All news

Social media

2026.06.04

AfD Dominated TikTok in the German Election

The right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) dominated TikTok during the German federal election in 2025. Its visibility was primarily driven by regular users – not by the party itself.

Plants

2026.06.02

From flat moss to forests and flowers: New discovery may explain how plants conquered land

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a previously unknown protein that may help explain how plants managed to colonize land more than 400 million years ago.

solitary confinement

2026.05.25

‘Voluntary’ solitary confinement makes prisoners in Danish prisons ill

Eight per cent of prisoners in Danish prisons choose so‑called voluntary solitary confinement to avoid violence from other inmates. However, this ‘voluntary’ isolation is unregulated, and many vulnerable prisoners…

The Board

2026.05.22

Henrik Plougmann Olsen appointed as new member of the University of Copenhagen Board

With experience from several major public-sector organisations, Henrik Plougmann Olsen will join the Board of the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) as an external member from 1 July 2026.

PUBLIC HEALTH

2026.05.21

Why are young people’s sleep and mental health so poor? Researchers point to ‘vicious cycles’ as possible explanation

A new study from the University of Copenhagen maps a complex network of factors that may trap young adults in poor sleep patterns and mental distress.

Corals

2026.05.21

Warming oceans can disrupt coral oxygen supply and trigger coral death

A new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that marine heatwaves can disrupt microscopic moving structures on the surface of corals that support oxygen uptake.

Science commiunication

2026.05.20

18 UCPH Researchers Bring Science to Roskilde Festival

The University of Copenhagen and Roskilde Festival have entered a new partnership aimed at giving young people a different kind of encounter with research. This summer, researchers will move onto the festival grounds…

Innovation

2026.05.20

Digital platform significantly reduces distress among children of divorce

A digital solution developed by researchers at the University of Copenhagen improves the mental health of children and young people after their parents’ divorce, according to a new study. The platform also reduces famil…

social media

2026.05.18

Alternative SoMe algorithms can help users form more accurate and less polarized beliefs

The algorithms that most social media platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok use today might be contributing to political conflict and polarization. But a new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that simple…

BRAIN RESEARCH

2026.05.18

‘Garbage collectors’ of the brain grind to a halt in fatal disease

Surprising results point to an exhausted immune system in the brain as a potential explanation for aggressive brain disease

Climate

2026.05.08

Green initiatives can cause conflict and inequality in Africa

Several African countries are keen to brand themselves through ambitious climate projects. But these green initiatives can, in some cases, fuel conflict – and because they are part of the global green transition, they…

2026.05.07

Industrial waste used to develop non-toxic wood protection

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new, non-toxic method for protecting wood that could eventually replace conventional pressure-treated timber.

climate

2026.05.07

Scientists stunned: Volcano cleans up after itself by removing methane from the air

A violent volcanic eruption in the South Pacific has revealed a surprising natural mechanism that could potentially help slow global warming. The finding provides entirely new insights into atmospheric chemistry and may…

Extremism

2026.05.07

Artificial intelligence may accelerate the path to radicalisation

AI algorithms and psychological vulnerabilities can interact and increase the risk of violent extremism. This is demonstrated by a new theoretical model developed by an international team of researchers.

Health

2026.05.05

Uncertainty-based communication fuels vaccine scepticism

Even small changes in official health communication can have major consequences for both trust and behaviour regarding vaccination. This is shown by an international study using US data.

Animal ethics

2026.05.05

Dog training choices reflect owners’ ethical views on animals

A new study from the University of Copenhagen explores how dog owners’ ethical views on animals are reflected in the training methods they use.

Philosophy

2026.05.04

Sucker Nation: Why we all risk being exploited in the attention economy

Vincent F. Hendricks’ new book Sucker Nation shows why rational and well-informed people end up as suckers in a world governed by visibility, algorithms and attention.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

2026.05.01

Mothers without specific fatty acid in the blood more often have children with asthma

A small molecule in the blood of pregnant women is linked to children’s risk of developing childhood asthma and respiratory infections, a new study shows.

2026.04.30

First psychiatric admission marks the beginning of a long-term illness for most patients

By following a group of young people with mental health problems for 20 years, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have found that as many as 95 per cent come into contact with hospital psychiatry again. At th…

food

2026.04.21

Less food waste: Supermarkets can save money by giving surplus food away

When supermarkets choose the right strategy for surplus food, they can both reduce food waste and improve their bottom line. An analysis from the University of Copenhagen shows that it is often more profitable to donate…

Evolution

2026.04.20

Stone age population collapse revealed by DNA study in France

DNA analyses of ancient skeletons show that a Stone Age population in present-day France collapsed around 5,000 years ago and was replaced by people migrating from southern Europe, according to a new international study…

AI

2026.04.16

Researchers: Chatbots are biased and should not be used for political advice

Popular chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini are not neutral and tend to favor certain political parties when asked who users should vote for. This makes them unsuitable for providing advice in connection with elections,…

species

2026.04.16

Elephant genomes reveal a past of continental connectivity and a future of increasing isolation

In the largest genomic mapping of Africa's elephants, an international team of researchers shows that elephant history is defined by the ability to move across large distances and exchange genes throughout the African…

CUNEIFORM

2026.04.15

4,000-year-old clay tablets inscribed with magical spells… and beer tabs

Around 5,200 years ago, people from ancient cultures in Iraq and Syria began carving characters onto clay tablets. This new system of communication gradually made it possible to develop advanced urban societies with…

Mental health

2026.04.14

Brain scan can reveal the risk of psychiatric hospitalisation

The brain’s reaction to negative emotions may help predict which people with depression or bipolar disorder are at heightened risk of psychiatric hospitalisation, according to new research from the University of…

Church and state

2026.04.13

Faith-based initiatives increase religiosity and conservatism in the United States

When states introduce legislation in favor of religious organizations, citizens begin to attend church more often, and their attitudes toward issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights become more conservative. This is…

Mental health

2026.04.10

Danish soldiers to receive mental training: New programme aims to strengthen both mental health and readiness

A new research-based programme is designed to equip Danish soldiers to cope with stress – both during missions and in everyday life. The programme will be rolled out in 2026 as a fixed part of basic training and will…

Extremism

2026.04.10

The two faces of extremism: Why some people support intergroup violence

People’s tendency to support violence against other groups is not driven by a single mindset: two fundamental motivations and different personality traits are key determinants of violence. This is revealed by a new…

Public health

2026.04.09

“Wake-up call” from leading sleep scientists: Night-time warming threatens the sleep of billions

Hotter nighttime temperatures disrupt our sleep to an alarming degree and the impacts appear to be accelerating, scientists warn. An international group of scientists is calling for the first global taskforce to help…

Waste water

2026.04.09

Fish on antidepressants: Researchers develop new weapon against toxic substances in wastewater

Toxic chemicals from pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants pass through wastewater treatment systems every day and enter the aquatic environment. For the first time, a new research project from the University of…