The other road to a mind
A small fish and a human, hundreds of millions of years apart, build the sensing brain by the same underlying logic. The finding suggests there may be rules a vertebrate brain follows.
Natural science
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The Kavli Prize: Major discoveries about the universe, materials and the brain
The Kavli Prize 2026 has been awarded to researchers who have provided us with groundbreaking knowledge in their fields.
All seagulls are not the same. Here’s how to tell the difference
There are 55 species of gulls in the world, but less than half have been observed in Norway. Here you can learn a little about the most common gulls in the land of the Vikings.
Location matters: Balancing renewable energy and biodiversity in Norway
How can Norway provide new renewable energy sources to meet future needs while still protecting its natural environment, and the plants and animals that live there?
Botany’s answer to Darwin’s finches shows evolution in real time
A new study reveals how a remarkable group of plants on the Galápagos Islands developed their diverse leaf shapes – offering unique insight into evolution at the genetic level.
High levels of forever chemicals in Svalbard reindeer
Svalbard reindeer live in a place so remote they have actually evolved to become a subspecies. But that remoteness isn’t enough to protect them from contaminants from the industrial world.
Helping resolve quantum computers’ memory problem
A major problem with quantum computers is memory, as the information they contain can be quickly lost. We can now see how fast this happens, and much more precisely than before.
Tiny marine organism stressed by warmer Arctic waters
As ocean temperatures continue to rise, one of the smallest but most important organisms may be starting to struggle.
New findings could help develop computers that resemble your brain
Why on earth should you care that physicists have now filmed skyrmion lattices melting? Well, there are actually some very good reasons why.
Physicists may have found the missing link for quantum computers
Many physicists are searching for a triplet superconductor. Indeed, we could all do with one, although we may not know it yet – or understand why.
What freezing plants in blocks of ice can tell us about the future of Svalbard’s plant communities
How will a warming Arctic affect plant growth on Svalbard? Researchers encased plant plots in a thick layer of ice during the winter and used little greenhouses to heat up those plots in the summer. The surprise? The plants that got the harshest treatment did just fine.
Thousands of alien species could invade the Arctic
More than 2500 plant species have the potential to invade the Arctic at the expense of the species that belong there. Norway is one of the areas that is particularly at risk.
House sparrows in northern Norway can help us save other endangered animals
How much does it matter where you are born, or whether you are heavy or light, if you are a house sparrow? Researcher Kenneth Aase calculates what the future looks like for these grey-brown feather balls – and hopefully other species, too.
Researchers want to find out why quick clay is so unstable
Quick clay collapse can be both dangerous and costly. New research will help us understand more about why the clay is so unstable. And maybe what we can do about it.
How storm surges could impact your workplace
Businesses along the Norwegian coastline are becoming increasingly vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. Researchers have now created digital maps that show who is most at risk.
The museum treasures that never see the light of day
Some of the greatest natural treasures at NTNU University Museum are never put on display. Many of these objects were collected on famous expeditions or obtained in other ways. One such treasure is Charles Darwin’s coralline algae.
Satellites and space trash threaten the ozone layer and space safety
Every year, we shoot several thousand satellites and other objects out into space. When satellites die, they become space trash that threatens aerospace safety.
The spiders that eat stars, and the scientists who catch them
Spiders can eat their partner. Some of the most extreme stars can do that too.
Why bees in Norway are struggling
Norway is home to 212 different bee species. Or perhaps rather: the country used to have 212 species. Insect numbers are generally in decline, and some bees are either struggling or have already disappeared.
Unlocking the secrets of Viking and medieval walrus tusk trade
Two tiny Scandinavian settlements in Greenland persisted for nearly 500 years and then mysteriously vanished. Their disappearance has been blamed on everything from poor agricultural practices to a changing climate. But what if the real reason was the walrus tusk trade?
New study flags hazardous plastic chemicals and charts course to safer products
A new study provides a comprehensive catalogue of more than 16,000 known plastic chemicals, with their properties, uses and hazards. The goal is to enable safer plastic production.
Kelp-eating microalgae offer huge potential
Researchers have been studying algae that eat kelp instead of making their own sugar. The findings open up new ways of making all kinds of useful things out of kelp.
Cheaper and better lasers can open for new technology
New laser technology can help improve self-driving cars and fibre-optic internet, among other things.
Unravelling the origin of mysterious radiation
Cosmic rays occasionally contain enormous amounts of energy, but we don’t know why or where this radiation comes from. New research may have found the answer.