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Press releases

Press releases from Stockholm University 2008-2013.

Press releases

Long-awaited gathering place for 67,000 students 2013-09-19 Finally! The expression may be overused but it is not out of place when it comes to summarising the feelings at Stockholm University after the inauguration of the new student building, Studenthuset. Studenthuset is now ready to receive both Stockholm University's 67,000 students and the general public. On 19 September, the Student House officially inaugurated by Governor Chris Heister.
The battle for Sweden's highest peak 2013-09-16 Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest peak, has now reached its lowest level since measurements began in 1902. This result was discovered during the traditional measurement of Kebnekaise, carried out at the end of each summer season at Tarfala, Stockholm University's research centre. The south peak was measured at 2,099 metres above sea level; just 2.7 metres now separates the south peak from the north peak, which measures 2,096.3 metres.
Researchers constrain the sources of climate- and health-afflicting air pollution from China 2013-08-08 Particulate air pollution from incomplete combustion is affecting climate over East Asia more than carbon dioxide and cause premature deaths of over half a million annually in China alone, yet its sources have been poorly understood. In this week’s issue of Environmental Science and Technology (journal of the American Chemical Society) a research team from China, Sweden, USA and South Korea use a powerful carbon-14 method to show that four-fifths of the soot particle air pollution are from fossil fuel combustion such as household cooking with coal briquettes and city traffic, drastically changing the view on sources and guiding efforts to mitigate emissions.
New method reads the genetic code directly in tumour tissue 2013-07-15 Accurate diagnostic tests are crucial when choosing the right treatment regime for cancer patients. This is why scientists from Stockholm University and Uppsala University continuously work on improving methods for analysing cancer tissues. For the first time, it is now possible to read the genetic code of individual cancer cells in their original location in the tissue. The results are published in Nature Methods.
Inefficient EU securities market facing a crossroads 2013-07-03 Compared with the US, the securities market in the EU is less economically efficient. This is because the regulatory system and the technical infrastructure for securities transactions differ between the two trade areas. Thomas Ordeberg has established this in a new doctoral dissertation from the Faculty of Law, Stockholm University. In the dissertation he also gives an account of what options the EU has available to make its securities market more efficient. Thomas Ordeberg is desk officer at the Ministry of Finance.
Humans causing rapid evolution in Baltic Sea fish 2013-06-25 Human beings have affected virtually the entire environment of the earth, and the Baltic Sea has been impacted especially hard by toxic emissions and eutrophication in the last few decades. Animals that live in highly polluted environments can either die out locally or adapt and survive. In a new dissertation in natural science, Emma Lind, of Stockholm University and Södertörn University, shows that the three-spined stickleback fish have developed genetically in a short time in response to the environmental impact of humans.
Being well received in care speeds up healing process 2013-06-06 A placebo can activate a number of biological mechanisms in the same way that medicine can, which is why we are now beginning to understand why a placebo can heal and alleviate symptoms. Psychosocial factors, such as words or how a person is received, can help to heal or bring relief. These findings are being presented by the Italian researcher Fabrizio Benedetti, who is the keynote speaker at the PNIRS 20th Scientific Meeting in Stockholm on Thursday, June 6.
Pioneering discoveries on the brain and immune defense 2013-05-29 It’s true that the brain governs the body, but the body also governs the brain, for example when the immune defense system makes us rest when we’re sick. This is shown in research that the world’s leading researchers and Nobel laureates will be presenting at an international conference in the research field of psychoneuroimmunology in Stockholm in June. This is research that has led to, among other things, new knowledge about the development of depression, severe stress accelerating aging, and how anti-depressive drugs largely function as placebos.
Young teenagers playing violent video games become accustomed to violence 2013-05-20 Young teenagers who play a lot of violent video games show blunted physiological and emotional responses to playing violent games, according a study from Stockholm University published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. After a gaming session, sleep, heart rate and emotional reactions were less affected among boys who are highly exposed to violent video games as compared to boys with low exposure.
Regional climate changes over the last 2,000 years mapped for the first time 2013-05-16 An international team of 78 researchers from 24 countries have joined forces to learn how temperature has changed in the past 1- 2,000 years at the continental scale. The results were recently published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience and reveal both large regional similarities and differences in the evolution of Earth's climate. In particular, temperature developments in pre-industrial times seem to have differed between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Human cultural capacities are older than 170,000 years 2013-05-08 Researchers at Stockholm University have used methodology from evolutionary biology together with observations from genetics, paleoanthropology, archaeology and linguistics to determine that human capacities for culture must be more than 170,000 years old. Thereby they end a long debate concerning the age of uniquely human cognition. The debate has centered on whether unique human capacities for culture evolved as late as 40,000 years ago, which is the dating of the oldest cultural artifacts found in Europe, or if they evolved much earlier.
