SNORW-tag

Browner, but better water in Norwegian lakes

The water flowing through Norwegian Lakes has improved in quality and gotten less polluted over the last 25 years. But at the same time, it’s gotten a lot browner. This has a natural explanation.

This fish grunts when it is ready to have sex

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Have you ever lain on a seafront jetty fishing, perhaps with a cracked mussel on the hook? Then you have probably seen this colourful little fellow, the corkwing wrasse. The next time you see it, you should also prick up your ears

Do we still remember what the forest really looks like?

Is there primeval forest in Norway, and what does an old forest actually look like?

Production of pet food for cats and dogs leaves a considerable carbon paw print

Producing dry kibble for our pets requires lots of farmland — equivalent to roughly twice the area of the United Kingdom. Replace animal remains used in the feed with insects, suggests one Norwegian researcher.

Excessive use of wood burning stoves while working from home leads to poor air quality

Heating our homes with wood burning stoves could be worse than both traffic pollution and oil-based heating for air quality, according to the Norwegian Institute for Air Research. The increase in working from home contributes negatively.

Record high levels of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere over Norway in 2019

For the 19th year in a row, record high levels of CO2 and methane were measured in the atmosphere over Norway, according to new numbers.

Climate change is a bigger field of research in Norway than in any other country

Even so, Norwegian researchers only account for two per cent of the world’s total research on climate change. This two per cent however has had a great impact on further research, according to a new report.

What actually started the Little Ice Age?

It all may have started with sea ice, and the changes may have happened all by themselves without the influence of volcanoes or the Sun, researchers behind a new study say.

The ‘plastic rivers’ of Asia play a key part in the fight against plastic in the ocean

OPINION: Near half of the global plastic leakage from land to sea comes from a few countries in Southeast Asia. To overcome the plastic problem, we need to treat the cause and not just the symptoms. We must turn the spotlight on the sources.

Historic amount of flooding in Europe during the last 30 years

Europe is now experiencing more frequent and greater floods compared to the last 500 years, according to a pan-European study that included Norway.

Microplastics generated by road traffic end up in the Arctic

Small plastic particles from car tyres and disc brakes swirl up, are caught up by the wind and float all the way to the Arctic.

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.

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.

Can small towns be as bike friendly as large cities?

Researchers already know a lot about cycling in the city. But little research has been done in smaller places in Norway. Until now.

Do you think we know whom we share this planet with? Then you are mistaken.

High levels of pollutants in polar bears from the Barents Sea – what are the reasons behind?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Levels of exposure vary according to what the polar bears eat, where they move, and how much energy they need to get through a day in their polar bear lives.

Norwegian beans can replace foreign soy

Soy from different countries is now widely consumed by vegetarians or by people who want to reduce the amount of meat they eat. But Norwegian-grown fava beans can be an equally good protein replacement, new research confirms.

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.

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.

Using drones to accurately map life under water

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Gone might be the days when scientists had to manually count species and describe types of nature. And with better knowledge from drones will come better protection.

Here’s what politicians can do to make our consumption more environmentally friendly

One researcher is calling for specific measures, such as a law mandating that products be repairable.

Never before has so much rain been recorded in January in Norway

Had it not been for a cold day in Northern Norway at the very end of the month, this January would have also been the warmest ever recorded in Norway.

Government wants Norway’s universities to compete to be best on environment and climate issues

The Ministry of Education and Research wants to see how students, researchers and other staff measure up when it comes to cutting climate impacts. Not everyone is equally excited.

Very little money is actually spent on climate research

Researchers have looked at where USD 1.3 trillion in research funding is spent across the globe. Less than 5 per cent of this money has gone to climate research. Studies that examine how society can cope with the climate of the future are given a very small share of this pot.

Most Norwegians think they have a responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions

But there is no consensus as to what should actually be done.

Shorter winters and much less snow in 30 years

There will most likely be only half as many days with good conditions for skiing in Norway in 30 years compared to today, researchers at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute predict.

The long, harsh Fimbul winter is not a myth

Probably half of Norway and Sweden’s population died. Researchers now know more and more about the catastrophic year of 536.

Picking frost flowers in the Polar night

A couple of days ago when we were sailing between two of our process stations, we came across a beautiful icy garden covered with frost flowers. So we decided to go picking them.

Hot topics from the cold

More than 75% of the Earth’s surface is occupied by cold environments. Cold environments are hot spots for the organisms living there.

Care for you core!

We have recently drilled 34 ice cores from the sea ice. We expected to find very little life inside the ice, but we were proven wrong.

Do the animals at the bottom of the ocean know it’s dark season?

Do the animals at the bottom of the ocean, that might never have been exposed to sunlight, notice the dark season as we do? It seems logical to assume that the polar night should go by completely unnoticed by them. But it doesn’t.

In the Arctic Ocean and on the shoulders of giants

Blowing in the Arctic wind

Imaging driving with an open cabriolet car at 90km/h inside a gigantic freezer box at -25 degrees C with all windows opens. This does not sound comfortable and most people would not be part of such a situation voluntarily. But this has been the conditions we had been facing for the first days of our Q4 expedition.

Unique Challenges at the start of an Arctic winter Expedition

Hard disks full of data despite ice, darkness and freezing temperatures

Where are we?

The heat

Night watch

There is something magical about working night shifts on a boat. And magically tiring.

Tales from the deep

What IS this mooring business?

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?

Wasting water in Norway has consequences for the environment

Norwegians use almost twice as much water as the Danes. These wasteful habits come at a cost.

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.

You can combat long-tailed silverfish efficiently and safely, it turns out

It’s possible to get rid of silverfish by using bait with small amounts of cockroach poison, according to recent studies from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Trout may be dining on lots of lemmings

You see a lemming swimming on the surface of the water. Then it disappears. What happened?

