Society & culture - Sciencenorway.no

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.

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.

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.

Researchers create social solutions for municipal elderly care

"I can't complain," researchers were told when they asked older residents about the help they receive from municipal elderly care. After all, they receive support for their medical and practical needs. But something important is still missing.

Why did some of the indigenous Sami people revolt in 1852? Two of the rebels tell their stories in a new book.

The Sami were subjected to abuse of power and violence long before the Kautokeino uprising, in which both the sheriff and the local merchant were killed.

People who work in open-plan or shared offices get sick more often

Employees in open-plan workspaces take more sick leave than those with their own offices. If you share an office with one or more colleagues, your risk of taking sick leave increases significantly, a new Norwegian study shows.

How fair are today’s pensions?

“We clearly see from this research that people’s self-interest plays a role when they tell us what they think is a fair retirement pension,” says one researcher.

Far right groups in Norway instigate more street provocation than before

New groups are adopting more radical measures.

Managers need to be good with emotions – or they risk damaging their employee’s health and ability to perform at work

OPINION: At worst, managers who lack emotional intelligence can be playing Russian roulette with their colleagues’ health.

“Of course Muslim feminists exist”

With her book about feminism in Islam, Marianne Hafnor Bøe not only aims to create awareness of Muslim feminists, she also wants to expand the term ‘feminism’.

Greater risk of dying from a hip fracture if you live in the city

One to two years after a hip fracture, patients in urban areas had up to a 20 per cent greater risk of dying compared to those who lived in rural areas.

Equality hasn’t reached entrepreneurs

Only 20 per cent of entrepreneurs who start limited companies are women, and they own only 4 per cent of new technology companies.

Older workers feel less tired than their younger colleagues

Many Norwegian managers believe their older employees are tired. But they are wrong. Older employees feel much more energetic than their younger colleagues, according to new research.

Is private finance a panacea for sustainable development?

The EU has pushed for a strong role of the private sector to finance the sustainable development goals. However, an increased role of the private sector might be at odds with the EUs fundamental rights commitments, argues Sunniva Hustad.

Like most people, Norwegian bureaucrats rarely read research

When Norwegian civil servants want research-based knowledge, they use Google or ask a colleague.

Professors interviewed by Norwegian print media are usually men

Especially if the person who interviews them is a male journalist.

Environment vs Convenience; who wins in the supermarket?

OPINION: Recent research shows that focussing on the environment and convenience wins consumers. But who wins when we actually shop?

The naïveté of Academia: How Plan S could let pseudoscientific and predatory publishers take advantage of researchers

OPINION: Plan S is naïve in its approach to open publishing, making scientific articles available for re-use by whoever may wish to do so. Scientists need to retain the right to decide where their works are published.

Travelling by bus, taxi and boat has become more expensive, while flying has become relatively cheaper

Planes are the passenger transport type that have had the lowest price increase in the last ten years, according to figures from Statistics Norway.

Managers believe they motivate employees more than they actually do

Most Norwegian business leaders believe they are good at motivating and engaging their employees. But fewer than half of their employees agree. Older workers are least satisfied with their bosses.

These are the stories you read the most in 2019

Cats, vikings and cancer are among the topics that captured your attention in the year gone by.

Folk musician Annbjørg Lien's PhD on Hardanger fiddle folk tunes includes a new solo album

One of Norway’s most well-known folk musicians has done a PhD. But there was a limit to how much she could put into words in her dissertation. One of the chapters is consequently being delivered as a new solo album this spring.

Why do metal detector enthusiasts find so many cheap coins, and so few valuable ones?

If the finds by metal detector hobbyists are truly representative, then Norwegian history may need to be re-written.

Why is the full story of the Viking Age and High Middle Ages emerging only now?

Written in the 1380s in Iceland, the Flateyarbók chronicling Norwegian history never made it to Norway. Some 600 years later a Norwegian king has finally received the book, in Norwegian. An English translation is also on the way.

Christmas gift trends: Less jewellery, and ethical gifts not gaining ground

Despite society’s increasing focus on the environment, the tradition of giving each other gifts for Christmas remains deeply embedded in our culture. It’s still rare to give ethical Christmas presents. Granted, jewellery is less likely to glitter under the Christmas tree, while food and drink have become more popular as gifts.

Gamblers played and lost less after gaming company contacted them

Direct contact with those who gamble a lot can have a big impact on how much they lose, a new study shows.

25 years with The European Economic Area: Politicians, government agencies and Norwegians in general lack knowledge about the country’s agreement with the EU

The 25-year-old European Economic Area (EEA) agreement has been a success for Norway, according to the head of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). But its successes are almost unknown in Norway.

Researchers are worried: Documents missing in one fifth of the cases handled by the Norwegian Child Welfare Services

Researchers have gained unique insights into how Norway’s Child Welfare Services work and how they justify what they do. In one fifth of the cases studied, the researchers found no documents summarizing how the Child Welfare Services had handled the case.

Norwegians have substantial pension capital — so why should the retirement age be increased?

Norwegians currently have about NOK 3 million per person on average in pension capital — but increasing life expectancies have some experts advocating a gradual increase in retirement age.

Does research support the claim that youth have become less active?

A recent report from WHO sparked new debate on the level of physical activity among children and youth. But what do the data actually say? Is there hold in the claim that young people are less active than previous generations?

The forgotten extermination of Norwegians in the Soviet Union

A researcher travelled to the Kola Peninsula in Russia and collected accounts of the Norwegians who lived there. At least 27 of them were executed or died in prison camps in the 1930s and 1940s. Others died of starvation.

