Tag: natural sciences

Here’s how valuable resources can be extracted from the seabed: “There's a goldmine out there”

If there is going to be seabed mining, how should it be done? And what kind of technology can we use?

After thousands of years apart, wild and domesticated cats are now having kittens

Researchers have found that European wildcats and domestic cats did not have offspring with each other until the 1960s.

The seabed at a depth of 1,500 metres could be opened for possible mining. What's it like down there?

What lies in the ocean’s depths, and what kind of environments are researchers worried about?

Our homes have become too hot for potted plants

Many of our common houseplants are struggling.

Reindeer in Svalbard are inbred. Is this a problem?

Researchers believe that inbreeding can sometimes be an advantage.

What would the forest be like if we weren't around?

We need to protect the old and varied forest that still exists in Norway, researcher believes.

Why Norway has banned the breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Norway’s Supreme Court has ruled that the breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels violates the Animal Welfare Act. A Norwegian professor believes the court has made a mistake in allowing further breeding of English Bulldogs.

Researchers have managed to extract RNA from an extinct animal

The last known Tasmanian tiger died in 1936. “It’s unexpected and fantastic to get this information from an extinct animal,” a researcher at UiT The Arctic University of Norway says.

A new bird has been found on Bear Island

Modern DNA technology allows biologists to now peer into the genes of historical specimens that are over a century old at the Natural History Museum in Oslo and other museums. Through this method, the researchers made an unusual discovery in their lab.

Swine fever in Sweden is spreading. Norway offers bounty for reporting sick and dead wild boars

African swine fever has not yet spread into Norway. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is now urging Norwegians to report any injured, sick or dead wild boar they see.

Do we really need to pick up dog poop?

Yes, according to scientists. But should we also do it while hiking in the woods?

Is it possible to secure grounds of quick clay in a sustainable manner?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Soil improvement currently has a significant climate impact due to the substantial consumption of cement and lime products. Recent efforts have improved the situation, but there is still much to be done to make the method sustainable. Is this possible, and how can it be achieved?

Surprise discovery: Researchers caught moose eating faeces

Researchers in Norway observe a moose eating faeces from another moose, a behavior that has not been seen before

The secret lives of slugs: Where do they hide and why do the come out after rain?

A wet summer is not necessarily the best for the much detested Spanish slugs.

Why are pictures of space so colourful?

ASK A RESEARCHER: The night sky is pretty black, and on cloudless days it is blue. So why are many pictures of space so colourful?

Can you smell that it's going to rain?

ASK A RESEARCHER: “We can smell different things both before, during, and after it rains,” researcher Anja Røyne says.

If your best friend moves to Mars, how difficult would it be to talk to each other?

Light travels fast. But things don't move very fast when it comes to having conversations with people on other planets.

There are many strange poops in the animal kingdom

Everything from wombats that poo cubes to fish that poo sand.

New space telescope will shed light on dark sides of the universe

The European space telescope Euclid has been launched. One researcher predicts this will be one of the largest mapping projects of how matter is distributed in the universe.

Here's what researchers encountered in Norway's deepest hole

At a depth of 3,500 metres, the remotely operated submarine discovered something very special.

New tool can quickly reveal special parts of a genome

More and more animals and plants have had their entire genome mapped. But what do all the letters really mean? Norwegian researchers have created a new tool that can locate microRNAs.

Mark drove from the Netherlands to Norway for a new cancer treatment to save Misty the dog

Mark Klaver has travelled from the Netherlands to Norway five times so that his dog Misty (12) can receive a new immunotherapy cancer treatment. Misty is participating in an experimental trial at the Veterinary College that could extend dogs' lives.

Chance discovery provided fantastic images of ancient lizard fossils

Researcher Victoria Engelschiøn was simply searching for bivalvia fossils in ancient rocks from Svalbard when something completely unexpected appeared in the images.

Where does space begin?

This simple question has no simple answers.

Does smell disappear? Or does our planet become more and more smelly every day?

ASK A RESEARCHER: What actually happens to the small odour molecules?

