Why do we care when famous figures die?
How can the death of a stranger affect us? And why do we care so much about King Harald?
Social anthropology
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Which conspiracy theory do you believe in?
Everyone believes in at least one conspiracy theory, according to conspiracy researchers. Conspiracy theories aren’t reserved for angry Republicans in the United States. Do you think Biden stole the election?
Why we use our smartphone at cafés
Why do people fiddle with their smartphones when they’re with other people? Researchers have identified three main reasons.
Women and men still choose partners like they used to
Men and women choose partners according to different criteria. These are the same almost all over the world and have remained unchanged in the last 30 years, according to a new survey of 14 000 people.
Little reason for moral panicking after #MeToo
Men and women generally agree on what constitutes sexual harassment.
Gaming their way to sustainable development
Researchers wanted to involve local people living around Kenya and Tanzania’s Serengeti-Mara parks in developing a sustainable future for them and the parks. They developed a board game to get people talking to the researchers — and to each other. That game has now won an international award.
What young people ask about when guaranteed anonymity
An analysis of almost 300,000 unsolicited questions written by young Norwegians on the website ung.no, has provided major insights into what they’re really interested in today. Their bodies, health and identity are among the topics heading the list.
How a black pig created an entire industry
Black Iberian pigs rooting for acorns under an idyllic grove of trees in a sunny landscape. This is the myth of the Spanish Ibérico ham.
Pupils with low grades feel less supported by teachers
A recent study of upper secondary students shows that strong students experience more support from teachers than do students who have lower grades.
Norway’s long tradition of brewing Christmas beer
Norwegian breweries have been producing commercial Christmas beer over the last several centuries. Today’s variety of craft-brewed Christmas beers are among the most important for Norwegian breweries, says NTNU beer enthusiast Anders Christensen.
Ecolabels alone don’t work
NTNU researchers wanted to see if labelling products and putting up signs in stores would encourage more consumers to buy sustainable seafood. The results showed that customers bought significantly more seafood generally – including options that were not sustainably harvested.
Big data doesn’t prevent terror
We leave behind digital traces all the time. This information reveals a lot about people. But it won’t help us catch terrorists, one researcher says.
Prison garb? No thanks!
Inmates are issued a starter pack of prison clothes upon arrival. Many would rather use their own clothes as a way to reclaim some power for themselves.
What is community, really?
A community can be anything from people gathered at the same type of music festival to commuters who recognize each other on the train, a quick meeting with colleagues in the cafeteria or an online chat group.
Japan’s cuteness phenomenon is hundreds of years old
You’ve seen the pictures and the products: Japanese teenage girls in a pastel little-girl world, and children and adults who love Hello Kitty products. They’re all part of the Japanese kawaii phenomenon, which actually started several hundred years ago.
Eiderdown farming – a living cultural tradition
For centuries, perhaps millennia, people and birds have interacted with each other. The tradition of eiderdown harvesting from this northern duck is still practised.
An Italian agricultural community seen through a 50-year-old looking glass
Fifty years ago an anthropologist studied and described an Italian agricultural community that was characterized by poverty, the Mafia and vendettas. Now his anthropological dissertation has been translated into Italian and is helping the community to understand themselves better.
The Maasai’s unknown cousins
They live side by side with the Maasai people and maintain a culture where rituals and music play an important role. The Sonjo people’s harvest ceremony is their most central ritual.
Your new office serves lattes
More and more people are heading to coffee shops to do work. And at the same time they’re changing cafe culture.
The church revolution that changed Europe
Five hundred year ago, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation. He had no idea how quickly his ideas would spread and change Europe.
Chinese courage meets Norwegian daily life
Many Chinese students come to Norway with big ambitions. But everyday life can be hard and lonely. Some find solace in religion.