Tag: forskerzonen

How do parents help their children earn more?

Parents understandably want to offer their children the best possible chances in life. But what are they actually transmitting and how?

When poison takes flight: these birds might kill you – if you eat them

Snakes, mushrooms, frogs and some plants – but not birds, right? Well actually yes: here is what we know about the poisonous chirpers.

Gps-signal, fridge and gardening: The many weird features of animal venom

What does the shrew, the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, and the Tawny Crazy Ant all have in common? They use venom in weird and unique ways.

A 60 billion tweet study of anti-vaccine misinformation

Provaxx profiles often refer to news media and science sites, while antivaxx profiles much more often refer to YouTube.

Pioneering ocean seafloor – new Greenlandic maps can make fishing more effective and sustainable

The novel seafloor maps show what’s hidden at the ocean bottom with a precision of 1 meter and allow the fishers to avoid dangerous rocky cliffs.

How do we promote gender equity in computing?

Computing society needs to promote more gender equity and better ways at working together. We present our experiences on trying to do so.

Green transition: The whole world can learn from a small town in Iceland

A small town in northern Iceland has gone almost CO2-neutral. Researchers went there to find out how they did it and what we can learn from them.

New research challenges the origin of 'The Egtved girl'

The question of her origin is widely debated. My research shows that she probably was from Scandinavia – but not from Jutland.

Human blood can help rescue world’s climate

Today CO2 is removed from industry by using molecules called amines, which react with CO2. DTU has developed a new method using molecules from the human blood to remove CO2. The new technology could help prevent climate change.

Mathematical models can predict animals’ risk of extinction

It’s not easy to predict whether a species will die out. However, scientists from Syddansk Universitet are on the case using statistics to save endangered animals.

Does your ‘private’ data picture meet the beauty standards of society?

COMMENT: Private companies and public sectors collect our data every day and minute. In a democratic society, we need to teach children to become critically aware and understand how data processing and digital technologies really work.

God's own weapons: Danish foreign fighters tell why they are fighting for jihad

A Danish scientist has followed six Danish foreign fighters to try to understand, what makes people leave security and safety in Denmark to go to war in the Middle East.

Why we need a modern origin story today

Big history is the story about how the world came to be as it is. Now, as we need to manage the entire planet, we need to know an origin story more than ever.

Linguists need preservation of languages to study human language

Indigenous languages can tell us a lot about humanity. But as we are advancing our knowledge, languages are dying out rapidly.

Are all cancer cells the same?

Not necessarily. And being able to identify the differences at a genetic level could lead to more effective, personalised treatments.

2019 is the UN’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. And we need it to be

Linguists warn against the death of half of the world’s languages by the end of this century.

A single protein could be the key to treating hydrocephalus

A new study in mice identified a mechanism responsible for brain fluid production

Should we say farewell to the Arctic's unique nature?

A warmer Arctic could lead to major changes in Arctic plant communities that will influence local and perhaps even global climate.

Using personal data to understand aging

A new six-year research project shows how patient data can help progress scientific research while maintaining personal data privacy.

Where should we draw the line between a healthy and an unhealthy sports body?

Norway is working on the answer with health certificates for athletes.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of haemorrhoids

Warning: Includes spanking and leeches around the anus.

Elite female athletes at greater risk of eating disorders

Especially in disciplines like running and gymnastics, where body weight is especially associated with aesthetics and fast running times.

The Anglo-Saxons were worse than the Vikings

Linguistically, the Anglo-Saxons practically eradicated the native Britons. The question is: was it ethnic cleansing?

Explore 200 years of climate change in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faeroes

DATA: Each year DMI updates their historical collection of climate data, which is available to download free. Here are some of the highlights.

Erectile dysfunction? Physical activity could be the solution

Aerobic exercise can reactivate the penile tissue and, in many cases, improve the erectile function in men with lifestyle diseases, according to a new Danish study.

Is China’s social credit system really the dystopian si-fi scenario that many fear?

OPINION: Many of the concerns around the social credit system are either inaccurate or one-sided.

Scientists reveal a new permafrost gas mystery

You might have heard that the Arctic permafrost may burp up large amounts of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane upon thawing. But did you know that hundreds of other climate-relevant gases might also be released?

The hidden price of Iceland’s green energy

In times of runaway climate change, phasing out fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewables is imperative. But this transition is not without pitfalls as shown by a recent study of two large renewable projects in Iceland.

Will we ever see a black hole?

In the shadowy regions of black holes two fundamental theories describing our world collide. Can these problems be resolved and do black holes really exist? First, we may have to see one and scientists are trying to do just this.

An open letter to Danish universities: Let us show the way towards a more ambitious climate agenda

The letter is signed by more than 650 academics from a number of research fields in Denmark. They are calling for universities to lead by example, and implement climate friendly policies in the workplace in the hope of inspiring change in other sectors.

New Materials for a New Age

You probably haven’t heard of “multiferroics,” but they could lead to entirely new ways of designing technologies, some of which we are only just starting to imagine.

Are organisms basically living machines?

Is your body just a very complicated mechanical system? New project examines the biological differences between living organisms and machines.

Why the world should remember this forgotten Danish physicist

The little-known physicist Ludvig Lorenz ought to be better known, for he truly stands alongside the great figures in international science.

How to build your own personal robot

Researchers in Denmark are helping people who have suffered brain damage to develop their own personal robots that fit in with their existing routines and aid recovery.

