Technology - ScienceNordic

Here’s how valuable resources can be extracted from the seabed: “There's a goldmine out there”

If there is going to be seabed mining, how should it be done? And what kind of technology can we use?

Who should collect, manage and have access to data from the oceans?

OPINION: Research institutions from Norway and other countries have collected a great amount of data from the northern oceans in recent years. Many people want access to this information.

The extent of manipulated news, images, and videos is greater than ever, according to analysts

Fake news and videos make us trust real news less, according to a new study. “This is clearly a concern,” researcher says.

Consistent and coherent: The recipe for digital presence

How is it possible to feel present in a digital world when our feet are very much on the ground of the real world?

Here is how an algorithm is baking optimal brownies and discovering drugs

A new scientific paradigm revolving around the use of algorithms is solving optimisation problems and increasing scientists’ efficiency – and you can try it at home!

Employees are using ChatGPT for advice, but is this a good thing?

OPINION: Recent data on people’s habits in the workplace are giving us reason to look into whether the use of artificial intelligence (AI) may be hampering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The lack of women in IT and Information Security limits the potential talent pool

OPINION: We are yet to empower women in IT and information security, writes Toktam Ramezanifarkhani.

Can artificial intelligence be creative? ChatGPT outperformed humans on a classic test

Artificial intelligence can mimic one aspect of creativity, but creativity is complex.

Want to sell Norwegian protein powder made from krill to the USA, Australia, and New Zealand

The small crustacean krill will now be used as a supplement in protein shakes, energy bars, and food items.

The future of artificial intelligence in education

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Using ChatGPT, the students reports surpassed the quality of many research papers. How can subject matter experts stay relevant for software engineers?

It's remarkably cheap to capture CO2 in large construction projects

A new study shows that the construction of a large bridge only needs to be one per cent more expensive to ensure half of the greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

Robots may help relieve a congested healthcare system

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Could you imagine healthcare institutions with robots performing ultrasound examinations?

Tremors in the pine forest

Fibre cables bring the internet to thousands of homes. But did you know that the cables can also be used to measure movement in the ground? The equipment is sensitive enough to pick up a cyclist passing by along a road.

Manipulated photos enable two people to use the same passport – this is how such fraud can be stopped

Fraudsters create fake passport photos so that two people can use the same passport. Researchers have figured out how to detect the forgeries.

Can the metaverse become a reality?

“The metaverse really peaked in 2021. It was at the same time as the crypto bubble,” Hanne Sofie Lindahl says. Will there ever be an internet you can experience being inside of?

Stock markets are facing a major challenge: Algorithms

Algorithms have a hold on the stock markets that has fuelled the need for regulation. But how do we regulate what we don’t understand? The second generation of trading algorithms are designing their own investment strategies – and they are so complicated that we are unable to understand them.

A 60 billion tweet study of anti-vaccine misinformation

Provaxx profiles often refer to news media and science sites, while antivaxx profiles much more often refer to YouTube.

Top politicians are not allowed to have TikTok on their phones. But why?

Other apps also collect a lot of information. TikTok stands out in that it is owned by a company in China, and China is not a Western ally in terms of security, researchers say.

Nuclear power is a friend of nature and the environment

OPINION: Based on our recent study of 870 power plants worldwide, nuclear energy is a clear winner in protecting ecosystems, while bioenergy is an indisputable loser.

Do older people get more distracted by the technology in new cars?

In 2022, every third person killed in traffic accidents in Norway was aged 65 or older. Researcher believes this could be the start of a trend that will increase in the coming years.

Twin satellites launched to monitor ship traffic in the North

Two dutch-Norwegian satellites will be launched this afternoon in Florida, USA. The satellites will, among other things, monitor ship traffic.

The world's most modern Viking ship can parallel park

You probably haven’t heard of electric Viking ships before. Old meets new in ‘Saga Farmann’ — and the Vikings would probably approve, being the innovators that they were.

No, the new AI chatbot ChatGPT won't take your job

OPINION: People have been quick to dismiss the chatbot ChatGPT as technology that is likely to replace many writing jobs. Such a pessimistic perspective completely overlooks how professionals in different domains can take advantage of it.

Satellite imaging can provide more climate-friendly actions

OPINION: Climate change affects local areas differently on a global scale. We need to find climate-friendly solutions when dealing with the specific challenges unique for each location. By the the use of satellite imaging we can target and identify the problems more efficiently.

Nanocarriers are the Trojan horses of antibiotics

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: There is a new kid in town. He is a nanocarrier loaded with antibiotics, and he can trick bacterial biofilms into opening its strongly guarded gates for him. Antibiotic resistant bacteria better beware.

Children use less Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok

Half of Norwegian nine- and ten-year-olds use social media, even though there is a 13-year-old age limit, but fewer are on Snapchat and TikTok than two years ago.