Arctic summer sea ice extent controlled by atmospheric transport 2013-04-29 The retreat of the summer sea ice in the Arctic region is one of the most dramatic signs of the ongoing climate change. Although the ice cover is steadily decreasing it also shows a large variability from year to year. In a new study, published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, researches at Stockholm University have examined the variability of the Arctic sea ice. They concluded that warm and humid winds from southerly latitudes towards the Arctic in spring are important for the amount of sea ice later in the summer.
Scent of a woman - not that feminine 2013-04-17 In stores, most perfumes are categorized as either feminine or masculine, but how do we perceive the scents when the commercial gender categorizations are unknown? A new dissertation from Stockholm University shows that many perfumes are perceived as "unisex", and that these are the scents preferred by most people.
Dirty dishes show Ice Age hunters’ taste for fish 2013-04-11 Hunters and gatherers who lived during the Ice Age made pottery vessels for cooking fish, according to a new international study, published today in Nature. Researchers have analysed food residues found in pottery vessels, up to 15,000 years old. This has resulted in the hitherto oldest direct evidence of prehistoric vessel use. The study is the first of its kind to directly tackle the frequently asked question of why humans began to produce cooking vessels.
Unique study shows light’s (roundabout) way through galaxies 2013-04-05 Researchers working in the international LARS project at Stockholm University have published a unique and comprehensive study on starburst galaxies in the Astrophysical Journal Letter. The researchers have investigated how ultraviolet light of a certain wavelength travels through galaxies, and the results show that the light often takes a detour before it reaches us. One effect of this is that the galaxies appear larger and more diffuse than they really are.
Democratic Revolutions: Patience Pays 2013-03-20 Before the 20th century, the path to democracy was more than half a century long. Today, the process can be very rapid. However, democracies with lengthy transitions survive longer. This is shown in a scientific paper in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, where researchers at Stockholm University have analysed all the transitions between autocracy and democracy that have ever taken place.
X-ray laser reveals chemical reaction 2013-03-18 What happens when a chemical bond is broken? That question was recently answered with the help of a so-called free electron x-ray laser, which makes it possible to follow in real time how bonds in a molecule are changed and broken. The study, published in Science, found, among other things, evidence of a much-discussed intermediate state before molecules bind to or leave a metal surface. The possibility of monitoring at the molecular level how the electronic structure changes during a chemical reaction creates entirely new opportunities for investigating and understanding key chemical processes in detail.
Astrid Söderbergh Widding takes office as Vice-Chancellor 2013-02-01 Today, Astrid Söderbergh Widding takes office as Vice-Chancellor of Stockholm University - Sweden's largest university. The university world has been a theme throughout the career of film researcher Astrid Söderbergh Widding. After her doctoral studies, she became Professor in Cinema Studies at Stockholm in 2000. She has subsequently held positions as Head of Department, Deputy Dean and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Humanities and Social Sciences at the University. She has also been active in Turku and Paris.
New research project examines changes in family formation and social policies across Europe 2013-01-31 What will families look like in the future? Are existing social and family policies compatible with changes in family patterns? A major European research project investigating the diversity of family forms, relationships and life courses in Europe in relation to policies, will be launched in February 2013. The project has secured a grant of €6.5m from the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for a four-year period.
A warmer Greenland 2013-01-24 A new study provides surprising details on changes in the Earth’s climate from more than 100,000 years ago, which can be used when modeling the future climate in a warmer world. During the Eemian interglacial, 130,000 to 115,000 years ago, the climate in Greenland was about eight degrees Celsius warmer than at present, before it gradually cooled down during the last ice age.
New research changes the image of the typical computer gamer 2013-01-14 The image of the computer gamer as a young male loner who spends hours playing computer games with strangers around the world, is not true, according to a new dissertation in sociology from Stockholm University.
Institute for Solar Physics to be established at Stockholm University 2012-12-19 With a Swedish telescope, researchers study the Sun from La Palma, the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands. As of 1 January 2013, the Institute for Solar Physics, which conducts the research, will be established at Stockholm University, which then takes over the running of the Institute from the Royal Academy of Sciences. The Institute will then also become a national research infrastructure under the Swedish Research Council. The takeover will mean several new research and PhD positions in solar physics.
Decision on Albano is important milestone for entire Stockholm 2013-01-11 When the City Council of Stockholm adopted the local plan for the future campus Albano on 16 December, it was an important milestone for higher education in the city. Albano is essential for both Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology, for all future students and guest researchers and the entire Stockholm knowledge region.