Researchers find evidence of anxiety and alcohol use in wastewater

Norwegian and Australian scientists can now learn more about people's health from what they find in our untreated wastewater.

Reading to your child? Digital books are as important as print books

OPINION: Instead of propagating a false dichotomy between print and digital books we need to start asking which books work best for which children and families.

Looking for gender differences in Norwegian prisons is a distraction

Women sentenced to prison in Norway do not experience systematic discrimination. This does not imply that their – nor men’s – needs should not be taken care of.

The world is a scarier place for Norway

In a future where China and Russia are ever more offensive, Norway's position is weaker. Today's liberal world order is now also threatened from within — from the United States.

Here's what happened when I served my friends chocolate with seaweed

An impromptu session of new product testing with a group of friends in northern Norway ensued after I returned from a seaweed trade fair with new product samples of chocolate infused with seaweed or chocolate seaweed.

Slightly more poor people in Norway

Norway’s proportion of low-income families and households is growing year by year.

Family values in Europe: Georgia is on one extreme. Norway is on the other.

Almost everyone in Georgia believes that adult children should be responsible for parents who need help. In Norway, more and more people respond negatively to this idea.

She’s given birth to six calves before — but now she finally gets to be a mother

Most dairy cows aren’t allowed to mother their calves. Julie Føske Johnsen from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute is leading a new research project where cows get to visit their calves.

Both women and men are vulnerable in prison

OPINION: Ragnar Kristoffersen claims that women are treated favourably in Norwegian prisons. JURK – Legal Aid for Women’s report on incarcerated women’s conditions reveals a different reality than Kristoffersen’s numbers.

Crushing the myth of “poor Norway”

The conventional wisdom about Norway in 1900 is wrong: Norway was among the richest countries in Europe, not the poorest, one professor explains.

Women sentenced to prison in Norway are treated favourably

OPINION: Contrary to popular belief, women sentenced to prison in Norway receive more beneficial measures than men aimed at reintegration into society. The general claim that women sentenced to prison in Norway are discriminated against, is a myth.

What’s the best way to recycle clothes?

Wash your clothes less. Take care of your grandmother’s coats. Don't feel too smug when giving away clothes. There are lots of recycling tips. So should you buy a used Christmas outfit or not?

As Norwegian Jews were being deported, the Quisling government discussed working hours during the Christmas holidays

On the darkest day in Norwegian history, the government discussed very trival matters, new research shows.

Norwegians are the world’s home renovation champs

Every year, Norwegians spend several billions of dollars on renovating their homes and cottages. But what do they spend their money on – and what makes them the world’s top home renovators?

The mystery from pre-Viking days: Only the most powerful had these little pieces of gold

Was it a gold ticket to important meetings? Or proof that you were related to the Gods? A new gold foil figure was recently found in Vestfold.

Should children be allowed to choose teams in gym class?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Or should the teacher do it? We ask the experts.

Gender issues are ridiculed and sabotaged in the military

The masculine culture in the Norwegian Armed Forces is a democratic problem. This makes it difficult to work with issues related to gender, according to researcher.

Academics hide, play dumb, don't care or over-perform. Everything to oppose the system and administration.

“You can get away with a lot if you just pretend you haven't heard about the rules,” one professor said.

Norway builds top athletes through not focusing on winning

Athletes and trainers who are most concerned with their overall development rather than results are the ones who often do the best, research suggests.

Celebrity lifestyle increases global warming: New study flight-shames Bill Gates and Paris Hilton

While Greta Thunberg and the kids are out marching for climate change to be taken seriously, celebrities like Bill Gates and Paris Hilton continue flying like the world has no limits.

Students receiving follow-up support in upper secondary school less likely to quit

Absenteeism in lower secondary school increases students’ risk of dropping out from upper secondary. A social contract and close monitoring of 16-year-old at-risk pupils is showing promising results in a study in Northern Norway.

Vikings wiped out Iceland’s walruses

Walrus tusks were a luxury good, and the ungainly marine mammals probably didn't put up much of a fight when the Vikings came to the island country.

Government finally grants money for new Viking ship museum in Oslo

The unique collection of Norwegian viking ships is housed in dire conditions. Next years National Budget has granted money to start the process for a new museum to be built.

Why are we more concerned about someone seeing us fall on our face than whether it hurt?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Avoiding social pain is often more important than avoiding physical pain, according to psychology researcher.

Religious minority youth between patriarchy and gender equality

Gender roles is a delicate topic for religious minority groups. Many of them accept traditional gender segregation in the religious community, but struggle with prejudices from the greater society, according to researcher.

Does Norway need a new legal definition of rape?

In Norway and Europe, activists are fighting to change rape laws so that rape is defined as sex without consent. Researchers say this won’t help much to change or solve the problem.

We don't need special measures to keep older people working longer, says researcher

Lifelong learning is important for employment. But we’re totally missing the mark if we think of it as a senior initiative, says economist Simen Markussen.

Our image of ISIS women is incomplete

The ideological conviction was often deeper among the women who joined the ISIS than among the men who did the same, according to researchers.

Crazed Viking warriors may have been high on henbane

The Viking warriors who went berserk may have been intoxicated with the plant stinking henbane, one scientist says. Norwegian experts have their doubts.

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Discrimination: Thirty-five per cent of Muslim immigrants say they did not get a job they were qualified for

Non-religious immigrants experience discrimination in Norway to the same extent as their more religious counterparts. Muslims seeking work are the exception.

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Here’s what we know about people who stayed home on Election Day

Many young men with lower levels of education stay home when their countrymen go to polling stations. About half of people who stay home say they simply aren’t interested in politics. This has not always been true.