The food processing technologies we fear the most

OPINION: For the most part, there are some types of food processing technologies that we accept, while we are more sceptical towards others. Why is this, and what does it mean?

Developing a robotic georadar to make archaeological surveys easier

Surveys using ground-penetrating radar have helped archaeologists in Norway discover among other things a Viking ship and a Viking longhouse. An automated version now promises to make these surveys even more efficient.

How to market food processed with new technologies

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Marketing researchers have developed a guide for food producers who sell products that have been processed using new technologies.

These glasses help you see and hear better

Many people are ashamed to wear a hearing aid but aren’t as opposed to wearing glasses. Together with a team of researchers, an entrepreneur has created a completely new product for those who struggle with both vision and hearing.

We spend billions on heating that leaks out of buildings

About 5 per cent of all used energy in the world is lost because it leaks out of buildings.

Robots ensure more and better vegetables to eat with fewer toxins to harm the environment

Robots are taking over Norwegian vegetable fields. The AX-1 robot ensures better crops with fewer herbicides.

Faster internet led to more stock trading

When Norwegians gained access to faster internet, their interest in mutual funds and stock trading also increased. Researchers call it a democratization of finance.

What is a hypersonic weapon?

They move very, very fast, but that's not the most important thing about these weapons.

Merging robots and humans makes for better workers

Robots can’t replace people in industrial settings. But by giving people a digital boost, workers can see better, analyse situations faster and lift more.

Rare earths: Norwegian fertilizer against a Chinese near-monopoly

Electric cars, mobile phones, wind turbines — modern technology needs metals that are almost exclusively found in China. Residues from Norwegian fertilizer production can help Europe become less dependent on a country that wants to produce more itself.

Geothermal heat can give the world energy, but it’s expensive

A Norwegian entrepreneur collaborates with researchers to find better ways to extract geothermal energy.

High Skies and Far-Away Emperors: The Pitfalls of Digital Environmental Governance in China

OPINION: Throughout history, the Chinese central government has had only limited knowledge about local realities. Digital technologies now promise to make regulation and supervision more targeted and effective. But will the central government ever be on top of things?

Why are climate scientists so much more confident in their predictions now?

It's not just about the increase in extreme weather and higher temperatures.

The Internet fared surprisingly well during the pandemic

In many places the global lockdown led to a doubling or more of Internet traffic. Things went surprisingly well, a new Norwegian study shows.

A new, «Superman» way to detect hidden corrosion

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Even without Superman’s X-ray vision, this probe can see corrosion through 30-40 mm of steel!

Serving up edible kelp to Michelin restaurants and supermarkets

An entrepreneurial company called Seaweed Solutions is now harvesting more than 100 tonnes of nutritious kelp from a seaweed farm off the coast of central Norway. The seaweed is being sold to food producers in Europe. “This industry will be big,” says an independent researcher.

Nansen Legacy Q2 Scientific divers sample ice algae and zooplankton below sea ice

Is train transport the most environmentally friendly way to move goods?

Transporting goods by train instead of trucks can result in big cuts in CO2 emissions.

Mixing production deep into the ocean

Imagine yourself lying on your back in a forest on a sunny spring day watching upwards to the tree tops. Warm rays of sunlight falling through the canopy warm your face and the song of birds echo in the distance. Now imagine all the tree trunks, branches and twigs are gone and just leaves floating lofty above you.

Steering clear of our worst nightmares of artificial intelligence

OPINION: A giant leap for mankind, without doubt, but will artificial intelligence be a friend or foe? The trick may lie in better involving the public in scrutinizing AI’s problematic aspects.

Twenty years of sequencing genes… for better or for worse

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: It’s been 20 years since the first draft sequence of the human genome was published in the journals Nature and Science. Sequencing 30 000 genes has changed the world, but in a different way than expected.

Norway is going to invest in hydrogen. But what happens when there’s a gas leak?

Some studies suggest that hydrogen emissions may lead to more methane in the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer. Now researchers at Cicero will investigate how large the effect actually is.

What exactly is 5G?

What frequencies will 5G use? What’s the new technology behind it? Will there be many more base stations? What follows is a deep dive into the details of the next generation mobile network coming your way soon.

An unexpected journey to the seabed.

Noise caused sea lice to eat and reproduce less

This parasite costs Norwegian salmon farming almost 500 million euros each year. Could noise be the solution? Sound-emitting speakers weaken the lice's appetite. They fall off more easily and their reproduction drops dramatically, according to experiments in a Norwegian fjord.

Emotions shape how we perceive health information

Many people have trouble understanding health information. It’s not just differences in people’s knowledge of health issues that are the cause of the problem, says Professor Pål Gulbrandsen, who studies communication between doctors and patients.

New report shows workers in the fossil fuels industry have a deep distrust of environmentalists

Distrust against environmentalists is widespread among those employed in oil- and gas-related businesses. There’s also a sense of bitterness against unions that are pushing for a more climate friendly industry.