A question of quality when Stockholm University invests in more female professors 2012-12-06 Stockholm University does not content itself with having the second highest proportion of female professors in the country. Therefore, the University invests SEK 15 million to increase the number of women by offering more time for research to female researchers, and for the recruitment of female guest professors.
Nobel Prize laureate Mo Yan visits Stockholm University 2012-12-05 Listen to this year's Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, the Chinese writer Mo Yan, on 9 December at Stockholm University. He will read a piece from his own work and talk with researchers, translators and the audience.
Five Wallenberg Academy Fellows to Stockholm University 2013-04-02 Today, five young successful researchers are appointed Wallenberg Academy Fellows with employment at Stockholm University. Martin Högbom and Jan Conrad will, as Wallenberg Academy Fellows, get the opportunity to continue their outstanding research at the University. Three of the appointees, ethics researcher Helen Frowe, biochemist David Drew and demographer Mikko Myrskylä, are internationally recruited researchers who will move to Stockholm University to conduct research.
Alfred Nobel's grandnephew Claes Nobel lectures at Stockholm University during Nobel Week 2012-12-05 Claes Nobel, grandnephew to Alfred Nobel, who established the Nobel Prizes, will return to his native country to share his insights with students. Mr. Nobel founded the National Society of High School Scholars with James W. Lewis, an international honors organisation that acknowledges the accomplishments of high school and college students who have demonstrated outstanding academic success, leadership, and community commitment, as well as to foster their continued success.
Live academic talk show premieres 2012-11-16 Crosstalks is the name of the web TV programme which premieres on 20 November. Here you will encounter lively and interesting discussions between leading researchers, the audience and people around the world. One of the aims is to attract top international researchers to Stockholm, but also to arouse the curiosity of the world's young talents in the Stockholm region with its universities and companies. Stockholm University and KTH are behind the programme.
Even small amounts of alcohol increase cancer risk 2012-11-09 Drinking a glass of wine a day is considered healthy, but new research shows that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. In a study published in the British journal Carcinogenesis, researchers at Stockholm University, in a European collaboration project, have examined the damage to the genome that occurs when we drink alcohol, which, in turn, can lead to cancer.
International scientist career at Stockholm University: What's your ambition? 2012-11-02 Stockholm University now offers talented scientists at the beginning of their careers a unique opportunity to continue their academic journeys at any of the University's wide range of departments. Maria Celorio, postdoc from Mexico, gives a taste of what it is like to be a scientist in the Scandinavian metropolis of Stockholm.
Astrid Söderbergh Widding appointed new Vice-Chancellor 2012-10-25 The Government has appointed Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding as Vice-Chancellor at Stockholm University. Astrid Söderbergh Widding is Professor of Cinema Studies and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Humanities and Social Sciences at Stockholm University. Söderbergh Widding has been appointed for the period from 1 February 2013 to 31 January 2019.
Stockholm and Malmö at the forefront of sustainable urban development according to a new UN study 2012-10-16 Global urbanization will have significant implications for biodiversity and ecosystems if current trends continue, with knock-on effects for human health and development, according to a new assessment by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Stockholm and Malmö are two cities at the forefront of sustainable urban development.
Stockholm University takes its place in the world - investing 100 million in international relations 2012-10-02 25 new postdoctoral positions for international students, an institute for advanced studies and a special program for cooperation with selected universities: these are part of the result when Stockholm University is investing SEK 100 million in order to strengthen its international relations.
Unique screening method simplifies identification of novel drugs 2012-06-05 A unique new method of measuring how effectively DNA building blocks are made is a perfect springboard from which to find novel drugs against resistant bacteria or even cancer. Already when a potential drug lead is identified this novel method also pinpoints how the substance may inhibit cell division, thereby facilitating further development of the drug. Two researchers at Stockholm University and Karolinska Institute present their results in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS, USA.
Stockholm University’s honorary doctors in 2012 2012-05-25 Stockholm University has selected this year's honorary doctors. They include Katherine Freese, who is one of the world’s best know astroparticle physicists and the cartographer Lars Granath, whose nautical maps have “doubled the size of the Swedish archipelagos”. In the legal area Annette Kur and David B. Wilkins have been selected. Marjatta Hietala och Milton Núñez have been selected in the humanities. In natural science Ray Dixon and Isabella Raffi have been selected, in addition to the above-mentioned Katherine Freese and Lars Granath. Keith Banting has been selected in social sciences. More information about the honorary doctors is given below, along with contact details.
Historic investment in SciLifeLab welcomed 2012-04-03 The presidents of the four Swedish universities behind the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) welcome the huge new investments in life science research announced today.
Women with chronic musculoskeletal pain: Do physiological responses follow a temporal development? 2012-03-05 A new thesis from the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University shows that investigating the stress hormones as an index of physiological stress responses in women with shoulder and neck pain or with fibromyalgia may help to clarify the onset and development of such conditions.
New zeolite material may solve diesel shortage 2012-02-06 World fuel consumption is shifting more and more to diesel at the expense of gasoline. A recently published article in Nature Chemistry by a research team at Stockholm University and the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain presents a new porous material that evinces unique properties for converting gasoline directly into diesel. The material has a tremendously complex atomic structure that could only be determined with the aid of transmission electron microscopy.
Democratization takes place in rapid leaps 2011-12-05 Democratization is often viewed as a slow process. Now, researchers at Stockholm University have analyzed all transitions to democracy that have ever occurred. This research shows that in reality, democratization is a rapid process. In half of all cases it has taken less than 2.4 years to go from dictatorship to democracy, and in nearly a quarter of the cases the process took place overnight.
One step closer to dark matter in universe 2011-11-02 Scientists all over the world are working feverishly to find the dark matter in the universe. Now researchers at Stockholm University have taken one step closer to solving the enigma with a new method.
Stockholm University physicist in Nobel Laureate's research group 2011-10-05 Ariel Goobar, Professor in Experimental Particle Astrophysics is one of the researchers involved in the research group led by Saul Perlmutter, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2011.
Exercise at work boosts productivity 2011-09-07 Devoting work time to physical activity can lead to higher productivity. This is shown in a study performed by researchers at Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet that is being published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Exploding star shines brighter 2011-06-17 Researchers at Stockholm University have studied the exploding star Supernova 1987A. In an article published in Nature, they present findings that show, among other things, that the supernova has entered a new phase of shining ever more brightly.
Rare giant flower soon to bloom in Bergius Botanic Garden 2011-05-12 One of the wonders of the plant world–the Titan Arum or Amorphophallus titanium–is about to bloom in the Edvard Anderson Greenhouse in the Bergius Botanic Garden. The species has only flowered twice before in Sweden—the first time being in 1935 in the Bergius Botanic Garden. The spectacular plant is distinguished by its large size, odd shape and the terrible stench. Once in bloom, the flower lasts only for two or three days.
Ten new honorary doctors at Stockholm University 2011-04-12 Stockholm University has selected the recipients of Honorary Doctorates in 2011.
Losing a parent can be fatal 2011-03-30 The death of parents entails an increase in their children’s risk of dying. This is shown in a new study performed by Mikael Rostila, a researcher at the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS) in Sweden, and Jan Saarela, a researcher at Åbo Akademi University in Finland. Those especially affected are younger children, and primarily if they lose their mother.
World-leading polar research at the University 2011-04-06 Three polar research projects at Stockholm University are considered world-leading by the Swedish Research Council.
Swedish cancer researcher receives major grant 2011-02-07 Thomas Helleday, professor at Stockholm University and the University of Oxford, is to receive 23 million kronor (2.5 million Euros) from the European Research Council (ERC). The grant is given to support research that can lead to better cancer treatment. Helleday is the youngest Swede to receive the prestigious grant.
Retire early and enjoy better health 2012-03-07 A new study led by researchers from Stockholm University shows that taking early retirement reduces tiredness and depression.
Antimatter trapped with Swedish participation 2010-11-18 The international collaboration ALPHA has for the first time trapped atoms of antimatter. This mysterious mirror image of ordinary matter will now be studied in order to understand why our world is made up of only ordinary matter. Svante Jonsell, physicist at Stockholm University, and his colleagues now publish their new results in the prestigious scientific journal Nature.
The Universe likes to form galaxies similar to the Milky Way 2010-10-12 Galaxies like our own Milky Way formed easily and have also been the largest spiral galaxies in the universe for almost 4 billion years. This is shown in a new study by associate professor Kambiz Fathi of the Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University. The study is now published in the prestigious scientific journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Learn the language and make better business abroad 2010-11-18 Being able to speak the local tongue could be decisive for anyone wishing to win contracts and do successful business abroad. Seventy-five percent of Sweden’s export goes to Europe, where Central and Eastern Europe are the fastest growing regions. However, many expatriate managers could markedly improve their communication skills on these markets. This is shown by Kjell Ljungbo in a recently defended doctoral thesis in intercultural business communication from Stockholm University’s School of Business. Kjell Ljungbo will present his findings at Stockholm University 6-7 October 2010 at the University’s “Forskardagarna” event, during which new doctors present their theses.
Islamic political control increases female education 2010-10-06 Islamic political participation increases female participation in non-religious education in Turkey. This finding is revealed in a new doctoral dissertation from Stockholm University, presented 23 September 2010. The Islamic movement in Turkey has played a crucial role in increasing enrolment among the poor and pious, according to Erik Meyersson from the Institute for International Economic Studies.