Scientists have once again found mysterious holes in the deep sea

Twenty years ago, the Norwegian research ship ‘G.O. Sars’ came upon rows of holes on the seabed in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Now, strangely enough, German scientists have found the same thing in the Pacific Ocean. Anne Helene Tandberg from Bergen was on the last expedition.

How to safely grow food plants at home

Growing green plants in the kitchen garden has become popular. But what is safe to sow seeds in, when the result will be eaten?

Is it true that trees talk to each other?

A fantastic idea and a popular science book that has sold millions of copies claims that they do. This is laying it on too thick, according to Norwegian biology professor, who warns against 'disneyfication' of research results.

Closing a road can reduce traffic. And there’s a mathematical explanation for why

“It really is a paradox, because it seems completely contradictory,” says mathematics professor Helge Holden.

Europe collaborates on solar telescope to the tune of 200 million euros

It will be almost three times as large as its predecessor. The new giant telescope will teach us what happens in the magnetic field of the sun.

What happened to the landscape and people during the Stone Age flood disaster in Eastern Norway?

Around 10.000 years ago, a ‘plug’ in the ice barrier in a massive glacial lake loosened, causing a megaflood to sweep through the landscape. Scientists are learning more about exactly what happened during this catastrophic event.

This is why humans are born completely helpless

“It leads to something very good,” an evolutionary scientist says.

Most of the glaciers in Norway could disappear before the year 2100

According to new calculations, half of the world's glaciers will melt away this century, even if warming stays within the 1.5-degree target.

What are these holes at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean?

Marine scientists discovered them by accident.

These bones could rewrite the history of life

Everyone believed that the mighty ichthyosaurs arose in the wake of the Earth's biggest catastrophe. But a new Norwegian discovery suggests instead that these ancient lizards already existed — and survived the inferno 252 million years ago.

The war in Ukraine has undermined environmental and climate research in the Arctic

The sanctions against Russia are putting the brakes on Arctic research. The lack of cooperation with the Russians means that a lot of information is being lost, says the Norwegian Polar Institute.

Mina the sheep was born intersex

"She was the most beautiful sheep in the flock," says the owner of Mina's farm.

A boy looked at the globe — and found the explanation for earthquakes

But many years would pass before scientists would listen to him. His explanation was too unbelievable.

Why aren't animals as smart as humans?

ASK A RESEARCHER: "Fire may have made human brains larger," researcher says.

Zombie fungus controls ants like they’re puppets. Could it make the leap to humans like in ‘The Last of Us’?

In the popular TV series, a fungus has gained the ability to infect people.

A strong solar storm will probably increase northern lights in the near future

Solar cycle 25 has proven to be far more powerful than researchers anticipated. This also increases the chances of catastrophic solar storms reaching the Earth.

The world’s oldest tree has broken

Heavy snow has broken the top of the 9,500 year old spruce Old Tjikko in Sweden.

Norwegian and Swedish researchers completely disagree about pike

Is pike a useful or harmful species? A new study is sounding the alarm that there are too few predatory fish in the Baltic Sea.

Nuclear power is a friend of nature and the environment

OPINION: Based on our recent study of 870 power plants worldwide, nuclear energy is a clear winner in protecting ecosystems, while bioenergy is an indisputable loser.

Are there more earthquakes during a full moon?

ASK A RESEARCHER: The Moon steers the tides. But does it affect earthquakes, too?

Why was there no earthquake warning in Turkey?

And why is Turkey at such high risk of earthquakes?

Arctic sea ice retreat is well observed by satellites and new technology. So why do we still need scientists working on the ice?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Sea ice is an essential part of Earth’s climate and ocean systems, and in the Arctic the ice decreases year by year.

Tag: natural sciences

Here’s how valuable resources can be extracted from the seabed: “There's a goldmine out there”

After thousands of years apart, wild and domesticated cats are now having kittens

The seabed at a depth of 1,500 metres could be opened for possible mining. What's it like down there?

Our homes have become too hot for potted plants

Reindeer in Svalbard are inbred. Is this a problem?

