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Researchers under pressure: “We can't conduct secret research.”

There are contracts, and then there are ethical guidelines for research. But money easily leads to pressure, even in the Ivory Tower of research.

Norwegian universities tackle their carbon footprints from travel

You would think that universities would be leading the charge to cut back on carbon-intensive air travel. But some members of the Norwegian business community are far ahead of academics in dropping flights.

Law and justice: Swearing an oath in the Middle Ages was powerful evidence

In the 13th century, rumour meant a lot. If the village gossiped that you had been unfaithful, you could be put on trial. You then had to find people who would swear you were innocent.

Older Norwegians have almost doubled income in 20 years

Women and people with the lowest incomes have experienced strong income growth in Norway over the last 20 years. But wealthier older people have had the strongest increase during that period.

No more online voting in Norway

Norwegian voters tested an online voting system for both local elections in 2011 and parliamentary elections in 2013, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. This year, however, Norwegians didn't have the option to vote on the internet.

Norwegian researcher brings unique insights into healthcare and schools in the Islamic State

Over time we’ve learned a lot about the atrocities of ISIL members. Now a Norwegian researcher has also learned more about how the civilian population adapted to the terrorist regime's laws and regulations.

Partner articles on ScienceNorway

The partner articles on ScienceNorway.no give insight into new and interesting research in Norway. These articles are written by communication staff at one of our 77 owners. We label this content to distinguish institutional outreach from independent editorial content.

Creating languages of the past for HBO’s "Beforeigners"

Researchers who created language for the new HBO hit Beforeigners couldn’t just translate Norwegian into Old Norse, 19th-century Norwegian or a Stone Age language. For one thing, how would you curse in Old Norse if you knew nothing of Christianity?

How drug dealers describe their own lives

They boast of their own crimes and make fun of the police, often with a smile on their face, Norwegian researchers report.

What happens to Norwegian children of immigrants as adults?

Their performance is a bit weaker than that of other children in elementary school, and somewhat fewer students complete upper secondary school. Compared to their parents, the difference is considerable. Many Norwegian-born persons with immigrant backgrounds are also doing far better financially than their parents. Some earn more than other Norwegians.

Therapy can help men stop domestic violence

It is not given that violent men who get therapy will stop their behaviour. A decisive factor for success is that the therapist and the client have a common understanding of the problem, according to researcher Bente Lømo.

How stores can throw less food

Grocery stores throw 75 000 tons of food annually. By adding date tagging to the barcode, food waste could be dramatically reduced, according to two students.

Therapy can help men stop domestic violence

Children speak out about having two places to call home

Children whose parents live apart experience both practical problems and loyalty conflicts. But children with two homes also have good experiences that other children may miss.

Norwegian elite support immigration

The social elite in Norway are more supportive of immigration than the rest of the country’s population. The elite are also very supportive of the welfare state, but not everyone with lots of money is thrilled with the redistribution of wealth.

Strong increase in Norwegian pay gap

The difference between those who earn the most and the least in Norway has increased, according to new data from Statistics Norway. This increase is clearly greater in the public sector than the private sector.

Sea cucumber are a prized Asian delicacy. Norway wants to farm them for export.

In China they call them the "ginseng of the sea.” But before Norwegians can transform their humble red sea cucumber into an export product, they first have to figure out how to catch or farm them.

First Stone Age farmers in Norway "gave up" after short period of time

The end of the Stone Age, or Neolithic, was a time of major change. People tried their hand at farming for the first time. Researchers have now re-analysed findings throughout southern Norway from this time period.

Women are more heavily influenced by their husband's retirement choices

Women whose husbands take early retirement are more likely to retire early themselves, shows a new Norwegian study. But there is no evidence to suggest that men's decisions are influenced by their wife's choices.

How Etruscans reached the afterlife: orgasm, blood, and erotic dance

A Norwegian professor has proposed a new view of Etruscan death rituals.

An ageing population is good for us and the planet

Western society should embrace ageing and declining population growth, argue ecologists in a new scientific opinion article.

Circular economy offers new kind of consumerism

The world’s population is consuming more and more, as our numbers grow and people become more prosperous. But an increasing number of European countries want to change the way resources are consumed.

Here’s why you dread brainstorming at work

Brain storming and group think meetings could be killing off the very creativity that they intend to promote. Here’s how to make it work for everyone.

Norwegians are the most critical of the niqab and burka in the Nordics

Norway is more critical of face-covering garments like the niqab and burka than their Nordic neighbours, shows new Pew Research survey.

Research on sexual harassment: Norway close behind Sweden

A new working group will document the extent of sexual harassment in Norwegian academia. Now Sweden is encouraging Norway to follow its lead and set aside money for research in this area.

Gender gap in retirement: Norwegian men retire earlier than women

More than half of all Norwegian men approaching retirement age choose to draw an early pension. But only 20 per cent of all women do the same. Many of them are ineligible for early retirement.

Norway is the best country for retirees

Your future as a retiree will depend in large part on where in the world you live. Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway stand out as the best countries for retirees.

Just how good are electric cars?

Norway seems pretty happy with them so far. New report documents Norway's experience with adopting electric and hybrid cars throughout the country.

In conversation with Norway’s home-grown extremists

Siri Høyem Kristiansen from OsloMet has visited Norwegian prisons to interview rebel fighters returned from Syria. She was surprised by what she found.

It's important to have a goal: UN climate report view from the Nordics

Most experts agree it will be difficult, if not impossible, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But it is important to have an ambitious goal.

