely to commit suicide

Social services should be acutely aware of the risk of suicide, according to professor.

How was Easter celebrated in the olden days?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Norwegians have celebrated Easter for almost 1000 years. Easter used to be a solemn holiday, but now it’s evolved into primarily a holiday time, according to two researchers.

Why was this flimsy Roman-looking sandal buried beneath the snow in an ancient, dangerous Norwegian mountain pass?

“It looks almost like a sandal. It’s pretty astonishing, we’re up here at almost 2000 metres, and we find a shoe with fashion elements, similar to those found on the Continent at the time,” says glacial archaeologist Espen Finstad.

Are Russians more macho?

OPINION: Is it Russian propaganda alone that provides the basis for support for the war in Ukraine, or is there a need for dominance in the Russian people's soul?

Struggling with debt you are unable to handle leads to poor mental health

Norwegians are one of the world's most indebted people, and now interest rates are rising. Researchers warn that problems with debt leads to poor mental health.

This pile of rubble is actually an ancient fort. Historians have discovered 450 of them around Norway

In times of shifting power relations during pre-viking times, many may have needed a stone structure for protection. But were they also used for other means?

Can Ukraine be divided into two?

"Top military leaders must now carefully prepare Putin to accept a variety of different possible outcomes," says reseacher Pavel Baev.

Aksel Kjær Vidnes is our new editor-in-chief

Vidnes takes over as editor-in-chief and general manager of the Nordic region's largest online newspaper on science and research on 1 May.

Norway: Record levels of foreign citizens among new PhDs

A total of 1,601 new PhDs were completed at Norwegian universities and university colleges last year. Almost 700 of them were foreign citizens, according to figures from Statistics Norway.

Ukrainian sociologist fled to Oslo: "Its really hard for me to be here, even though I'm safe"

She managed to cross the border from Ukraine to Poland by foot. Now sociologist Oleksandra Deineko works as a guest researcher at OsloMet.

Fewer than 1 per cent of Ukrainians believe Russia will win the war

Ukrainian and Norwegian sociologists have asked 3 000 Ukrainians about their lives during the war. They found surprisingly little psychological damage. Researchers link this finding to the people’s strong will to resist.

Does imposing women's quotas for corporate boards pay off?

Norway pioneered the way in demanding an increase in the proportion of women on Norwegian corporate boards nearly 20 years ago. Now California is following suit. So what lessons can be shared?

What happened when Robots invaded Norwegian banks?

Norwegian banks were digitalised in the 1990s. Management had high hopes of laying off staff.

Survey from besieged Ukraine:Will Russian terror deter or motivate Ukrainian resistance?

OPINION: The Russian forces have turned to terrorizing ordinary citizens, hoping that Ukrainians will lay down their arms. It may have the opposite effect.

A reindeer hunter lost this knife in the Norwegian mountains 1500 years ago

“It’s incredibly well preserved”, says archaeologist Lars Pilø from Secrets of the Ice.

Norwegian geographers: "We cannot be members of the same association as Putin"

OPINION: We distance ourselves from the close relationship between science and power in totalitarian Russia, write Norwegian geographers.

Putin may fall

OPINION: We can be pretty sure that the likelihood of both a coup and a revolution in Russia is significantly higher today than it was a couple of months ago.

Supporters of Ukraine may decide to restrict supplies of arms that Ukraine wants

OPINION: Compared to direct deployment of military forces, arms supplies are often seen as relatively uncomplicated and low cost means to assist a friendly or allied state. That's not always the case, argues Nic Marsh.

The Norwegian medieval kings were known to give the best gifts: Falcons

Norwegian falcons given as gifts from the Norwegian king during the Middle Ages are said to have been valued more highly than silver and gold by the English royal family.

What motivates soldiers to fight?

There is reason to doubt that Russia’s military leaders could have made a more accurate estimate of the Ukrainians’ resilience and battle morale. The only way to assess an enemy’s willingness to fight is to actually engage in combat.

Afghans are starving. The USA and others must cooperate with the Taliban

OPINION: The UN warns of a risk that a million Afghan children will die. In this situation, there is no way of avoiding cooperation with those in control of the country, namely the Taliban.

The Norwegian economy fared better in the pandemic than all its Nordic neighbours

The economic downturn in Norway during the pandemic year of 2020 was far less than that experienced by the other Nordic countries according to a new report.

New study: The Black Death did not kill half of Europe’s population

An international research group has found that the pandemic affected different areas of Europe differently. Norway may have been hit hard.

No, the Vikings didn't wear helmets with horns

But 2,000 years before the Vikings – in the Bronze Age – horned helmets existed.

For the first time, Russia has lost the information war

OPINION: Russia’s federal government has blocked or forced offline virtually every remaining independent news outlet in the country. Journalism as we normally know it hardly exists in Russia anymore.

What do ordinary Russians know about the invasion of Ukraine?

Vladimir Putin is fighting to maintain control of what his citizens know. “It’s easy to understand why the Russian authorities fear independent news channels,” researcher says.

People become more conservative by owning stocks

And they become more left-wing if they have a daughter.