How the Greenland ice sheet fared in 2018

It's time for the Greenland ice sheet's annual health report, brought to you by scientists from the Danish Meteorological Institute and Polar Portal.

What in the world is consciousness?

Our perception of the world around us, and ourselves within it, are ‘controlled hallucinations’ that the brain uses to help keep itself alive

The Big Bang – an eyewitness account

What did the Big Bang actually look like? Join astrophysicist Peter Laursen and his travel companion ‘Alice’ as they explore the beginnings of the Universe.

Seagrass meadows: an underwater time capsule for archaeology

…by providing a protective matt above exceptional archaeological treasures.

Computer game addiction is now a diagnosis

OPINION: Who’s decision to classify game addiction as a mental disorder could negatively impact the most vulnerable in society.

An enlightened approach to “illegal” drugs will revolutionise medicine and science

OPINION: Let logic prevail! It is time for all countries to review their support of the current UN approach to recreational drug control and allow medical research on illegal substances.

How the Nazis abused the history of runes

A brooch inscribed with runes was found in a field in Denmark during the Second World War and tells a story of the use and abuse of runic writing during some of the darkest moments in our history.

Stephen Hawking: Master of the Multiverse

The multiverse challenges science as we know it, and Hawking wasn’t pleased with it. But our journey to the edges of time has since reshaped our vision of the cosmos, and ourselves.

How kite skiing and weighing snow helps improve projections of sea level rise

For the past two years, scientists from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland have skied across the Greenland ice sheet to see how much snow is accumulating. Their data will ultimately improve projections of sea level rise.

Does it really matter if one animal goes extinct?

New study reveals the true extent of famous extinctions like the Mauritian Dodo and the knock-on effects they have on other island life.

When feeling sick feels great: New study reveals a close link between reward and unease

A recent study shows how mice can be made to prefer sickness, nausea, and stress over feeling well, just be removing one specific receptor from the brain. This could open the door to new treatments against various types of malaise associated with disease.

Hummingbirds are ecological super-specialists

...and thus vulnerable to climate change and habitat destruction.

Making academics compete for funding does not lead to better science

New study challenges accepted science policy that more competitive funding and powerful top-down university management is the best way to boost the quality of science produced.

Historic building activity in Europe mirrors plague outbreaks and food prices

A new study shows that the dramatic upheaval and population decline known as the Late Medieval Crisis began much earlier than previously thought. Thanks to the use of felling dates from old construction timber a new picture emerges of past demographic changes in Europe.

Companies win when they understand the future

OPINION: Industry benefits from taking a long-term macroperspective, but research in this field is under-prioritised and often forgotten.

Archaeologists celebrate spectacular discovery of Iron Age treasure

Evidence suggests that a recently uncovered treasure trove of Iron Age gold in Denmark, was a rich man’s gift to the Gods. And there turned out to be much more where that came from.

How Nordic marine forests can help fight climate change

Despite the wealth of marine forests throughout the Nordics, we are yet to exploit their potential role in combating climate change. Here’s what we need to do.

Marine forests - Nature's own carbon capture and storage

Kelp forests and seagrass meadows soak up carbon dioxide and help protect our coasts against rising seas. Just two reasons why we should learn to love our marine forests.

Conflict between alternative medicine and medical sciences stretches back to the 19th century

Unorthodox healers recommended ‘morally correct’ remedies such as less sex or eliminating certain foods from the diet, while the medical establishment prescribed mercury and narcotics.

Could rising land slow down Antarctic ice melt?

The West Antarctic ice sheet is sitting under water. This is key to understanding the evolution of the ice sheet and how the rising sea floor might even help to slow down ice melt in this part of Antarctica.

How fast can Antarctica rise when the ice melts?

New study shows that the land underneath a part of West Antarctica is rising five times faster than expected as the ice melts, revealing a surprisingly soft Earth structure beneath the ice sheet.

Male cockroaches that have frequent sex eat more protein

This is most likely because they need protein to produce new sperm and a nuptial gift packed with nutrients that the female can pass on to her unborn young.

Is there a solution in sight for Catalonia?

OPNION: You may remember the fight for Catalan secession last autumn. But what happened next? And is there a solution on the cards between Catalonia and the Spanish government?

There are 8,475 languages that we know of

What do we know about the new languages that are appearing and how does a new language form? Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, are investigating just this.

Mass extinction 66 million years ago paved the way for modern shark communities

The famous mass extinction of dinosaurs also impacted oceanic animals and in particular, sharks. A new study reveals how the balance of modern shark biodiversity can be traced back to this very event.

Danish Viking fortresses were designed to fend off other Vikings

After four years, the excavation of the famous Viking fortress, Borgring, is coming to a close and archaeologists can now describe the fortress in a broader perspective: An anti-Viking defence that allowed the Danish King to forge a new, mobile army.

Researcher: Monopolies are good

OPINION: Without monopolies consumers miss out on the best technology at a good price. The task is to prevent that monopoly from abusing its power.

Time to re-think the climate change challenge

OPINION: We now know enough about the nature of the earth system that the risk of crossing a planetary threshold that propels us into a Hothouse Earth needs to be taken very seriously.

Greenlandic children are getting taller and healthier

The general health of Greenlandic children now appears to be as good as that of their European peers. And perhaps even better. New studies show that compared with Danish children, they are no longer characterised as short and have similar patterns of disease.