2023

biotech

2024.01.10

Breakthrough: Weight loss drug from highly toxic plant can now be produced in yeast

A traditional Chinese medicinal plant has huge potential as a weight loss drug. However, due to the plant’s notorious toxicity, no one has yet succeeded in exploiting it effectively. Researchers from the University of…

Chemistry

2023.12.18

Researchers invent "methane cleaner": Could become a permanent fixture in cattle and pig barns

In a spectacular new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have used light and chlorine to eradicate low-concentration methane from air. The result gets us closer to being able to remove greenhouse gases…

Investments

2023.12.14

Student creates green investment tool

A student at University of Copenhagen has developed a method for optimizing profit relative to risk while also including sustainability and social responsibility concerns. The tool is relevant to both professional and…

Precision Medicine

2023.12.13

Don’t expect cost savings from Precision Medicine

While genetic information may lead to better treatments, promises of cost savings are unfounded. Instead, a large additional bill is more likely, according to University of Copenhagen researchers.

Niels Bohr Institute

2023.12.01

Familiar figure new head of physicists

Professor Joachim Mathiesen will take up his position as the new head of the Niels Bohr Institute from 1 December 2023. He will be responsible for leading a department in rapid national and international development.

artificial intelligence

2023.12.01

Researchers have taught an algorithm to 'taste'

Incorporating human tastes into artificial intelligence makes it easier for wine buyers thirsting for the right wine. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Pioneer Centre for AI have shown that AI can accurately…

BILDUNG

2023.11.30

Professor: Working with Big Bang and ecosystems should make youth tremble

Science has an entirely overlooked educational capacity – to help young people forming their identity. Therefore, science deserves more than the ancillary role that it plays today. Middle and high school teachers should…

Food science

2023.11.29

A delicious surprise: Vertically farmed greens taste as good as organic ones

But the first scientific taste test from the University of Copenhagen and Plant Food & Research, New Zealand shows that respondents rate greens grown vertically and without soil as just as good as organic ones.

Microbiology

2023.11.24

RNA trickery disarms the antiviral CRISPR defenses of bacteria

Bacteria-attacking viruses, known as bacteriophages, use small RNAs to disarm the CRISPR-Cas immune systems of bacteria. This discovery has now been documented by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The…

resilient crops

2023.11.22

Danish researchers puncture 100-year-old theory of odd little 'water balloons'

Quinoa and many other extremely resilient plants are covered with strange balloon-like 'bladders' that for 127 years were believed to be responsible for protecting them from drought and salt. Research results from the…

air pollution

2023.11.22

Smog from Copenhagen’s Bispeengbuen heads straight into living rooms

A large amount of the heavy automobile pollution from Copenhagen’s Bispeengbuen thoroughfare goes straight into people's homes. This, according to a study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. A sensor…

Ocean

2023.11.20

AI finds formula on how to predict monster waves

Long considered myth, freakishly large rogue waves are very real and can split apart ships and even damage oil rigs. Using 700 years’ worth of wave data from more than a billion waves, scientists at the University of…

species

2023.11.13

New beetle species has bottle-opener shaped genitalia: Now that calls for a Carlsberg!

Six new beetle species have been discovered in South America by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Among them is one with a distinctively shaped sexual organ that has led the researchers to name it after globa…

Climate

2023.11.09

New research: Fivefold increase in the melting of Greenland's glaciers over the last 20 years

In the largest survey of its kind ever conducted, using both satellite imagery and old aerial photos from the Danish National Archives, researchers from the University of Copenhagen firmly establish that Greenland’s…

Food Waste

2023.11.06

Food waste prevention in Europe can generate major footprint savings

New calculations show that the European countries have great potential for reducing the demand for global food resources and the associated GHG footprint. Researchers have estimated the climate footprint savings that ma…

public health

2023.11.06

We can save lives and millions with less nitrate in drinking water

Denmark could save lives and more than $300 million a year by reducing the amount of nitrate in its drinking water. This, according to calculations by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and…

chemistry

2023.11.01

Major EU grant will make metal alloys the catalysts of the future

New international research collaboration to trailblaze the next generation of catalysts – a prerequisite for the renewable chemicals and fuels of the future. The researchers hope to accomplish this with a new data-drive…

Data Science

2023.10.26

The blind use of AI in healthcare can lead to invisible discrimination

Artificial intelligence can help healthcare systems under pressure allocate limited resources, but also lead to more unequal access. This is demonstrated by a research collaboration between the University of Copenhagen,…

