Nature, Numbers & Technology

AI

2023.10.13

The increasing carbon footprint of AI is a challenge. Here is what we can do about it

Smart AI solutions have plenty of advantages, but they do not come free of cost for the environment. Luckily, t is possible to adjust the resource consumption of AI methods and make them more climate-friendly.

Plant food

2023.10.04

Ancient technology turns plant-based cheese into 'something we want to eat'

To produce plant-based cheeses that feel and taste like dairy cheese, scientists have their sights set on fermentation. In a new research result, University of Copenhagen scientists demonstrate the potential of…

THE BRAIN

2023.09.22

Jellyfish are smarter than you think

Jellyfish are more advanced than once thought. A new study from the University of Copenhagen has demonstrated that Caribbean box jellyfish can learn at a much more complex level than ever imagined – despite only having…

Parasites

2023.09.18

Brain-altering parasite turns ants into zombies at dawn and dusk

It takes over the brains of ants, causing them to cling to the tops of blades of grass where they can be eaten by cattle and deer. The common liver fluke has an exceptional life cycle as it moves through snails, ants an…

New species

2023.09.13

Disguised as tree bark and another species: Newly discovered gecko is a master of disguise

An international team of scientific researchers, among them a University of Copenhagen herpetologist, has discovered a new gecko species in Madagascar that resembles tree bark during the day and had been mistaken for a…

Drought

2023.09.04

Not long ago we had extreme climate conditions in the tropical Pacific for over 200 years

A wave of extreme weather washes over the world. Not long ago we had similar extreme climatic conditions for over 200 years, a new study indicates. This insight may help us prepare us for the global warming under way.

Biodiversity

2023.09.02

Three out of four populations of rare butterflies have been lost

In just 26 years, the distribution of rare butterflies has plummeted by 72% in Eastern Denmark. Several species are threatened with extinction, yet the conservation actions aiming to safeguard species have proved…

weather

2023.08.16

Copenhagen’s safest bets for a dry weather bike ride

You have a 25% greater risk of cycling in the rain if you live in Hellerup than if saddling up in Ishøj. Two researchers from the University of Copenhagen and DTU took a closer look at where and when it rains most in an…

Animals

2023.08.14

Denmark is crawling with the world's most resilient creature

They’re found on Mount Everest, in the deep seas, aboard the International Space Station and thousands of them have even crash landed and been spilled onto the moon. The microscopic water bear has a nearly unfathomable…

sustainability

2023.08.04

Hartshorn salt and “baking” solves a serious environmental problem

Polyester is the second most used textile in the world and an environmental menace, especially because most of it never gets recycled. The fabric, a blend of plastic and cotton, has been difficult for the industry to…

Cells

2023.08.02

New understanding of the body’s cells: Synchronise like pendulum clocks

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that old grandfather clocks and human cells have a central thing in common: They move in synchronisation. This strengthens the performance of our cells and…

Greenland ice sheet

2023.07.31

Pay dirt for ice core scientists in East Greenland as they reach bedrock

An international research collaboration (EGRIP) headed by ice core scientists from the University of Copenhagen has attained their goal of drilling to the bottom of the ice sheet. It marks the first time that this has…

Ocean Currents

2023.07.25

Gloomy climate calculation: Scientists predict a collapse of the Atlantic ocean current to happen mid-century

Important ocean current that redistribute heat, cold and precipitation between the tropics and the northernmost parts of the Atlantic region will shut down around the year 2060 if current greenhouse gas emissions…

Quantum Tech

2023.07.12

Extreme measuring device can bring quantum technology to your smartphone

University of Copenhagen researchers have invented a “quantum drum” that can measure pressure, a gas leak, heat, magnetism and a host of other things with extreme precision. It can even scan the shape of a single virus.…

artificial intelligence

2023.07.10

ChatGPT promotes American norms and values

ChatGPT, the revolutionary new AI chatbot, reflects American norms and values – even when queried about other countries and cultures. The mismatch has been demonstrated in research from the University of Copenhagen. The…

Whales

2023.07.06

Number cruncher calculates whether whales are acting weirdly

We humans can be a scary acquaintance for whales in the wild. This includes marine biologists tagging them with measuring devices to understand them better. These experiences can make whales behave erratically for a…

CLIMATE

2023.06.29

Researchers on UN Maritime Organization: "At the moment, it’s working against its own green transition"

The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) is actively contributing to the shipping industry being far off course from ever reaching its climate goals. In large part, this is because the organization lacks…

Earth

2023.06.22

Earth was created faster than we thought. This makes the chance of other habitable planets in the Universe more likely

Over the past decades, researchers thought Earth was created over a period of more than 100 million years. However, a new study from UCPH suggests that the creation of Earth was much more rapid, and that water and other…

Names

2023.06.22

New vice-dean at University of Copenhagen SCIENCE

Professor Jesper Wengel is a high-profile researcher, inventor and business owner. From 1 September 2023, he will also be the new Vice-Dean for Innovation and External Relations at SCIENCE – the University of…

Global Health

2023.06.20

Researchers reverse stunting in children, challenging WHO recommendations

At present the WHO does not recommend nutrient supplements for children with stunted growth – a health problem that affects more than one in five children under the age of five globally. The rationale is that supplement…

climate

2023.06.16

Gases from bacteria and plankton affect the climate – new research center seeks to calculate by how much

We need to find out how much gasses plants, soil, fungi and bacteria emit into the atmosphere. The gases they release influence the planet’s climate, and we know too little about them. On 19 June 2023, possibly the firs…

wildlife

2023.06.15

New tracking device to keep better tabs on wolves

Keeping up with the journeys of wolves and welfare of wild horses has never been easier. With a GPS wildlife tracker powered by an animal's own movements, University of Copenhagen researchers have solved a problem faced…

gut

2023.05.31

Why do some people live to be a 100? Intestinal bacteria may hold the answer

Some people live longer than others – possibly due to a unique combination of bacteria in their intestines, new research from the University of Copenhagen concludes.

Climate

2023.05.30

Greenlandic glacial rock flour can help fight climate change

The first experiments with glacial rock flour from Greenland show that it can capture significant amounts of CO2 and provide a wider array of nutrients than commercial organic fertilizers, resulting in improved crop…

Climate

2023.05.25

Philosophers agree with economists on climate action - but stress ethical considerations

A new study shows that philosophers with expertise on social discounting and intergenerational distribution want to put more emphasis on the conditions of future generations in climate economic calculations.