Faith is a private matter for young Norwegian Muslims

Many young Muslims in Norway take a more relaxed approach to practicing their religion, such as how often they pray each day or attend mosque.

For high-ability students it can be lonely at the top

Gifted children feel separate them from their peers. At worst, they develop social problems and drop out of school, and they rarely receive help.

Chinese are more right wing than Americans

Twenty per cent of adults in China describe themselves as libertarians and believe that the government should not redistribute income, according to a new survey. This is higher than the US, often thought to be a more libertarian country.

Working class parents feel marginalised by child welfare services

Some parents react more negatively to child welfare services than others. The language used by child welfare staff may be part of the reason, say researchers.

Thousands of medieval trinkets discovered underneath Scandinavian churches

More than 100,000 coins and hairpins have been found under the floorboards of medieval churches throughout Scandinavia, revealing insights into religious life in the Middle Ages.

Historic debate moved Argentina closer to the legalisation of abortion

On 8. August, a proposal to legalise elective abortion was debated and rejected in Argentina’s highest legislative body. Despite the decision, Argentina has shown itself as a democracy with room for female voices, according to researcher Camila Gianella.

Norwegian academics face serious work-family life conflicts

Norwegian academics say that their jobs demand such a huge commitment that they don’t have time for their families, a study of workers at three major Norwegian universities has shown.

5 reasons why a holiday can boost your workplace creativity

OPINION: Emerging research suggests that taking some time off could be just what you need to boost your creativity at work.

These are the workers who drink the most

Researchers surveyed more than 3,500 workers in Norway about their alcohol habits and problems. "Workers who drink too much don’t get enough attention or help," says the head of the research project.

Is it possible to treat men who beat their partners?

Many men drop out when they seek therapeutic help for their violent tendencies. One researcher wanted to know why.

People over 60 prefer to work with 30-year-olds

A minority prefer people of their own age as work colleagues.

Physical education: What if we took away the pressure to be good at sports?

A researcher believes that’s how physical education should be. He’s been studying what gym class could be like when physical skills don’t count for students’ grades.

A virtual time machine for the Port of Oslo of the 1700s

If you have a 3D printer, this website even lets you print out small buildings from 18th century Oslo.

Finnish method helps Norwegian first-graders who struggle with maths

Problems with maths plague nearly 20 per cent of all school children. Offering children extra help right from the start can make a huge difference, according to Norwegian and Finnish research.

Children with weak language skills less likely to play with other children

When toddlers have poor language skills, they can also have social problems, according to new research.

Is it right to destroy monuments over our dark past?

OPINION: Politicians, managers and researchers must be able to use their voices when cultural heritage contributes to discrimination, hatred and violence.

Life was good for Stone Age Norwegians along Oslo Fjord

Southeastern Norway is the most populous part of Norway today. Based on an analysis of more than 150 settlements along Oslo Fjord, the area apparently also appealed to Stone Age people.

Poker players aren’t like other gamers

Poker is a game played primarily by boys who get good grades in school. It’s an intellectual martial art, according to a researcher.

It is tiring to be gay in the workplace

Young people from the LGBT community feel their sexual orientation puts limits on the types of jobs they can comfortably pursue.

More breakups, but also new relationships after weight loss surgery

What happens to relationships when one partner loses a lot of weight, eats much less and becomes more active?

How does a board of directors foster innovation in an organization?

OPINION: The boards of directors do have a say when it comes to fostering organizational innovation. Findings shed new light on the ambiguous role of corporate directors.

Teens in sports expect parents to be involved

Most young adolescents want their parents to encourage and attend their sports activities over having uninvolved parents, according to a recent study of 15-year-olds.

The contraceptive pill: A story of sexual liberation and dubious research methods

The contraceptive pill has had enormous significance for women’s emancipation, but researchers doubt whether it would have been approved today.

Women with reduced functional abilities are considered asexual

To participate in the labour market and to have a family are things most people take for granted. Women with functional disabilities are deprived of many opportunities. The explanation may be both functional ability and gender, according to researcher.

Norway prioritises aid to support girls’ education, but forgets the jobs

Can education meet girls’ challenges in development countries? Not on its own, according to researchers behind a new report. They call for more goal-oriented measures to combat inequality.

No one can "shrug off" bullying at work

A new study punctures the myth that certain people have strong enough mental armour to emerge unscathed from bullying on the job.

Twice as many Norwegian boys as girls start school late

More boys than girls begin school a year late and more girls than boys begin a year early. But researchers are not certain whether maturity is the explanation.

Public transport poses problems for those with mental disorders

Many of us experience mental disabilities of one kind or another in the course of life. A new study points out problems this can cause for users of public transport services.

The side effects of power and the #metoo movement

Aggressive, obstinate men are more likely to seek power and are often preferred as leaders. The #metoo revolution is pushing to change the way managers behave, but research shows that power changes people — and not always for the best.

Talk of equality is risky business for career in the oil industry

White men dominate leadership positions in the Norwegian petroleum industry. If you’re a woman and want to climb the career ladder, you need to keep your mouth shut when there’s talk of gender and equality, according to researchers.

Discoveries from 1,400-year-old ice surprise scientists

A fierce cold period struck the Northern Hemisphere in the years from 536 AD to the 660s AD with no real summers. It became known as the Fimbulvinter – The Terrible Winter – and worked its way into Norse folklore. Now archaeological discoveries from this period reveal how people in Norway survived these tough years and researchers are surprised by the finds.