Running

2023.10.25

Great news for runners: Improve performance while easing up on sprints

10-20-30 interval training is an effective way to improve running performance and overall health. A new study from the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that this kind of training is just as effective for improving…

Trees

2023.10.25

New study finds hidden trees across Europe: A billion tons of biomass is overlooked today

Through satellite imaging a new AI driven mapping of biomass and CO2 storage from the University of Copenhagen shows that a huge number of trees are overlooked in Europe’s urban, rural, and agricultural areas. Across…

sustainability

2023.10.25

New study: Pig welfare outweighs climate concerns for consumers

Consumers would rather pay more for higher-welfare pork than for pork with a reduced climate footprint. Politicians and the pork industry can learn from the result, according to the researchers behind the University of…

Fungi

2023.10.23

Fungal evolution discovered: Mycena can now invade living hosts

Biologists have long known mushrooms of the genus Mycena, commonly known as bonnet mushrooms, as fungi that live off of dead trees and plants. New research from the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that bonnets can…

FOOD

2023.10.19

Pinpointing the emergence of muddy flavors in your fish

Many people have experienced a muddy off-flavor in farmed fish. While the aquaculture industry has known about the problem for 20 years, it continues to impact the consumption of otherwise healthy and potentially…

Green Transition

2023.10.13

Modern blockchain technology to become our weapon in the green transition

Greenwashing scams, murky networks and poor oversight cloud the experiences of climate-conscious consumers and investors. Research from the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that we can create transparency in supply…

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…

exercise

2023.09.27

The more we exercise, the longer we lounge around

The more we engage in structured exercise training, the more we tend to cut back on daily non-exercise physical activities like riding a bike to work instead of driving, or taking the stairs instead of hopping on an…

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…

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…

Health

2023.08.29

Mysterious hormone makes insulin work better

It makes animals want to eat less and is found in levels 100 times greater in pregnant women. A new study from the University of Copenhagen also reports that it makes insulin work better in rodents. While its role in ou…

GENDER BIAS

2023.08.25

Are male students more talented?

In the sciences, talented students are perceived as those who ask quirky questions and are confident and playful. But is the deck stacked in such a way that those who are already privileged win? Men are the ones who mos…

Grant

2023.08.17

The University of Copenhagen is Awarded a Quantum Technology Training Laboratory

With a grant of DKK 49.5 million, the A.P. Møller Foundation (A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal) makes it possible to establish a new training laboratory in quantum technology at…

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…

Evolution

2023.07.18

Life on Earth didn’t arise as described in textbooks

No, oxygen didn’t catalyze the swift blossoming of Earth’s first multicellular organisms. The result defies a 70-year-old assumption about what caused an explosion of oceanic fauna hundreds of millions of years ago.

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.…

Computer science

2023.07.11

22-year-old talent is now ‘researcher Tetris’ world champion

With world-class programming, 22-year-old computer science student William Bille Meyling beats seasoned professors at the unofficial world championships in geometric algorithms. He was recently honoured for his…

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…

Names

2023.07.06

New Head of Department for the mathematicians

From 1. September 2023, Professor and Head of Section Mogens Steffensen will be the new Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. He will work for the Department’s academic researc…

VIRUS

2023.07.05

Danish researchers solve the mystery of how deadly virus hide in humans

With a new method for examining virus samples researchers from the University of Copenhagen have solved an old riddle about how Hepatitis C virus avoids the human body's immune defenses. The result may have an impact on…

AWARD

2023.06.29

Teacher of the Year creates boxes that can accommodate everyone

A remarkable understanding of the students has made Mette Burmølle and her courses at the Department of Biology extremely popular. Now, she receives the Teacher of the Year award at SCIENCE 2023.

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…

Computers

2023.06.28

We are wasting up to 20 percent of our time on computer problems

Even though our computers are now better than 15 years ago, they still malfunction between 11 and 20 per cent of the time, a new study from the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University concludes. The researchers…

New vice-dean

2023.06.22

Universities must stand out as unique physical meeting places

Education will be disrupted over the next ten years, placing great demands on university degree programmes, says Professor Andreas de Neergaard, who, from 1 September 2023, is the new Associate Dean for Education at…

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…

pesticides

2023.06.08

Unsustainable coffee production is making more and more people sick

Intensive pesticide use on coffee farms around the world is leading to progressively more reports of poor human and animal health. Coffee production needs to return to its roots and rediscover sustainability, according…

sundhed

2023.05.31

Could this explain why childhood obesity leads to early puberty?

