All news

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…

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…

VIRUS

2026.03.19

Bird Flu Risk to Danish Cattle – New Tool Can Warn Farmers Before Infection Spreads

Bird flu can infect both cows and humans. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed a tool that can predict where and when the risk of infection is highest.

DNA

2026.03.18

Past intensive whaling threatens the future of bowhead whales

Commercial whaling has left the bowhead whale vulnerable for many generations to come.

Research

2026.03.18

Study: Students struggle to identify problematic grey-zones in academic practice

Students across education levels have a blind spot for identifying situations that might bring their academic integrity into questionable territory, study finds.

AI

2026.03.17

AI was supposed to ease doctors’ workload – instead they spend hours correcting errors

AI‑powered clinical documentation was meant to streamline work at Danish hospitals. But in practice, doctors are spending valuable hours correcting mistakes, training algorithms, and handling administrative tasks that…

Theology

2026.03.10

UCPH researcher publishes an alternative to the classic children’s Bible

The Bible contains far more exciting, brutal, and meaningful stories than those most children - and adults - know from traditional children’s Bibles. In collaboration with his wife, Associate Professor Frederik Poulsen…

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)…

WOMEN'S HEALTH

2026.03.05

University of Copenhagen launches major knowledge hub for women in menopause

Many women lack knowledge about menopause, which has long been an under‑prioritized topic. A new knowledge hub from the University of Copenhagen aim to help women gain an overview and understand this phase of life.

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…

2026.03.02

Children with poor oral health more often develop cardiovascular disease as adults

Cavities and severe gum disease in childhood are linked to a significantly higher incidence of heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease in adulthood, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen.