News about climate and sustainability

Plants

2026.06.02

From flat moss to forests and flowers: New discovery may explain how plants conquered land

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a previously unknown protein that may help explain how plants managed to colonize land more than 400 million years ago.

Corals

2026.05.21

Warming oceans can disrupt coral oxygen supply and trigger coral death

A new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that marine heatwaves can disrupt microscopic moving structures on the surface of corals that support oxygen uptake.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Climate

2026.02.17

New knowledge about Northern Europe's radiator: Volcanic eruptions in the past may have pushed ocean current towards collapse

New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that volcanic eruptions during the Ice Age may have triggered sudden climate change by disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), causing…

Archaeology

2026.02.12

New study maps where wheat, barley and rye grew before the first farmers found them

Using advanced machine-learning and climate models, researchers have shown that the ancestors of crops like wheat, barley, and rye probably were much less widespread in the Middle East 12,000 years ago than previously…

Wetlands

2026.01.29

Wetlands do not need to be flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit

Contrary to expectations, wetlands do not need to be completely flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit. Instead, the water table should be below the soil surface and remain stable, according to a new study from…

biodiversity

2025.12.16

Your Christmas decorations may be hiding a tiny bit of badger and toad

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that moss acts as a natural trap for environmental DNA. This discovery opens the door to using moss as a simple, gentle and inexpensive method of monitoring…

AI and plants

2025.12.15

Researchers revive old pea varieties in huge seed collection: ‘An untapped gold mine for the future’

Using a new AI method, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have rediscovered 51 old pea varieties that are no longer used in agriculture but may prove promising for the production of plant-based foods. The…

Food

2025.12.05

Fermentation makes ocean greens more palatable

Seaweed has long been praised as a sustainable superfood, but its characteristic 'fishy' flavor has been a barrier for many Western consumers. Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that fermentation…

Climate

2025.11.26

Over half of global coastal settlements are retreating inland due to intensifying climate risks

A new study using satellite nightlight data reveals that more than half of the world’s coastal settlements have retreated inland over the past 30 years in response to intensifying climate hazards. The study coauthored b…

Activism

2025.11.21

The Paradox of Climate Protest

Disruptive protest actions are among the tools often used by climate activists. New research from the University of Copenhagen shows that these types of actions have the intended effect: they raise public awareness of…

THE ARCTIC

2025.10.20

Important phenomenon discovered in the Arctic – could boost marine life

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered an important phenomenon beneath the Arctic sea ice that was previously thought impossible. This phenomenon could have implications for the food chain and the…

FOOD

2025.10.06

Researchers revive yoghurt made from... ants

An old traditional recipe for yoghurt made from ants has been recreated by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. In a new study, they show how ants and the bacteria that live on them can transform milk into…