Puberty often begins early for children who are obese. While there is nothing new about this fact, a scientific explanation has been elusive. Now, a team of scientists at the University of Copenhagen offers what may be …

technology

2023.05.30

Self-driving cars lack social intelligence in traffic

Self-driving cars fall short when it comes to understanding the social codes in traffic that let human drivers decide whether to give way or drive on, according to new award winning research from the University of…

quantum math

2023.05.11

Leading mathematician wants to solve the riddle of a million quantum particles

One of Europe’s leading mathematicians - Professor Søren Fournais of the University of Copenhagen – is dedicating the next five years to understanding a mysterious quantum phenomenon through extremely complex equations.…

Food science

2023.05.10

Danish innovation to convert nutrients and CO2 from shrimp and fish farming into seaweed

Instead of polluting the sea and contributing to global warming, nutrients and CO2 from land-based shrimp and fish farming will be used to produce sea lettuce – a green protein and valuable high-fiber seaweed species –…

Dissemination Award

2023.05.09

Spaghetti-armed egghead strives to move people with facts

Hans Henrik Bruun is an especially active voice of reason in public discourse about the present and future of Danish nature. Whenever engaging, he often greets strong emotions with facts. This year's recipient of…

plant proteins

2023.05.08

Researchers close to unleashing rapeseed’s protein power for human consumption

Half of plant proteins in the EU come from rapeseed plants. Until now, the plant has only been used for oil and animal feed, as it is both bitter and unsafe for human consumption. In a new study published in Nature,…

Plant Science

2023.05.04

Incredible bacterium can transfer its genes into plants and give them superpowers

Humans have bred for desirable plant and animal traits for millennia by selecting and crossing their offspring. Now, researchers at the University of Copenhagen are taking a natural shortcut to promote beneficial change…

Climate

2023.04.19

International research team: World's climate plans make for a worrying read

According to the climate plans submitted to the UN by 50 countries, 12 gigatons of CO2 per year will continue to be emitted by 2050 – and need to be removed from the atmosphere. Among other things, countries are betting…

Grant

2023.04.17

Large grant for world-class research in algorithms

Professor Mikkel Thorup receives a grant of DKK 29.5 million from the VILLUM foundation to continue his successful basic research centre, Basic Algorithms Research Copenhagen (BARC).

environment

2023.04.17

New types of chemicals found in Danish drinking water

Measurements reveal more than 400 different chemicals in water from a single Danish waterwork. Several of the compounds can have adverse health effects. According to the University of Copenhagen analytical chemists…

geography

2023.04.17

More women than men move out after widowhood

Significantly more women than men move out when their partners pass away. This, according to a University of Copenhagen study that investigates the settlement patterns of Danish widows and widowers. According to the…

geology

2023.04.13

How did the Andes Mountains get so huge? A new geological research method may hold the answer

How did the Andes – the world's longest mountain range – reach its enormous size? This is just one of the geological questions that a new method developed by researchers at the University of Copenhagen may be able to…

Sustainability

2023.04.12

Danish carpenters will learn to build homes with hemp and straw

For the next three years, carpentry apprentices at vocational schools across Denmark will be taught new sustainable and climate-friendly construction methods. The University of Copenhagen spearheaded project will serve…

gut microbiome

2023.04.12

Your baby’s gut is crawling with unknown viruses

Babies tumble about with more than 200 previously unknown viral families within their intestines. This large number comes as a surprise to researchers from the University of Copenhagen and COPSAC, who closely studied th…

Poisonous Birds

2023.03.31

Danish researchers discover birds with neurotoxin-laden feathers

An expedition into the jungle of New Guinea has resulted in the discovery of two new species of poisonous birds by researchers from the University of Copenhagen. Genetic changes in these bird species have allowed them t…

Forrest

2023.03.27

Origins of up to 44 percent of Danish wood is a mystery

In the first ever report of Denmark's total wood consumption, University of Copenhagen researchers conclude that the origin of nearly half of all timber felled in Denmark is a mystery. This is a problem according to the…

management

2023.03.22

New department head at Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Senior researcher and head of section, PhD Vivian Kvist Johannsen will take up the position as head of department at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management beginning 1…

