news 2025

Proteomics A University of Copenhagen study uncovers intricate details about protein function at the molecular level. The discovery could transform disease diagnostics and treatment. Proteins play a central role in virtually every disease. They are the building blocks of life, serving as essential components in nearly all cellular processes.

Crop farming Sorghum is one of the world's oldest grains and possesses many traits that can benefit food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity. However, the mechanisms behind these traits have long remained a mystery to researchers, which has hindered efficient cultivation. Now, a new technique and a biobank - developed in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen - have made research and breeding possible at an unprecedented pace, paving the way to an effective crop in both the Global North and South.

AI and chemistry break with tradition and reveal surprising early dates for the world's oldest biblical manuscripts; the Dead Sea Scrolls Since their discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been central to our understanding of the origins of Judaism and Christianity. But one major question has remained unanswered: when exactly were the individual texts written? Now, an international team of researchers, led by the University of Groningen with contributions from SDU, has found the answer.

Psychology A new study from the University of Copenhagen and University College London has unraveled why some people feel insecure in their abilities - even when they are actually good at what they do. Imagine you start a new job. You're thrown into new tasks that require you to learn new skills. As you progress, you start to develop a sense that you're good at your job - a sense of confidence in your performance.

Evolution New study uncovers the intricate factors that drive the evolution of genomes. Utilizing data from the world's largest bird genome database, it could have implications such as understanding how diseases adapt to human demographics or climate conditions Evolution. Nature's engine, driving and shaping genetic change and the diversity around us.

HEALTHY AGING Researchers have examined the relationship between healthy aging and various diets. Particularly, a plant-based diet with a low to moderate intake of healthy animal proteins is associated with healthy aging. If you want to be healthy and vigorous at 70, it's worth considering what you eat much earlier.

A newly discovered chemical reaction sheds light on an unexpected source of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, in both marine and freshwater environments. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas about 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2), and its atmospheric concentration continues to rise.

A new study by researchers at DTU, SDU, and AAU shows that bio-based building materials alone are not enough to make the construction industry sustainable. We need to build much less. If the Danish construction industry replaces mineral wool, concrete, and steel with wood, hemp, and straw, one might think that the green transition of construction could be ticked off.

Plastic Pollution By coring the seabed at 850 m water depth in Disko Bay off Greenland's west coast, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have obtained the first historical record of plastic pollution in Greenland. The new data suggest a link to local socio-economic development and represent a step towards developing a common method for analyzing and mapping global microplastic pollution.

Population genetics In the most extensive genetic study of the Greenlandic population to date, researchers from Denmark and Greenland have examined new parts of the genome that have never been studied before. The study sheds light on the genetic history and background for health conditions of Greenlanders and could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of genetic metabolic diseases in the future.

Trees Denmark's Green Tripartite Agreement aims to plant trees in an effort to restore nature and reduce agricultural land. However, a new study from Malawi shows that trees can do more than just capture CO2 - they can also contribute to healthier diets, enhance food security, add vibrancy to local economies and protect against climate change.

Study A new study from the University of Copenhagen challenges the effectiveness of information campaigns aimed at combating discrimination. Social science research provides a clearer picture of the problem but fails to strengthen public backing for policy solutions. Many people underestimate the extent of discrimination against ethnic minorities.

Diet New research from Denmark reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy-characterised by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients-may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk.

A new study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that the disease costs Danish society 15 billion Danish kroner annually. Prevention could significantly reduce the economic burden. Osteoporosis, also known as brittle bone disease, affects up to 700,000 Danes, but it is often only diagnosed after patients experience severe fractures.

New research reveals that ice algae can store nutrients which may enable them to colonize more of the ice sheet, darkening and melting it. It's May. The sun is up and the heat from that distant star can finally be felt as a warm tingling sensation on the skin. The snow starts to melt. Flowers and plants break through the ice gasping for light.

Wetlands While the restoration of natural areas is high on political agendas, a comprehensive new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that - after more than two decades - biodiversity growth has stalled in restored Danish wetlands. The results also suggest that time alone will not heal things because the areas are too small and dry, and nitrogen inputs from agriculture continue.

Researchers have studied the lifespans of 1,176 animal species. Among mammals, females usually live the longest - including humans - and scientists believe this pattern will continue. Women live longer than men. This can be observed all'over the world, and it has been true throughout history. But why is that, especially now that living conditions have improved in many places and access to medical care is widely available?

Antibiotic resistance Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have learned that antibiotic resistant DNA can survive on the surface of minerals such as sand or clay, and this may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans. Imagine one of Denmark's many picturesque beaches, the waves lapping against the shore, the golden sand and the smooth pebbles.

Cancer A new advanced form of treatment for one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, pancreatic cancer, may be on its way, research from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet shows. It has the potential to increase survival rates and quality of life for patients. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of all cancers.

A major Danish study conducted by the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Odense University Hospital has found that thorough health checks in men aged 60-64 help initiate cardiovascular disease prevention - and result in a marked drop in mortality rates. Cardiovascular disease and blood clots are among the leading causes of death in men.