Preventing wildlife collisions in new ways
Wildlife fences and wildlife crossings are expensive – and they have mixed results. Now researchers have studied what is needed to prevent cars and trains from colliding with animals.
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The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake
Marine microplastics affect algae’s ability to grow and photosynthesize. Researchers have now calculated what impact this has on the greenhouse effect and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Recycling old clothes into new fabrics
Huge amounts of clothing are simply discarded, and almost nothing goes to reuse or recycling. But with sensors and artificial intelligence, textile waste can be sorted so carefully that far more could be recycled – and turned into new clothing.
How trained community health officers cut Sierra Leone’s maternal deaths by two-thirds
Maternal mortality in Sierra Leone used to be among the highest in the world. A 15-year-old non-profit programme that trains community health officers to do life-saving surgeries has helped slash that risk by two-thirds.
Offshore wind: How to lift thousands of tonnes – without a crane
The substructures for fixed offshore wind turbines weigh thousands of tonnes. If you are planning to install them at sea, only about five vessels in the world can lift that much weight. So now researchers are testing a completely new alternative.
Boycott unethical AI companies – and do it now!
In light of recent events, it is time for consumers to start wielding their power to influence the AI giants. Replace ChatGPT with Claude, and do not use the Microsoft Copilot chatbot.
Body weight affects your gut microbiota
Your body weight and genes influence the types of bacteria you have in your gut. In turn, this appears to affect the risk of developing conditions such as coeliac disease and haemorrhoids.
Salmon make clicking sounds when stressed – but no one knows how they do it
Salmon usually go about their lives quietly, unless they are stressed. Their clicking sound is so unusual that researchers don’t even know if they make the sound with their heads or – yes, the other end.
Exercise: a very little goes a long way
Don’t have time to exercise because of a busy schedule? Or are you simply not very motivated? You’ll be pleased to learn that just 10 minutes of exercise every other day is all it takes. However, you really need to exert yourself during those 10 minutes.
An autonomous “flying” boat
This past winter, people in Trondheim have caught glimpses of a boat that seems to fly over the water out on the fjord. Many have also taken part in test trips. NTNU researchers have investigated what it will take for people to trust a boat that runs almost without a crew on board.
Preschool teachers test children’s social skills
A new test that uses emojis can check the social skills of preschoolers. A vocabulary test is underway.
Mental health study: ChatGPT advice preferred over that of professionals
Artificial intelligence provides good answers to mental health questions. Young people even like ChatGPT’s responses better than healthcare professionals’ advice.
This traditional fish processing company increased production by 50 percent
New technology and automation have radically changed production practices. Workers now lift around 20 tonnes less fish – each day – than they used to.
Many young people are sexting on social media
New research shows that it is very common among Norwegian teens to both send and receive messages with a photo or video of intimate body parts.
A new “plug and play solution” enables offshore charging for electric ships at sea
Connecting ships to charging stations is a bit of a hassle when you are out at sea. But with a new magnetic charging plug for boats – it is about as easy as putting a cup in a cup holder.
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.
Express ferries: from climate culprits to green champions
High-speed passenger vessels with diesel engines are currently the least environmentally friendly form of passenger transport – but they do not have to be.
Decommissioning old wind turbines generates thousands of tons of new waste
By 2040, up to 20,000 wind turbine blades could be landfilled or incinerated simply because we lack good ways to process them sustainably.
Feeling lonely? Try a walk in the great outdoors
Even a solitary walk in the woods or by water provides a sense of connectedness. Simply spending time in natural environments can help prevent loneliness.
This drone reveals what lies beneath snow and soil
Using self-developed drones and advanced sensors, researchers can now see both under the snow and into the ground. The scientists’ goal is to reduce societal risk and environmental encroachment.
Can Europe create artificial intelligence that we actually understand?
Artificial intelligence is currently controlled by a number of tech giants in the United States and China. One professor believes Europe can choose to take a smarter and more democratic path.
About to emerge: One of the world’s most advanced laboratories
Concrete has never had to meet such high standards. Deviations cannot exceed millimetre level. Even the curvature of the Earth must be taken into account in building the world’s most advanced laboratories.
Europe’s power grid has a big drought problem
Europe’s droughts are challenging its clean energy ambitions — with considerable social and environmental costs. There’s a solution – but it’s not quite what you might expect.
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.