Insects

2023.03.22

Researchers get to the “bottom” of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated

Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new collaborative study by researchers from the…

Climate

2023.03.14

The counting of nine billion trees could help manage climate credits and nature restoration

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and NASA have developed a method that has now mapped several billion trees and their carbon uptake in Africa’s Sahel. In the future, the method could be used to monitor…

Black holes

2023.03.09

Intergalactic gas brings supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies to life

Black holes become active and grow by consuming gas captured from other galaxies. This is the finding of a new study from University of Copenhagen researchers, and shows a clear connection between the evolution of…

Consumer behaviour

2023.03.03

Critical, but willing to drink: Consumers’ perspectives on the use of advanced breeding methods in dairy production

Danish consumers are concerned about advanced breeding methods in dairy production. However, a new research study has found that they are willing to drink the milk as long as the methods have not been used directly on…

Forests

2023.03.02

Putting a price tag on the amenity value of private forests

When it comes to venturing into and enjoying nature, forests are the people’s top choice, at least in Denmark. This is also reflected in the sales prices of properties with private forest. But beyond earnings potential,…

diabetes

2023.02.23

"We have miscalculated for decades – half of an insulin dose may not work as expected"

New research suggests that a large portion of a diabetic's insulin dose is unlikely to work as expected. University of Copenhagen researchers have discovered that we have miscalculated insulin behavior for many years.…

data

2023.02.22

How asylum seeker credibility is assessed by authorities

Credibility is a crucial factor when immigration authorities determine whether an asylum seeker is eligible to reside in Denmark or not. However, the assessment of an asylum applicant’s credibility takes place in such a…

Ice sheet

2023.02.21

New knowledge about ice sheet movement can shed light on when sea levels will rise

The trawling of thousands of satellite measurements using artificial intelligence has shown researchers from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and University of Copenhagen that meltwater in tunnels beneath…

Plant chemistry

2023.02.20

Contraception is the future of rat control

University of Copenhagen researchers have gotten yeast cells to brew triptolide, a substance typically extracted from a rare Chinese plant. Their research makes it possible to control rats with the substance on a large…

ASTROPHYSICS

2023.02.15

Astrophysicists discover the perfect explosion in space

When neutron stars collide they produce an explosion that, contrary to what was believed until recently, is shaped like a perfect sphere. Although how this is possible is still a mystery, the discovery may provide a new…

Food system

2023.02.03

Denmark spearheading transformation of EU food system

The University of Copenhagen is leading a comprehensive new EU project, CLEVERFOOD, that will facilitate a society-wide mobilisation of European citizens to transform the European food system that benefits climate goals…

Proteins

2023.02.02

Major research project studies what it looks like when HIV and coronavirus proteins bind to medications

The way in which molecules interact forms the basis of life and treating illness. But what does it look like when a viral protein meets and binds to molecules like those found in medications? A new research project has…

Food

2023.01.30

Coffee with milk may have an anti-inflammatory effect

Can something as simple as a cup of coffee with milk have an anti-inflammatory effect in humans? Apparently so, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen. A combination of proteins and antioxidants…

Computer science

2023.01.30

Nuggets mined from thousands of tweets can persuade us to eat more climate-friendly

Experience and opinion trump fact in Twitter conversations about sustainable food. In a new study, University of Copenhagen researchers demonstrate that natural language algorithms make it possible to identify people's…

Quantum physics

2023.01.26

Danish quantum physicists make nanoscopic advance of colossal significance

In a new breakthrough, researchers at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Ruhr University Bochum, have solved a problem that has caused quantum researchers headaches for years. The researchers can now…

Air pollution

2023.01.20

New measurements show high air pollution in the Copenhagen metro

The concentration of harmful particles in the air is 10 to 20 times higher in the metro than on the most polluted stretch of road in Copenhagen, new measurements made by the University of Copenhagen show. More…

Food

2023.01.18

What the heck are pulses? European unawareness stands in the way of this “green” superfood

European consumption of pulses doesn’t stack up against national dietary recommendations – with Denmark in last place. This is the finding of a new EU-funded study by the University of Copenhagen as part of the…

Mathematics

2023.01.16

COVID calculations spur solution to old problem in computer science

Mathematician from University of Copenhagen was keen to forecast the evolvement of the COVID epidemic. Instead, he ended up solving a problem which had troubled computer scientists for decades.