The weeds that settlers spread
Why has ragweed – a highly allergenic plant – been spreading so quickly?
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GPs must play their part in palliative treatment
Hospitals typically provide excellent end-of-life care for their patients. But when GPs assume responsibility for terminal patients, things don’t always go so well.
Heart disease – more serious for women?
On average, women live longer than men. But for women with cardiovascular disease who undergo open-heart surgery, it’s different.
Energy savings in shopping centres
Shopping centres are major energy consumers with significant opportunities for savings. Researchers are currently checking the impact of savings made on lighting and air-conditioning at the City Syd centre in Trondheim.
An electrifying find can help with stability in the electric grid
Researchers have established a technique that will help ensure a stable supply of electricity even as new renewable energy sources come on line. The trick is helping all of the subsystems to work in concert.
Microscopic sensor for more precise radiology treatments
A team of Norwegian, French and Australian researchers is the first in the world to succeed in quantifying the effects of radiation on individual cancer cells. This means that radiation therapies can now be tailored to individual tumours and thus be more effective.
Exergames for the elderly
Interactive computer games that encourage people to move can be more than just fun. They can help in rehabilitation and in encouraging the elderly to exercise.
Global hot spot maps link consumers with impacts
A new model creates global hot spot maps to illuminate how what we buy pollutes the planet and where. The idea is to help governments, industries and individuals target areas for cleanup.
New technology can detect fake fingerprints
3D fingerprinting can detect forgers. It could also make border crossings and passport controls safer and faster.
Personalised care for dementia sufferers
The company Noen AS runs courses for its helpers to enable them to establish close relationships with their dementia patients. The aim is to increase the patients’ quality of life. Researchers have developed an IT tool to help the company demonstrate that its approach is on the right lines.
Breakthrough for Norwegian “nori”
First time cultivation of red Porphyra algae in a Norwegian lab.
Glass fibres with potential far beyond transmitting light
Fibre optics are at the heart of today’s communication systems, a number of medical devices and more. But when researchers put a silicon-germanium mix at the core of the fibre and treated it, they made something with potential far beyond transmitting light.
Green cooling with CO2
Man-made refrigeration gases threaten the Earth’s climate. The use of natural compounds like CO2 is an effective counter-measure.
Researching the dark side of microplastics
Minute particles of plastic, called microplastics, are everywhere. An international research team is now about to investigate how toxic microplastics are to marine animals such as plankton, crabs and fish, and to find out if such plastics accumulate in the food chain.
Solving equations to steer drones
How do you get a plane-like drone to land with no runway? You use math, of course!
Does it matter how long you sit—if you are fit?
It may not be enough just to meet public health guidelines for physical activity if you want to stave off the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, especially if you are older.
A need for more medical alert response centres
Medical alert systems are going to enable you and I to live longer at home. Researchers have recently been looking closely at these systems with a view to improving them.
Silence as a superpower
Silence is not an empty space. It has its own purpose, both in psychotherapy and in music. Olga Lehmann is working to build a theory of silence.
Ultrasound detects high cranial pressure
An anatomical discovery, combined with Norwegian ultrasound technology, is about to save lives and prevent brain damage.
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.
Show your fingers to a neuroscientist
By comparing your index and ring fingers, a neuroscientist can tell if you are likely to be anxious, or if you are likely to be a good athlete.
Charting riches in the ocean depths
The deep sea contains mineral riches that offers a new frontier for research and exploration — and a new way to employ Norway’s deep sea expertise.
How attentive are children in traffic?
The answer is “not very” if we’re to believe the results of research trials carried out last year involving 59 children.
Trapping the sun’s energy—in a box
Planning on cooking something at your hut? Today, you still need a gas stove to do so. But soon, stoves and ovens containing rechargeable heat batteries may be readily available for any cabin or home.