Can Artificial intelligence affect gender equality?

A new knowledge overview provides a review of all Norwegian research on equality and artificial intelligence. From this overview, it is evident that we are not prepared for the consequences that the new technology might have for gender equality.

Floating solar power connected to hydropower might be the future for renewable energy

OPINION: Hydropower plants need an upgrade. And we need to use more renewable energy sources. The solution? Floating solar power connected to existing hydropower plants.

This tiny sensor placed under the skin will measure the blood sugar levels of people with diabetes

The Norwegian sensor is to be coupled with Italian technology that administers insulin automatically. “If this is successful it will make life a lot easier for patients with diabetes”, says Norwegian doctor.

Norwegian researchers are developing a new method for detecting breast cancer

Artificial intelligence can help speed the detection of breast cancer. Urgent examinations will be undertaken sooner.

16 times entrepreneurs tried to start car production in Norway

Only one had some success. Now Norwegian car history is on display at the new Norwegian Vehicle History Museum near Lillehammer.

Drones to map the entire coast of Norway

The drones, with a bird’s eye view at 100 metres, can provide a much more detailed picture of the coast.

Norway’s coronavirus tracing app halted by Data Protection Authority – too invasive and not useful

“This reduces our ability to fight the spread of the virus that is happening now”, warns Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Scientists have determined what damaged Edvard Munch's "The Scream"

Why has the lively yellow paint on Edvard Munch's 1910 painting The Scream faded and flaked off? A new study lays the blame on moisture. Chemists from several countries have conducted experiments that have helped them come up with the answer.

Here’s how Norway’s public health institute will figure out what to do if the coronavirus flares up again

A new mathematical model used by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is like a tiny laboratory inside a computer, says the head of the institute’s modelling group.

A new Norwegian sensor will help you sleep better when your sleep is being monitored

The new Norwegian-developed sleep sensor means that a study subject doesn’t have to sleep with sensors on his or her body. In addition, the fact that it is contactless solves a problem related to the coronavirus crisis, says a Norwegian sleep scientist.

You will never fly to far-away holiday destinations by electric plane

There are physical limitations that we can never overcome, one physicist says.

Smartphones still need to be charged daily. So what's happened to the battery revolution we've been promised?

The media often portray laboratory results as market-ready products, one battery researcher says.

Could the video assistant referee system replace referees in football?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Referees make mistakes, but thanks to goal-line technology and video refereeing, these errors can be avoided. Maybe it's time to ask: Do we need referees at all?

Reading to your child? Digital books are as important as print books

OPINION: Instead of propagating a false dichotomy between print and digital books we need to start asking which books work best for which children and families.

Big Brother is watching you - and makes you behave differently

How free are you really if someone is always watching what you do? Digital tracking is a problem even if you have nothing to hide.

Improving weather forecasts in the Arctic

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: A fisherman may risk his life, and an ambulance airplane may compromise safety by taking off in bad weather. More accurate weather forecasts in the arctic can save lives.

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.

No more online voting in Norway

Norwegian voters tested an online voting system for both local elections in 2011 and parliamentary elections in 2013, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. This year, however, Norwegians didn't have the option to vote on the internet.

Speed cameras save lives but are politically contentious

Norway has the fewest traffic deaths in Europe when calculated on a population basis. While the government wants to raise speed limits and set up fewer speed cameras, it is precisely these measures that have helped cut traffic fatalities, research shows.

Uncertain future for fraudsters

Fraudsters who cheat on their taxes, launder money or con insurance companies are facing uncertain times. New statistical methods are increasing the likelihood that they will be caught.

Avoids ship disasters with advanced statistics

The chance of major ship disasters at sea can be reduced by statistical methods. The trick is to interpret the large amounts of data streaming in from the many sensors in the ship, making it possible to sound the alarm on time.

Scientists are removing CO2 from the air to make new products

Scientists are experimenting with a kind of artificial photosynthesis to replace oil in manufactured goods.

Researcher wants to teach children to program robots

Some researchers think children should be spending more time learning about robots instead of being afraid of their development.

Can we really electrify the entire world?

Yes, but we will need to recycle crucial elements like lithium if we are to meet demand and avoid destruction of vulnerable ecosystems in Latin America.

Two-year-olds benefit from playing games on tablets

The use of electronic media by young children has an undeserved bad reputation, a new study suggests. Mothers are better at interacting with their two-year-olds when playing online games than when they are watching TV together or engaged in regular play.

VR doesn’t measure up to nature

Virtual reality can provide nature experiences for some people, but so far the technology isn’t very satisfactory. “Going for a walk" with VR glasses made study participants cyber sick.

Heavier cars can make traffic more dangerous

The probability of being killed or severely injured in a traffic accident is about 40 percent lower if you drive a new car. But new cars are often more massive and pose a greater threat to other road users.