“Louder at the back, please” 2010-10-06 Playing white noise in class can help inattentive children learn. Researchers writing in BioMed Central’s open access journal Behavioral and Brain Functions tested the effect of the meaningless random noise on a group of 51 schoolchildren, finding that although it hindered the ability of those who normally pay attention, it improved the memory of those that had difficulties in paying attention.
Breathtaking fish in Science 2010-08-04 Novel discoveries report how a unique fish species has adapted to a hostile environment poisonous to most other organisms. The findings were published in Science July 15th.
Making nanopaper and nanocellulose gels magnetic 2010-08-04 Researchers from Stockholm University, together with colleagues from KTH, have modified bacterial cellulose with magnetic nanoparticles to produce a hybrid nanocomposite that can be used as a magnetic hydrogel, aerogel, or compress to a stiff nanopaper. This material could be used for a variety of purposes ranging from counterfeiting mechanisms for banknotes to high-gradient magnetic separation.
New process for natural phosphorus removal 2010-07-30 Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all marine organisms. High concentrations of phosphorus disturb the balance of marine ecosystems and have been identified as the main culprit for coastal eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Researchers from inter alia Stockholm University now reports on a new process for natural phosphorus removal.
DSV hosts Nordic Digra – new Nordic game Conference 2010-07-09 On August 16 and 17, the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) will host the first Nordic Digra – a new Nordic game Conference focusing on games, gaming and gamers.
Researchers from around the world gather to discuss brown fat and obesity 2010-07-07 Researchers from all over the world will meet at Stockholm University this weekend, July 10 and 11, to discuss for the first time the connection in adult humans between brown fat and the risk of becoming obese.
Glaciers in Tibet – never really large 2010-06-03 The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest mountain region on Earth with glaciers whose meltwater provides the water supply for more than 1.3 billion people through several of the largest rivers in Asia. In a thesis in Physical Geography from Stockholm University, Jakob Heyman shows that the glaciers in Tibet have remained relatively small and have not been much larger than today for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years back in time.
When English becomes the medium of instruction: Communicative effectiveness is more important 2010-05-28 When English becomes the medium of instruction: Communicative effectiveness is more important than accuracy.
School of Business' Advisory Board is strengthened with international academic members 2010-05-26 Stockholm University School of Business’ Advisory Board is strengthened through the addition of three well-qualified international members: Finn Junge Jensen, Peter Moizer and Jaap Spronk.
Defendant's gender affects length of sentence 2010-05-26 A study of 300 simulated court cases shows that experienced judges, jury members, prosecutors, police officers, and lawyers make decisions and convict defendants differently depending on whether they are men or women and what the defendant looks like. Eyewitnesses to crimes are also affected by these factors. This is especially pronounced if there is an extended period of time separating the crime and the testimony. This is what Angela S. Ahola, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, shows in her dissertation.
Sulfur in marine archaeological shipwrecks – the “hull story” gives a sour aftertaste 2010-04-26 Advanced chemical analyses reveal that, with the help of smart scavenging bacteria, sulfur and iron compounds accumulated in the timbers of the Swedish warship Vasa during her 333 years on the seabed of the Stockholm harbour. Contact with oxygen, in conjunction with the high humidity of the museum environment, causes these contaminants to produce sulfuric acid, according to a new doctoral thesis in chemistry from Stockholm University.
Explained: Why many surveys of distant galaxies miss 90% of their targets 2010-04-26 Astronomers have long known that in many surveys of the very distant Universe, a large fraction of the total intrinsic light was not being observed. Now, thanks to an extremely deep survey using two of the four giant 8.2-metre telescopes that make up ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and a unique custom-built filter, astronomers have determined that a large fraction of galaxies whose light took 10 billion years to reach us have gone undiscovered. The survey also helped uncover some of the faintest galaxies ever found at this early stage of the Universe.
Research shows females are the carriers of chimpanzee culture 2010-03-25 How do young chimpanzees learn behaviours that are not genetically transmitted? Researchers at Stockholm University have analysed knowledge of chimpanzee behaviour and found that chimpanzee culture mostly is carried and transmitted by the females. The results are presented in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
Russian and Swedish researchers report in Science on significant methane emissions in the Arctic 2010-04-14 Russian and Swedish researchers report in Science on significant methane emissions in the Arctic from thawing seabed north of Siberia.
Seeing the hidden services of nature 2010-03-03 International team of ecosystem researchers develop new approach for managing ecological tradeoffs.
