Society, Politics & Law

Artificial intelligence

2026.06.16

AI gigafactories require political decisions – not just technological investments

The EU plans to build massive AI gigafactories, and Denmark has thrown its hat into the ring. But according to a new research brief from CAISA – the National Centre for AI in Society – there is a lack of broad political…

Mental health

2026.06.15

New scale measures mental health promoting behaviour

With the help of a nine-item scale, researchers from the University of Copenhagen are now able to measure mental health promoting behaviour and gain insight into how it affects our well-being.

Psychology

2026.06.11

Danish intelligence test may underestimate the abilities of bilingual young people

Even highly educated young people who have grown up and been educated in Denmark risk being underestimated when their IQ is tested. New research points to hidden cultural bias in one of the most widely used intelligence…

Movement

2026.06.10

Children improve their fraction skills by playing basketball in class

Combining fractions with basketball improves pupils’ mathematical skills in primary school, a new study from the University of Copenhagen concludes. The researcher behind it calls for the approach to be integrated into…

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.

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…

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…

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.

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…

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,…

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…

reading

2026.03.24

Boys ditch books when schools close – girls keep reading

When holidays or pandemics shut down schools, gender differences in children’s reading habits widen; boys stop reading, while girls continue, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen. The researchers…

Psychology

2026.03.10

Dark personality levels relate to people’s job interests and chosen careers

People with high scores on the so-called Dark Factor of Personality have significantly less interest in social and creative jobs. This is shown by new research from the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS)…

Nightlife

2026.03.04

Young people fear drugging in nightlife – but almost never report it

Young people – especially women – increasingly fear being drugged, and the phenomenon is more widespread and complex than previously assumed. This is shown in a new report from the Criminological Observatory at the…