What do boys want to be when they grow up? ASK A RESEARCHER: Do boys really want to become firefighters and football players?
Was the Oseberg wagon drivable? New methods are constantly uncovering new details about Norway's oldest vehicle The wagon is the only one of its kind from Norway’s Viking Age, but the wood is dry and brittle. Since 1904, it has been documented with the best technology available.
Women still do most of the housework Even though the division of labour has become more even, there is a difference in the tasks men and women do.
Is there any point in adding bay leaves to your food? ASK A RESEARCHER: Yes, some believe. Others are unconvinced.
Researchers found something surprising when deceased drivers were autopsied Norwegian men have heart attacks more often than was known and die a natural death behind the wheel. And a fairly large proportion of drivers in fatal collisions have likely taken their own lives.
What's the deal with K-pop? ASK A RESEARCHER: The Korean music genre has become very popular in Norway and across the globe. Why is that?
Gender differences are increasing in higher education In all Norwegian municipalities, there is a larger proportion of women with higher education than men, according to Statistics Norway.
This book made medieval Norway a kinder country In a time that many believe was dark and merciless, Norway produced an unusually fair-minded piece of legislation.
Here, young adults may receive a trial basic income – the first such scheme in Norway By providing a guaranteed minimum income to all young people under the age of 30 who are out of work or further education, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration in this city hopes to encourage more people to enter the workforce. But will they bother to work then?
Researcher: Personality is a lottery that affects how we perform in school Researchers have looked at siblings with different personalities to find out what works best – and worst – in the classroom.
Norwegian Institute of Public Health: The real concern with social media is not the amount time spent on it The fact that adolescents spend a lot of time on social media is not what is most problematic about the development, according to a study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Should cabin owners in Norway pay extra tax? Cabin construction is now the main reason for the development of much Norwegian mountain nature.
Why do people with little money make so many bad decisions? Psychologist Ingvild Stjernen Tisløv says that people with payment problems need more professional help. This year, thousands of bank employees in Norway are being taught basic psychology.
Why is it so difficult to determine whether Israel is committing genocide? For someone to be convicted, genocide must be the only possible explanation for what they have done. How do they figure that out? And what about Hamas, can they be convicted of the same?
There are now over 5.5 million people in Norway The population in Norway increased by 61,219 in 2023. Ukrainian refugees strongly contributed to the growth for the second year in a row.
Why do so many voters around the world vote for authoritarian men? These voters voluntarily give their vote to politicians who are not particularly interested in democracy.
Researcher: The next terrorist may come from the countryside – municipalities must be vigilant Large cities have good measures in place to prevent radicalisation, but potential extremists could just as well live in the countryside. Municipalities must be vigilant, researcher believes.
Museums should never make collections like these again There is not room for everything in museum exhibitions. But what is stored away also tells a story.
More adolescents have become lonely – these are especially vulnerable Why are more young people becoming lonely? Two Norwegian researchers have some possible explanations.
The refugee camps that lie in ruins have been the homes of Palestinians for four generations. Will they be rebuilt? “It’s in the refugee camps that militant groups often emerge,” a researcher says.
Summons 446 signatures: Should all PhD candidates learn Norwegian? We are concerned OPINION: According to the Action Plan for Norwegian Academic Language, all temporary employees are required to attend Norwegian courses, and all permanent employees must become proficient in Norwegian within 3 years. Over 400 researchers assess the implications this will have on the sector.
Student survey: Reading comprehension is better on paper than on screens It is important that screen use in school does not replace reading in print, according to the Norwegian Screen Use Committee, in its first memorandum to the government.
Weight loss medication is very useful for many individuals. However, expert believes things are moving too fast General practitioners experience a significant increase in demand from patients week by week. But there is still a lot we don't know about the medicines, doctors warn.
Norway's Minister of Research and Higher Education resigns after plagiarism scandal Sandra Borch (Centre Party) resigns as Minister of Research and Higher Education following revelations that her master's thesis contains text from other people's theses.
Touchscreens are not the worst distraction in cars, study reveals. So, what is the most distracting factor? A new Norwegian study shows that there are entirely different things that capture our attention behind the wheel.
Why was this Viking ship crushed with stones – and moored – before it was buried? In addition to being crushed, the ship was moored. Despite being on land.
