Preferring to be social on social media rather than face-to-face is not deviant. It’s the new normal.

OPINION: Are you secretly dreading the day when social distancing is just a vague memory? When you once again have to physically interact with other people, whether you like them or not? Chances are you are not a social deviant or a freak, but a representative of the new normal.

New research supports Thor Heyerdahl's theory on South Americans in the Pacific

There was contact between Polynesia and America long before the arrival of Europeans, a large new DNA study shows. One Norwegian researcher says the new findings are solid.

Fighting fake science - one duplicated or fake image at a time

One Chinese company has produced at least 400 fake scientific articles to order. A Norwegian researcher was central to the discovery.

Low levels of competence among those who work with the intellectually disabled

Just one in 10 employees who work with the intellectually disabled in Norway has trained as a social educator. This percentage has been at a near standstill since the early 1980s, according to a new report.

What did the Vikings really eat?

Norwegian researchers are working to find out more about what the Vikings cooked in their cauldrons.

Black Lives Matter and the archaeology of heritage commemorating bigoted white men

OPINION: White society has actively resisted critically reconsidering the significance of commemorative statues of colonialism. Rather than wait for the next statue-gate – let’s have a self-critical debate about what these statues actually represent.

This tiny bird carving is more than 13,000 years old

This is the oldest known man-made animal figure from East Asia.

Norway needs coronavirus-style measures to start the green shift along the coast

OPINION: Norway’s coastal communities and ocean industries want stricter regulations and greater investment in becoming more sustainable. Governments around the world have acted swiftly to suppress the coronavirus – a similar coordinated effort would be an effective tool to combat the climate changes we are facing.

Researcher: When doctors talk to girls and women who have undergone female genital cutting, they must talk about sexuality

Although some of these women were sceptical about having sugery to help with their problems, most were receptive to talking to a sexologist or psychologist, new research shows.

Does immigration lead to less trust in a society?

People in Norway and Sweden have a great deal of trust in each other. Swedish researchers have now looked to see if this trust is dropping in areas where many people of different ethnic backgrounds live.

What kind of person supports illegal hunting of Norway’s wolves?

If you think it’s okay to shoot wolves illegally, you are probably also opposed to immigration and a climate sceptic. Living in proximity to where wolves are found in Norway however, has little influence on your opinion, researchers say.

Immigrants and men with low incomes and low education levels more likely to die of COVID-19

Men with low incomes, low education and who have never been married are at increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Immigrants from low-income countries are similarly vulnerable, according to a Swedish study.

The coronavirus pandemic has taught us something important: Technocrats are no longer precautionary

OPINION: In present-day Sweden, an expert – state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell – is de facto head of state. Tegnell has based his strategy on model projections rather than testing and tracing, and the venture is proving a spectacular failure, writes Emil Flatø

Archaeologists have found astonishingly well-preserved gear from a fisherman who lived 5,000 years ago

Stone Age harpoons found in southern Norway speak of perilous fishing. But now the traces from this time are slowly crumbling away.

Is it ok to publish racist representations if your intention was for it to be funny and cute?

OPINION: In the face of criticism far too many people tend to hide behind the “intention” of their words, writes senior researcher Edwin Schmitt. But does it matter that Norway’s national broadcaster didn’t intend for a children’s song to be racist against Chinese people, if in fact it is?

Norwegians are wasting less food since the coronavirus crisis

One in five Norwegians are throwing away less food than they used to. Many have also gotten better at cooking, a new survey suggests.

Political controversy over how Norway decides to shoot wolves

If wolves have reached or exceeded target population numbers, is that reason enough to shoot them? The Norwegian parliament recently voted yes to this. The result may be more wolves shot in Norway.

Can a book change your life?

Have you ever read a book that has gripped you so strongly that it affected the way you live or the way you understand yourself? Now the Norwegian health care system is starting to take an interest in literature as part of treatment.