Return of Scandinavian wolves means fewer moose

The predator's return to the Norwegian/Swedish border has led to fewer moose in the areas where wolves have their territories. But hunters still kill far more moose than wolves do, researchers say.

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.

A climate policy that oil companies can support

Instead of companies and consumers paying climate taxes, oil companies could cut production, according to Norwegian economists. In return, they would be paid more.

Half of Norwegian red foxes eat rat poison

Many people still put out poison baits, even though this form of rodent control is prohibited.

How studies of Norwegian fjord ice can help create a safer future for the arctic

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: During winter, a thick layer of ice can form on the surface of the northern Norwegian fjords. The knowledge of the varying conditions of this ice can be applied to understand to protect and aid the Arctic in the future.

Exhaust gas is to blame: Ground-level ozone is damaging crops

Exhaust gas emissions have doubled the amount of ground-level ozone. Vegetation is being destroyed. Food production is decreasing. Researchers now fear that the damage is greatest in the Arctic regions.

Fighting the insect apocalypse with hotels, flowers and dead trees

The news is full of stories about how the world’s insects are disappearing, whether from pollution, climate change, habitat losses or a combination of all three. But there are simple measures that people can use to fight back.

Here’s what a warmer world will look like in Norway

The UN's new special report on the 1.5 degree C target describes dramatic consequences for ecosystems if global temperatures rise an average of 2 degrees. How vulnerable are Norwegian ecosystems under these conditions?

Humans have always caused plant and animal extinctions

Our warming planet is pushing some plant and animals species towards extinction. But there’s actually no such thing as untouched nature — humans have always altered their environment. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best to protect what’s here now.

Why is so little plastic actually recycled?

A group of Danish and Swedish researchers have now tackled this exact question. Their answer? Money.

Norwegians won’t stop flying, even though they know it’s bad for the planet

Flying is one of the last things that Norwegians want to give up. Should we require people to cut their air travel by one flight a year? One researcher says that won’t work, and that the only solution is electric airplanes.

Sewage detectives scour wastewater for drugs

Every year in a coordinated, European-wide effort, scientists hunt for traces of drugs in wastewater from nearly 60 cities, including Oslo. But what can they learn from their findings?

Statistics yield better results from climate models

Nordic researchers are creating more realistic forecasts of Earth’s future climate by collaborating with statisticians. Now they’re encouraging other climate researchers to do the same.

Cheaper, more efficient biofuel production from trees

Filling your gas tank with biofuels made from soybeans or corn is controversial. But researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences have developed an approach that could result in a cheaper, more effective way to fuel your car.

How knowledge can reduce ocean waste

OPINION: By analysing heaps of trash found at Svalbard's coasts, we can potentially reduce the amount of plastic polluting the ocean, writes researcher.

Conservative seabirds in a squeeze

Seabirds don’t like changes. This trait can kill them.

Norway's mountain landscape has changed dramatically

It’s easy to think that the Norwegian mountains have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. New research reveals that people and animals have affected the landscape far more than you might have guessed.

The Great Barrier Reef is in trouble

Nearly half of Australia’s famed coral reef is sending serious distress signals as persistent high ocean temperatures cause corals to bleach.

The valley at the end of the world – and the magical mysteries we found there

OPINION: Plant life in parts of the high Arctic are changing fast, possibly due to changing climate and local bird populations, but scientists are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

Speedy production of silicon for solar cells

A growing solar cell industry needs cheaper silicon in increasing amounts. A centrifuge developed in Norway could supply it.

Tundra shrubs can speed warming

A rapidly warming climate is boosting the growth of shrubs on the tundra. These absorb more solar heat and intensify global warming.

Here comes the electric fishing boat

The world’s first electrically powered fishing boat will be presented this August in Trondheim, Norway. But more time and development is needed before it can run completely without diesel.

What’s a moose to eat?

Moose like to browse on young saplings. Forest owners count on their trees for timber. Researchers are looking for better ways to meet both needs.

Spring is arriving earlier

Around the globe, leaves are popping and fruit trees are blooming earlier than before. Norwegian records show that the temperature in mid-May is about one degree higher today than it was 40 years ago.

Fjords catch loads of carbon

Organic material is quickly buried at the bottom of fjords round the world.

Scientists spread dubious number on debris in seas

Researchers have often said that ten percent of all the plastic manufactured ends up in the oceans. Where did they get that number?

Arctic fox feed at night to avoid snowmobile traffic

The Arctic fox is at the top of the food chain in Svalbard, but humans on snowmobiles are disturbing its mealtimes.

Can Oslo grow both fast and green?

Oslo’s metropolitan area is the fastest growing region in Europe. Can urban planning keep up – and create livable, nearly car-free communities?

Twelve things that can protect you from polluted urban air

Ten times as many people die of urban air pollution as in traffic accidents in Norway. Here are some effective tips for protecting yourself from bad city air.

Four-day forecasts of air pollution

People with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders often need to stay indoors when air pollution levels get too severe. Meteorologists are working on providing four-day forecasts for air pollutants.

OPINION: The Christmas tree's carbon footprint

Trees store carbon dioxide. How bad is it really to chop down a spruce tree and put it in the living room for Christmas?

Exotic travellers are planet warmers

Nature and experienced-based tours to distant countries take us happily out of our daily routines, but they are also far from good for the environment. The tourist industry should really care about how people reach their destinations – not just how many bath towels they are using.

Detailed wave warnings on Norwegian coast

The dramatic wreck of the high-speed catamaran ferry “Sleipner” in 1999 prompted allocations of funds for research on ocean waves along the Norwegian coast. Better wave warnings are available as of this summer.