Researchers warn healthcare professionals: Increased cocaine use can lead to more heart disease In 2023, the use of cocaine increased in Norway. Two addiction researchers now believe that healthcare personnel should be aware of the consequences.
The history of anaesthesiology is full of bitter conflicts and deadly experiments In their eagerness for fame, doctors exposed their patients to mortal danger. Often, things ended tragically.
We’re eating ourselves into obesity and spending a fortune on weight loss pills The demand for weight loss medicine is rising, but it only addresses the symptoms, not the causes. “We face intense commercial pressure to eat and drink more,” says a professor of public health.
This bucket remained buried in a Viking grave for 1,000 years, but is in excellent condition The figure on the bucket looks like a Buddha, but is from an ancient Celtic death ritual. It then ended up in a Norwegian Viking grave.
Researchers have identified four different types of intoxicated sexual assault It might not have been rape in a legal sense, but it wasn't okay. So what was it then? Researchers have taken a closer look at sexual assaults that occur when partying and alcohol are involved.
How to succeed with a Dry January Do you enjoy the ‘optimal buzz’ that comes from the initial one or two glasses of alcohol? If so, you might want to think about committing to a Dry January, Fanny Duckert suggests. She believes many make a big mistake when trying to have a sober month.
How are we affected by financial stress? Just the thought of an unexpected bill can make us function worse, researcher says.
Norwegians are among the youngest in Europe In several European countries, the median age is now over 45 years. In Norway, it is only 40 years.
Some children are born with cells that age faster than normal. A new study suggests that a dietary supplement might help them The vitamin supplement offers hope to children with this rare disease for which there is no treatment.
Professor: The UN International Court of Justice may soon demand Israel to halt military operations South Africa has brought Israel before the UN Court with accusations of genocide. The proceedings might be prolonged – but Israel could face immediate pressure.
Top 10 of 2023: Scrotums, Vikings, and man flu We now know who the Vikings had children with, and we have gained insight into a very delicate problem in the Middle Ages. Here is the list of our most read articles in 2023.
How happy are you on a scale from 0 to 10? People in Norway – 10,000 of them – have been asked how satisfied they are with their lives.
Top Norwegian archaeological finds of 2023: Viking ships, gold treasures, and 4,000-year-old skeletons Many finds are described as spectacular, unique, unusual, and sensational. But some are still more striking than others. Here are the top archaeological finds of the year.
Public transport: Researchers are sceptical about cheaper 30-day tickets From next autumn, Norway’s capital Oslo will lower the price for 30-day tickets. Politicians hope this will encourage more motorists choose public transport, but several researchers doubt the effectiveness.
Owning your own home in Norway has become 45 per cent more expensive in two years For those who rent a home, expenses have remained almost stable.
Why is wool itchy? And why is it so warm? ASK A RESEARCHER: Wool can be warm, soft, and comfortable, but it can also itch terribly. Why is that?
When Norwegians came to America, they didn’t have time to let the timber dry Many Norwegians succeeded in America. The houses they built are evidence of this.
How to prepare for a vegetarian guest during Christmas “It can quickly become a lot of hassle,” a food researcher believes. “It’s much easier to have a vegetarian visit than many think," a vegetarian says.
How Norwegians expressed resistance against Nazi occupation using Christmas cards After red Santa hats were banned in Norway during World War II, many creative Christmas cards appeared.
Christmas stress in the past and now: “We complain much more than my mother's generation” We have it easier today than before, one researcher believes. Christmas is still demanding and complicated, believes another.
Teachers are exposed to considerable violence and threats at work Studies show that being exposed to violence and threats increases the risk of psychological problems and illness, a researcher says. In the worst case, these teachers could disappear from working life.
At one point, a quarter of all Norwegians lived in the USA. These sailors marked the beginning of mass emigration Many of the emigrants were young and adventurous.
This little doll allows Russians to silently express their resistance to the war People place little dolls with anti-war messages in squares in big Russian cities. The Russian war resistance lives on, researchers say.
“The Israeli war on terror is as unsuccessful as the US war that followed 9/11” “Do the Israelis believe peace is what will rise from the ashes in Gaza?” researcher Dag Tuastad asks.
The amount of research in the last seven years has grown by 50 per cent. Are important findings being overlooked? This flood of new studies may affect research quality, and people may lose confidence in science as a result, a group of researchers believe.