Why Black Pete matters: Institutional racism and police violence in the Netherlands

Black Lives Matter has shaken up political discussions about racism across the globe. In the Netherlands, it has led to yet another escalation around the ‘Black Pete’ controversy, Iris Beau Segers argues that the empty rhetoric, inaction and opportunism of (radical) right politicians indicates their continued reluctance to tackle institutional racism at its roots.

Now kids and teens in Norway have their own Climate House

How can scientists really know that the climate is changing? A visit to the new Climate House that has just opened in Oslo may help you understand it.

Should Norwegians tear down their Churchill-statue?

OPINION: Campaigns to remove statues from our common spaces is history making, not a rejection of history, as many have recently claimed. Statues are representations of who we want to be, not what the past was. This issue is being debated contentiously and with insufficient historical awareness around the world, including in Norway.

Was there a Viking Age in Norway — 2000 years before the Vikings?

It may be that people from the North went to the Mediterranean with "Viking ships" as early as 3000 years ago.

Norway’s coronavirus tracing app halted by Data Protection Authority – too invasive and not useful

“This reduces our ability to fight the spread of the virus that is happening now”, warns Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The police lack systematic plans to increase expertise, according to new research

Gang crime, digital fraud and transnational crime are increasing. But the police lack systems to increase agency competence, according to senior managers in the Norwegian Police Sverice.

More Norwegians want to grow their own food

Norwegians have been buying supplies for their kitchen gardens like never before, but it has not always been so common for the average Norwegian to grow fruits and vegetables.

Who cares for the men who are left behind?

OPINION: We need more research and less scorn, and a better understanding of the incel phenomenon in order to prevent radicalisation, writes Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair.

Young people probably less individualistic than their parents, despite having grown up in a far more individualistic culture

Being caring and taking care of each other was one of the most important ideals for 19 and 20 year old Norwegian youth in a recent study. When asked who inspires them they answered grandma, and the Norwegian teacher.

Why do some people confess to crimes they haven’t committed?

Researchers believe we should still be aware of this danger, even though police now use more modern interrogation techniques.

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Adult children providing care for parents can lose income in the long-term

Having parents who are nearing the end of their lives can take a heavy toll, both physically and emotionally. A new study shows that income can also be affected in the long-term if you provide regular care to ageing parents.

Changing masculinity in Norwegian black metal

In Norwegian black metal, monstrous images of hyper-masculinity is emphasised. This has given many fans power over their own identity.

One in three Norwegian women has taken the morning-after pill

More than half of them had used emergency contraception more than once in their lives.

Why are fewer Norwegians working than before?

The lower employment rate is not only due to the ageing of the population or the fact that more immigrants have come to Norway, according to a new study.

Why archaeologists call for an immediate Gjellestad Viking ship dig

One reason is the ship is under attack by a fungus that is consuming the wood. "It’s being eaten from all directions and we don’t know how long this siege has been going on,” says Archaeologist Christian Rødsrud.

The coronavirus pandemic is now the most-covered topic by the Norwegian media — ever

Over the past 70 years, cancer has been the disease that has been most widely covered by Norwegian media, with some exceptions. But then came the coronavirus.

Locally produced food and self-sufficiency remain but a dream for most countries

According to a new Finnish study, almost 80 per cent of the world's population depends on imported food. What does this mean in times of crisis?

We will have pandemics every ten years, Norway’s Minister of Health told a national newspaper. Is that right?

We've taken a closer look at Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie’s assertion.

How do kindergarten staff handle getting angry with a child?

They often feel uncomfortable when they resort to raising their voice or using physical force, according to a study of 57 preschool employees.

Can the Coronavirus lead to more peace?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Researchers have never before seen so many countries declaring a ceasefire because of the same reason.

Building larger and better roads results in more traffic, not fewer traffic jams

Road projects in Norway did not reduce congestion, researchers from the Institute of Transport Economics have found.