Prize for article about mortality among birds 2010-02-26 Last summer, researchers at the Department of Applied Environmental Science published an article demonstrating that thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency may explain increased mortality among birds in the Baltic Sea area. The article has now received an international prize as an exceptional article of the year.
Death and burial - how social identities are reflected in archeological grave material 2010-02-26 The function and placement of graves in a burial ground reflected the social role and status a person had in society during the Middle Ages. Factors such as gender, age, and health affected this evaluation and categorization of people. This is shown in a dissertation by Kristina Jonsson that was recently submitted at Stockholm University.
Unique Greek-Swedish research cooperation between industry and academia on environment and climate 2011-11-16 A unique Greek-Swedish research cooperation between industry and academia on environment and climate in the Mediterranean was signed today in Stockholm. The Academy of Athens, Stockholm University and TEMES launch a European research collaboration that represents an important step in efforts to increase Swedish and Greek cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. (03.12.2009)
Survivors provide new information about the 2004 tsunami disaster 2009-11-17 It has been nearly five years since the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. Together with survivors of the tsunami disaster, Johanna Mård Karlsson and research colleagues at Stockholm University have built a detailed reconstruction of the coastal impact of the tsunami in the Khao Lak area, Thailand. Besides achieving a better understanding of the event, they have been able to use the reconstruction to verify a new computer simulation of the impact of the tsunami in southeastern Thailand.
A strong invariant state among fragile quantum states 2009-11-11 Quantum states are in general very fragile and are easily destroyed by noise. There are, however, quantum states that can withstand much stronger hits than others, so called invariant states. The physicists Magnus Rådmark and Mohamed Bourennane at Stockholm University have recently succeeded to generate a high fidelity invariant state in six entangled photons. This invariant quantum state has potential applications in quantum computers and especially for quantum communication and quantum cryptography.
Diatoms reveal climate changes 2009-10-19 Some 500 years ago there was a change in the circulation in the atmosphere over Scandinavia. This probably led to increased amounts of winter precipitation in northern Sweden for a period. This is shown in a new dissertation in physical geography at Stockholm University.
Elinor Ostrom of Stockholm Resilience Centre shares economy prize 2009-10-13 American economists Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson will share the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Elinor Ostrom is on the board of the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and is regularly active in research and teaching there.
New research explains why cultivation of biofuels leads to more greenhouse gas 2009-10-12 In a scientific article from 2008, Nobel laureate in chemistry Paul Crutzen found that cultivating biofuels to replace fossil fuels can increase, rather than decrease, global warming. This finding, based on a calculation of how much laughing gas is released from cultivated land and winds up in the atmosphere, diverged considerably from the IPCC estimate. Crutzen’s global calculations are corroborated in a new article in Environmental Research Letters by scientists Georgia Desouni and Amélie Darracq at the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology and the Bert Bolin Center from Climate Research, Stockholm University. The new article also explains the reason for the differences in comparison with the IPPC results.
Stockholm University and Imprimatur Capital collaborate to give support to young research companies 2009-09-25 SU Innovation at Stockholm University has signed an agreement with the British risk capital company Imprimatur Capital. Imprimatur Capital, with offices in over fifteen countries around the world, is investing in a long-term collaboration for the funding and development of the University’s business incubator and the projects that it includes.
Scandinavians are descended from Stone Age immigrants 2009-09-25 Today’s Scandinavians are not descended from the people who came to Scandinavia at the conclusion of the last ice age but, apparently, from a population that arrived later, concurrently with the introduction of agriculture. This is one conclusion of a new study straddling the borderline between genetics and archaeology, which involved Swedish researchers and which has now been published in the journal Current Biology.
Doctorates and honorary doctorates to be awarded at Stockholm City Hall 2009-09-25 On Friday, September 25th, eight honorary doctorates will be conferred during the University's graduation and installation ceremony in the Blue Hall at Stockholm City Hall. Among the new honorary doctors are the author and Professor Cecilia Lindqvist and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg. Others include professors Okko Behrend, Germany, Michael Long and Daniel Stern, United States, Paul Artaxo, Brazil, Janos Mink, Hungary and James Whelan, Australia.
The art of passing the buck 2009-09-17 How are the claims of Indigenous peoples dealt with by states and corporations? Rebecca Lawrence, in her PhD dissertation in Sociology presented at Stockholm University on Friday September 11, illustrates that both states and corporations attempt to ignore Indigenous peoples’ rights (urfolksrättigheter) by claiming that responsibility for protecting those rights lies with the other party.
Planetary Boundaries: A Safe Operating Space for Humanity 2009-09-18 New approaches are needed to help humanity deal with climate change and other global environmental threats that lie ahead in the 21st century. A group of 28 internationally renowned scientists propose that global biophysical boundaries, identified on the basis of the scientific understanding of the Earth System, can define a ‘safe planetary operating space’ that will allow humanity to continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. This new approach to sustainable development is conveyed in the coming issue of the scientific journal Nature where the scientists have made a first attempt to identify and quantify a set of nine planetary boundaries.