Do you think kids these days use a lot of drugs and alcohol? They're not the generation that partied the hardest Young people's use of alcohol and narcotics peaked in a very specific decade.
In Norway, four out of ten people on welfare lose out by working According to Labour Minister Tonje Brenna, work has to be financially rewarding. But research shows that 40 per cent of those on benefits end up worse off if they start working.
Unique coin found in central Norway: How did this 1,000-year-old Byzantine gold coin end up in the Norwegian mountains? Could it have been part of the great treasure that Harald Hardrada brought home from Constantinople? A metal detectorist brought the gold coin to light this autumn after it had spent a thousand years in the mountains of Valdres.
How we use media to escape from reality Media can help in an uncertain everyday life, but all the choices can also make it difficult to disconnect.
Norwegians and Americans have different views on tipping Americans often leave a 15 to 20 per cent tip. In Norway, it is common for people to tip little or nothing at all.
Study finds that sharks may have been part of Stone Age Norwegian coastal diets Porbeagle sharks supposedly taste like veal, and were a formidable opponent. Catching one may have conferred high status, according to a researcher.
Teaching is a profession in crisis OPINION: Teachers need help to regain pride, status and professionalism around the world. This article offers 5 steps to help teachers as well as students meet changing society.
Norwegian kids don’t want school uniforms, but they all wear the same trousers Researchers visited the homes of 12-year-olds and looked through their wardrobes.
These mass graves in Northern Norway will now be re-examined What killed these people? When did they die? Who are they?
OECD director: Norway can do better More people are struggling financially in Norway. In many other European countries, the trend is similar. But for one group, the development is more dramatic in Norway than in other countries.
New poverty trend in Norway: Food banks face increased demand More recipients of food aid have jobs, and over half are families with children, a survey shows. A new type of poverty is emerging in Norway.
There are tens of thousands of psychopaths in Norway – but they are hard to spot They have an inflated self-image and little empathy. They manipulate and defraud others. There are tens of thousands of them in Norway. But they can be difficult to detect, Pål Grøndahl writes in his new book on psychopathy.
Poverty is inherited, but researchers believe they know how to break the cycle The proportion of children living in poverty in Norway could be halved right now by increasing the child benefit. For long-term impact, however, researchers assert that a different approach is most effective.
Women with higher education know as little about personal finance as men with a primary school education Women know significantly less about money, loans, and savings than men, according to a new study. The situation is worst among young women in their 20s. Researchers are concerned.
Norwegian archaeology find of the year: A 4,000-year-old grave with skeletons The grave is approximately as old as the pyramids and contained remains of at least five people.
Is it worth pursuing employment if you can live off social security benefits? Researchers have examined the finances of people in Norway who receive almost all of their income from the welfare state.
The extent of manipulated news, images, and videos is greater than ever, according to analysts Fake news and videos make us trust real news less, according to a new study. “This is clearly a concern,” researcher says.
Adam Smith's ‘invisible hand’ is 300 years old The father of economics, Adam Smith, changed the view of how values are created. But it is not self-interest and free markets that constitute the main message in Smith's work, professor believes.
Pigs provided food in the Middle Ages, but men had to watch out for their scrotums It was quite common to have a pig in your backyard in Europe's medieval towns. But there were fines if it was allowed to roam freely, or if it bit off someone's scrotum while that person was using the outhouse.
Precise dating from Medieval Oslo: This is undoubtedly the King's Wharf The King’s Wharf, which was excavated in Bjørvika earlier this year, was built with trees felled in 1288.
What will Norwegians eat if the planes, ships and lorries stop coming? Norway is not sufficiently prepared for major food crises, according to the auditor general. What will the Norwegian diet look like during a long-term stop in imports?
Horse meat was banned over 1,000 years ago, but that did not keep people from eating it And yet, the prejudices still remain.
European tourists experienced culture shock when they came to Norway in the 1800s Tourists often slept in straw-filled beds or on a hard bench in a smoky living room.
Young people with minority backgrounds emphasise their Norwegian identity to have a chance in the job market Exaggerating their dialect and emphasising typically Norwegian leisure interests were among the strategies used by young Norwegians with a minority background to land an interview, and perhaps a job.
In the olden days, many believed that fossils came from dragons and giants ASK A RESEARCHER: Who actually discovered the first fossil?