Record numbers apply to nursing and medical studies during the coronavirus pandemic

Never before have so many people applied to universities and university colleges in Norway. Almost every tenth applicant wants to become a nurse. Many also want to become doctors.

CasaPound Italia: Contemporary Extreme Right Politics

How does a relatively small far right group, with little electoral support, attract international media attention and influence national politics? A recently published book by C-REX researchers Pietro Castelli Gattinara and Caterina Froio uses the example of CasaPound Italia to illustrate the new and often surprising forms that right-wing extremism is taking across the globe.

Glacial archaeology: Activity over this mountain pass was at its peak during the Viking Age

Norwegians used this mountain pass for more than 1200 years. As the ice melts in the high mountains, long-hidden objects emerge.

Harassing humour in the military begins among the officers

Humour has an important function for solidarity and team spirit among conscripts in the military. According to researchers, however, it may also contribute to many women leaving the military after the compulsory military service.

Why aren't Norwegian women having more than two children?

The main reason for the low birth rates in Norway is not that the number of childless adults is increasing, but that fewer people who have two children choose to have a third.

Fewer educators want to become school principals

Has the principal's job become so burdensome that no one wants it?

Corona crisis packages may result in more layoffs than necessary, economists warn

Support for layoffs and cash grants may cause Norwegian companies to slow down more than necessary, says economics professor Ragnar Torvik. He thinks the crisis package measures for businesses should have been designed differently.

Men read as much as women, at least when it comes to audiobooks

Men who subscribe to audiobook services listen as much, if not more, than women. That's good news, one professor says.

A Norwegian virus app to help stop the spread of COVID-19

Norway will soon launch an app that can notify people if they have been in contact with someone infected by the coronavirus. The app will also allow authorities to monitor the effect of other measures to stop the spread. One in four Norwegians are sceptical, but half of those surveyed said they will download the app.

What news do Norwegians share the most on social media?

Politics, immigration and regular Joe. These are the topics Norwegians share news about on Facebook and Twitter.

Women’s travel behaviour make cities greener

Planning cities for and with women can make the city both safer and more environment friendly, according to researchers.

Bronze age art hunters: Three friends crack the code for finding petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings

They’ve practically doubled the number of rock carvings found in Østfold county, the landscape with the most petroglyphs in Norway. The key word is ocean.

Here’s how researchers will find out if Norway’s efforts to fight the corona virus work

Researchers are surveying what people do and who gets infected, but they won’t be able to say exactly how the coronavirus spreads.

Swedes trust their experts in the coronavirus crisis

Many Norwegians shake their heads in disbelief at their neighbour Sweden’s approach to the coronavirus. But Sweden’s population greatly supports the country's corona experts, a recent study suggests.

Children born more than three weeks early may have a delayed language development

Babies born very prematurely may develop problems speaking in complete sentences and following conversations. "Struggling with language has a big impact on children's lives," says researcher.

Quarantining Hungarian Democracy

The Covid-19 crisis is exploited by Viktor Orbán to consolidate power and undermine democracy. The increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister has used the pandemic to further authoritarian ends. Democratic backsliding in Hungary has for long been a cause of concern for the European Union.

Norwegians support corona measures – but do not trust that the social security system can handle the consequences

Only one in five trust that the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) can handle the consequences of the financial crisis that the virus has created.

Mum drinking just a little too much led to behavioural problems in children

This doesn’t only apply to mothers with alcohol abuse issues. A Norwegian study shows that merely a slightly elevated alcohol consumption in mothers of toddlers can lead to more behavioural problems in children.

Older workers feel welcome at work, but their managers are more lukewarm

Managers are happy with the older workers that they have - but they don't necessarily want more of them.

Teachers don't know how to accommodate the smartest pupils

In every elementary school classroom, one to two pupils on average need faster and more challenging instruction than their classmates. Teachers interviewed in a new Norwegian study say these pupils are not prioritized in schools.