What would the forest be like if we weren't around?

Why Norway has banned the breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Researchers have managed to extract RNA from an extinct animal

A new bird has been found on Bear Island

Swine fever in Sweden is spreading. Norway offers bounty for reporting sick and dead wild boars

Do we really need to pick up dog poop?

Is it possible to secure grounds of quick clay in a sustainable manner?

Surprise discovery: Researchers caught moose eating faeces

The secret lives of slugs: Where do they hide and why do the come out after rain?

Why are pictures of space so colourful?

Can you smell that it's going to rain?

If your best friend moves to Mars, how difficult would it be to talk to each other?

There are many strange poops in the animal kingdom

New space telescope will shed light on dark sides of the universe

Here's what researchers encountered in Norway's deepest hole

New tool can quickly reveal special parts of a genome

Mark drove from the Netherlands to Norway for a new cancer treatment to save Misty the dog

Chance discovery provided fantastic images of ancient lizard fossils

Where does space begin?

Does smell disappear? Or does our planet become more and more smelly every day?

Scientists have once again found mysterious holes in the deep sea

How to safely grow food plants at home

Is it true that trees talk to each other?

Closing a road can reduce traffic. And there’s a mathematical explanation for why

Europe collaborates on solar telescope to the tune of 200 million euros

What happened to the landscape and people during the Stone Age flood disaster in Eastern Norway?

This is why humans are born completely helpless

Most of the glaciers in Norway could disappear before the year 2100

What are these holes at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean?

These bones could rewrite the history of life

The war in Ukraine has undermined environmental and climate research in the Arctic

Mina the sheep was born intersex

A boy looked at the globe — and found the explanation for earthquakes

Why aren't animals as smart as humans?

Zombie fungus controls ants like they’re puppets. Could it make the leap to humans like in ‘The Last of Us’?

A strong solar storm will probably increase northern lights in the near future

The world’s oldest tree has broken

Norwegian and Swedish researchers completely disagree about pike

Nuclear power is a friend of nature and the environment

Are there more earthquakes during a full moon?

Why was there no earthquake warning in Turkey?

Arctic sea ice retreat is well observed by satellites and new technology. So why do we still need scientists working on the ice?

Can fish drown?

Trying to make assisted fertilization work for pigs

This shark postpones having sex until it is over 100 years old

New Norwegian land could emerge from the Atlantic Ocean

Why do some Norwegian fjords turn green?

The last Ice Age excavated bedrock equivalent to 500 times Mount Everest

World's oldest DNA: Scientists discover 2-million-year-old remains of plants and animals

The plan was to renovate a laundry room. But then bones from a 12 000 year old polar bear showed up

Norway could make Europe less dependent on critical minerals from China

What happens if we can’t buy critical metals from the Chinese?

Here are 12 of the most exciting prehistoric animal discoveries

Ongoing negotiations on wildlife trade and why this matters now

Why can't mountains on Earth get much higher than the ones that are here now?

The beauty of getting lost in the loss cone

New spacecraft to solve mystery: Why is the Sun's atmosphere a hundred times hotter than its surface?

There’s a tiny little continent wedged between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates

Record-hot summer in Svalbard

Radioactivity still found in Norwegian nature - 36 years after the Chernobyl disaster

A volcanic catastrophe off the Norwegian coast likely explains dramatic global warming 55 million years ago

Necropsy report following Freya’s euthanasia: Was healthy and died instantly

Results from a Norwegian instrument on the Mars rover provide new hints about water

Should you help injured birds?

Freya's skeleton will be stored at the Natural History Museum in Oslo

The Arctic is heating up much faster than expected

Norwegian fjords gave researchers the idea of how a desert landscape in Namibia came to be

Seagulls have found safety in cities, but can this save them?

Norway's largest ‘fjord’ is only a few hundred thousand years old

Walrus Freya creates chaos in Oslo. Researcher responds: “I don’t like what I see”

Why do you see waves, colours and lights when you rub your eyes?

World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border

Here’s why Rattus norvegicus has taken over Europe