Early infection and protection against allergies? 2009-06-22 Allergies have become more common in the last few decades. It is still not fully clear why certain people develop allergies, but a strong risk factor is if the mother is allergic. Also, changes in life style are seen as playing a major role and several studies indicate that early exposure to bacteria and viruses may reduce the risk of allergies later in life. A dissertation in immunology at Stockholm University can now demonstrate a connection between infection by the herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus, in small children and protection against the production of allergy-related antibodies.
Bioinformatic reconstruction of global networks provides shortcuts to protein functions 2009-06-22 Researchers at the Stockholm Bioinformatics Center have developed bioinformatic methods for reconstructing global networks of proteins and genes that interact with each other functionally. Eight different types of large-scale genomic, proteomic, and functional genetic data have been combined in the largest reconstructions ever of networks in nine different species. The work is published in the June issue of the journal Genome Research, and the networks are available to researchers and others via a Web-based database.
Andra artikeln 2009-06-12 Vi leker vidare med Polopoly 9 i bunkern. Snart ska vi äta bulle.
Solo is not strong – a study of team entrepreneurship 2009-05-29 Behind many new, innovative companies there often lies more than one founder. Starting a venture in a team, however, is a neglected area both in research and in practice. A new dissertation in business administration contributes to our understanding of how these "venture teams" are formed, develop and finally dissolve. At the same time, the study focuses on how the roles in the team are created and develop over time in relation to the innovation process in new start-ups.
Who owns things that do not exist? 2009-05-29 - On fictions, gaps in the law, and the uncertainty of the securities trade.
New regulatory opportunities for the EU: Rules for how rules are to be followed 2009-05-22 The European Union readily brings to mind rules and regulations regarding everything from the shape of a cucumber to the generation of statistics. The EU's formal regulations consist of more than 300,000 legal documents. However, a new dissertation in business studies at Stockholm University in Sweden shows that, in practice, the regulation of the EU is much more comprehensive than that.
Better water use could reduce future food crises 2009-05-06 If the overall water resources in river basins were acknowledged and managed better, future food crises could be significantly reduced, say researchers from Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, Stockholm Environment Institute and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Great differences between Muslim-profiled schools in Sweden and England 2009-04-24 The differences are great between Muslim-profiled schools in Sweden and England. The fundamental reason lies in the frameworks that are set up as conditions for getting permission to start and operate a school with a confessional orientation in the two countries. This is shown in Åsa Brattlund's doctoral dissertation in international education at Stockholm University, which will be submitted on Friday, April 24.
Half of group free of phobia after a single treatment 2009-03-31 Fifty-five percent of children who underwent an intensive so-called one-session treatment of three hours were freed from their phobia. The treatment is carried out on a single occasion, is quick and cost-effective, with no side effects. The treatment form is also culture-neutral and does not need to be adapted to the country or the place it is to be used. This is shown by Lena Reuterskiöld at the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, in the dissertation she recently submitted.
Internet can warn of ecological changes 2009-03-19 The Internet could be used as an early warning system for potential ecological disasters, according to researchers from Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and the University of East Anglia.
Silica algae reveal how ecosystems react to climate changes 2009-03-09 A newly published dissertation by Linda Ampel from the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology at Stockholm University in Sweden examined how rapid climate changes during the most recent ice age affected ecosystems in an area in continental Europe.
Suicide at the workplace ”contagious” 2009-03-11 It has previously been known that the risk of suicide increases if a family member has taken his/her life. This connection is also confirmed in a new study from Stockholm University and the University of Oxford. But the study also reveals something that was previously unknown: suicide at the workplace increases the risk of more people committing suicide. The contagious effect, which is statistically significant only in the case of men, is greater than that of suicide in the family, since more individuals are involved.
How do patients diagnosed with schizophrenia communicate? 2009-02-23 Negative emotional facial expressions dominate in the interplay with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This has been shown in previous research and has now been confirmed in a dissertation from the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, in Sweden. The dissertation is based on video-recorded clinical interviews carried out by psychologists.
Meet, try and see by tomorrow's mobile services 2009-02-20 It is now two years since the Mobile Life VINN Excellence Centre in Kista was inaugurated. Then there was talk that mobile services were on the way to becoming an integral part of our daily lives. Today, we have reached that point.