Gaming-pieces and a gaming board found in the Medieval Park in Oslo

New finds from Oslo's Medieval Park excavation shed light on one of history's most popular pastimes: playing games and gambling.

Will Taiwan be the next Ukraine?

OPINION: A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be more likely to ignite World War III than the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Women who wish to travel are forced to share irrelevant and intimate details about their private lives

OPINION: There is a lack of cultural awareness and gender equality in the travel industry.

How different governments communicated during coronavirus

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Poor communication will significantly undermine national responses to a pandemic.

Why does Poland welcome Ukrainian refugees but not others?

OPINION: More than a million people have fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the country’s borders to neighbours in Central and Eastern Europe. In a context of war in Europe, and the human suffering it brings,here are some rough reflections on mobility and inequality, but also solidarity.

Survey: Ukrainians do overwhelmingly not want to be part of Russia

OPINION: But views are different in the Russian-backed separatist Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics.

The Russia-Ukraine war is stuck. Putin may resort to desperate manoeuvres

OPINION: Wars rarely go according to plans. This one, however, never had a chance to register a success.

Would you drive a car built from recycled materials?

Norwegian industry is shifting towards a greener future. But what does the transition to a greener economy really mean for industry and for consumers?

Dictators are doing it for themselves - but has Putin taken it too far this time?

The political science is clear: Putin is a dictator. The same science is also clear on this: a financial crisis is dangerous for a dictatorship.

Invasion of Ukraine: “A lot of historical parallels to Hitler-Germany in the 1930s”, says Norwegian professor

“Putin is behaving like a Tsar and using rhetoric to justify an illegal war against Ukraine”, says professor Janne Haaland Matlary from the University of Oslo.

What gives sick people hope?

When patients were asked where they find hope and strength, their answers surprised researchers.

Russia has become a classic dictatorship

Vladimir Putin has ended up in the same situation as many dictators before him. He is surrounded by fewer and fewer advisers, those that are left tell Putin what they think he wants to hear, believes Norwegian researcher.

People who experienced war want reconciliation – but their children remain bitter

When the past is difficult, politicians use it to advance their cause. Now researchers have found that people who have not experienced a conflict are more bitter than those who have gone through it.

Harassment and threats against Norwegian politicians have increased significantly in recent years

"There is a risk that only the toughest individuals will be able to survive as politicians", says researcher.

Ancient remains from reindeer hunting and a forgotten trail in the Norwegian mountains found by glacial archaeologists

Melting ice has laid bare arrowheads, traces from reindeer hunting and a mountain trail in one of the many sites that the Secrets of the Ice-team continuously monitor for finds.

New runic find from medieval Oslo – this time it’s a name tag

Asbjørn put his name on it, 800 years ago.

Putin and the West have different morals. Does that lie at the root of the conflict?

Putin is concerned with honour. The West is concerned with dignity.

Rationalising Extremism

Extremists, such as far-right nationalists, ISIS, and QAnon conspiracy theorists, are often considered to hold irrational beliefs. By drawing on recent, but underexplored ideas from academic philosophy, Finlay Malcolm will identify three ways by which extremist beliefs might be irrational and suggests how some of these ideas might be useful for research and policy on deradicalisation.

Who cries more in the Olympics?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Our results suggest that emotional tears are not only a biological feature that relate to gender or age, but also a cultural phenomenon.

Beijing Olympics 2022: The controversies posing hidden risks for China and the IOC

OPINION: The International Olympic Committee risks alienating democracies who expect the organization to live up to its values instead of serving modern autocracies’ economic and nationalistic interests.

It’s a male, male world: rise and fall of ‘the Male State,’ a far-right misogynistic organization in Russia

The Russian far-right activist Vladislav Pozdnyakov is largely seen as a marginal character by far-right scholars. However, Elizaveta Gaufman argues that Pozdnyakov and his now banned organization “the Male State” need to be examined more closely as they represent yet another example of a global misogyny trend on par with the incel movement.

Is it really possible to find water with dowsing rods?

For physicist Arnt Inge Vistnes, dowsing is in the blood. He is one of the few researchers who has studied the phenomenon.

Liberal democracy is not dead

Liberal democracy is under pressure, and illiberalism remains a threat across the globe. Cas Mudde argues that key events in 2021 should be a wake-up call to those who think illiberalism is the inevitable future, and emphasizes the crucial need for consistent, genuine, and inspiring liberal democratic politics.

Binge drinking: When dads get drunk on the weekends, the kids are more likely to drop out of school

Parents' alcohol use seems to affect the children even when the adults have no substance abuse disorder, according to a new Norwegian study.

Fat shaming makes people gain more weight

People are not motivated to lose weight if they are told they are fat. They just get fatter. This is the most important message that the television personality Ronny Brede Aase hopes people are left with after having seen the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s (NRK) series "A fat life".

What is the rose from the famous Norwegian Selbu mitten doing in the remains of a medieval cathedral in Sudan?

What is the rose from the Selbu mitten doing in the remains of a medieval cathedral in Sudan?

And is it even a rose?