Norwegian government: "The goal is to beat the coronavirus epidemic as much as possible"

The goal is to delay the spread of infection as much as possible, says Espen Rostrup Nakstad from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Geir Bukholm from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says the end point will likely be immunity in the Norwegian population.

Norwegian health official: "We don’t think it's possible to stop the COVID-19 epidemic"

Will the coronavirus disappear from Norway after weeks or months of social isolation? Not at all. In all likelihood, there will be more sick and infected people than ever. We have asked Geir Bukholm from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health about what the plan for Norway actually is.

Old people choose to move to remote and unpractical houses in Norway. Can they still expect the same level of welfare services?

In a few years, the number of 90-year-olds in Norway will quadruple. The number of 70-year-olds is expected to double and 80-year-olds to triple. How will society be able to help all of them, if many choose to live in places that others move away from?

5 tips for how to keep your team connected while working from home during the coronavirus pandemic

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: The idea of home office usually sounds tempting for most of us, but the corona virus puts working from home to an extreme test. Establishing a good communication norm and re-clarifying roles are keys to success.

Norwegian financial crisis package may help stabilize the economy in the face of coronavirus shutdowns, says professor

The Norwegian government’s stringent measures against the coronavirus can affect house prices, wages and consumption. The situation could be just as serious for the Norwegian economy as the financial crisis in 2008 and the market crash after the peak in the 1990s, one economics professor says.

Professor about the coronavirus: "I fear many children will die in refugee camps"

Poor hygiene, lack of good health care services and isolation make people in Greek refugee camps highly vulnerable to the coronavirus, according to Professor Terje Andreas Eikemo.

Professor compares Norwegian Child Welfare Services with other countries:"The Norwegian system is good"

“But there are areas for improvement,” says Marit Skivenes.

Is Norway becoming a polarized country?

Polarization and populism have created major problems in many parts of the world. Norwegian social scientists see warning singnals also in Norway.

The Placebo Effect:From mystical magnetism to using our bodies inherent powers

The human body has a remarkable built-in capacity for rectifying its own ailments. “The medical profession should make more use of this,” says Norwegian professor.

Women are not formally discriminated against in Norwegian academia – but they still don’t become professors

As long as their CVs are equal to that of the men, women in academia in Norway appear not to be discriminated against. Systematic differences however persist, to the detriment of the women’s careers.

Keep an eye on your kids at indoor play centres, advises fire researcher

A new report raises fire safety concerns at indoor activity centres in Norway.

What makes a good life in retirement?

A Norwegian researcher has investigated what makes recent retirees happy with their lives.

What is going on in Delhi and how is this connected to right-wing extremism?

Over this past week, the Indian capital of Delhi has been home to violence between Hindus and Muslims with a rising death toll each day. Eviane Leidig shows not only how this is the most recent manifestation of a legacy of right-wing extremist activity in India, but also that the response of global far right actors suggest a more disturbing connection between the extreme right in India and the West.

Record low fertility rates in Norway, Finland and Iceland

Never before has each woman given birth to so few children in these three Nordic countries.

Blackface in the name of tradition: the controversy around the Dutch ‘Sinterklaas’ festivities

In the aftermath of the festive month, Dutch PhD candidate Iris Beau Segers looks back on the annually recurring issue of Black Pete in the Netherlands, whose blackfaced appearance has been at the heart of a controversial public debate for almost a decade.

E-scooters – cities should embrace them

OPINION: E-scooters provide an opportunity to re-think urban transport, increase quality of life, and improve city dwellers’ mental and physical health, according to professor Stefan Gössling.

How the Germans used Ibsen to spread Nazi ideology

Nazi Germany created its own distinctive movie versions of Ibsen's Norwegian plays - downplaying strong female characters and creating happy endings. The movies were intended both to entertain and to teach people to become moral citizens of the Third Reich, according to Ibsen researcher.

Arabic women’s football: supported by the regime, but still breaking social norms

Norms and legislation strictly limit women's lives in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Nevertheless, women find ways to realise themselves – like by playing football.