Coffee cultivation good for diversity in agrarian settlements but not in forests 2009-02-20 Coffee shrubs, both in themselves and because they are most often cultivated in the shade of large trees, can have a positive impact on plant and animal diversity in those parts of the landscape that are deforested and dominated by agriculture. What constitutes a dilemma for consumers wishing to shop ecologically is that when coffee is grown in a forest, which is also common, the impact on diversity is negative.
Invitation to 150th Anniversary Celebration: Chemist and Nobel Laureate Svante Arrhenius 2009-02-19 Chemist and Nobel Laureate Svante Arrhenius was one of the greatest naturalists of our times. He was also one of the very first scientists to make the link between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature levels – what we now call the greenhouse effect.
International conference on discrimination and persecution of Roma, Sinti and Travellers 2009-02-17 In recent years Roma and Travellers have gained increasing influence and as a consequence have been able to counter the heritage of many hundreds of years of persecution. A great deal has happened, at least within Europe, and not least in the field of social research. There is, however, still a long way to go to equality.
"Wrong" comb jelly in Baltic Sea? 2009-02-16 The invasive comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, which has caused enormous ecological impacts in the Black and Caspian seas, has expanded its distribution to the European Atlantic coast and Baltic Sea. By summer 2007, it has been reported from virtually all basins of the sea, including its northern part. The Mnemiopsis invasion in the Baltic region is receiving a great attention because of the potential impact on pelagic food webs and fishery, and currently there are several on-going research projects studying invasion process and its consequences.
Swedish astronomy motif for new series of stamps 2009-02-03 To highlight the International Year of Astronomy 2009 the Swedish Postal Service, Posten, released a series of postage stamps on January 29 2009, on the theme of space. The motif for the stamps is PoGOLite, an international collaborative project with researchers from Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). The instrument – which is currently being built in Stockholm and will be sent up by balloon from the space base Esrange in Kiruna – measures X-rays from space.
Swedish and Indian researchers examine climate and health afflicting soot pollution 2009-01-28 A gigantic brownish haze from various burning and combustion processes is blanketing India and surrounding land and oceans during the winter season. This soot-laden Brown Cloud is affecting South Asian climate as much or more than carbon dioxide and cause hundreds of thousands of premature deaths annually, yet its sources have been poorly understood. In this week's issue of Science Örjan Gustafsson and colleagues at Stockholm University and in India use a novel carbon-14 method to constrain that two-thirds of the soot particles are from biomass combustion such as in household cooking and in slash-and-burn agriculture.
Become a polar researcher for a day at ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi 2009-01-22 Scientific expeditions play a crucial roll in pushing forward research within the areas of climate and environment. During 2008 archaeologists, geologists, meteorologists, glaciologists and zoologists from Stockholm University took part in Polar research expeditions. The researchers' films, photos and stories of everything from cloud formation and Arctic foxes to climate research in the Antarctic are on display during 2009 at one of Sweden’s foremost tourist attractions – ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi.
How we are tricked into providing our personal information 2009-01-19 We human beings don't always do as we have been taught, and organizations are poorly prepared for IT security attacks that target human weaknesses. Since it is difficult to change people's behavior, it doesn't help to provide training about how to behave securely. This is shown by Marcus Nohlberg in his dissertation at Stockholm University in Sweden in which he studied attacks that are called social engineering in IT contexts.
UN Security Council has 'Responsibility to Protect' human security within states 2008-12-17 UN Security Council has a 'Responsibility to Protect' human security within states – even by military means.
New centre for research in healthcare ethics 2009-03-09 December 2008 marked the opening of the Stockholm Centre for Healthcare Ethics (CHE). The Centre is a collaboration between the Karolinska Institutet (KI), The Royal College of Technology (KTH) and Stockholm University.
Genetic differences explain degrees of susceptibility to malaria 2008-12-10 Certain ethnic groups contract malaria more seldom than others, even though the disease may be prevalent in the area. The Fulani people in Africa are one example of this. In a dissertation at the Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Elisabeth Israelsson presents some important genetic differences between the Fulani and other peoples that live in the same area that may be of great importance for the development of effective protection against malaria.
Violent video games affect biological systems 2008-11-13 An article published electronically yesterday in the scientific journal Acta Paediatrica, describes how heart rate and sleep in boys are affected by violent video games.
Networks of small habitat patches can preserve urban biodiversity 2008-11-13 New scientific study from Stockholm University: Sets of small and seemingly insignificant habitat patches that are within reach for mobile species may under certain circumstances, as a group, provide an acceptable alternative to larger and contiguous habitats. This finding can make preservation of important ecological functions possible even in urban and other heavily exploited areas.
Biological effects of low doses of ionizing radiation 2008-11-07 Thanks to the European project RISC-RAD , which has come to an end today, we now know more about the biological effects of low doses of ionizing radiation.
Alien fish in Swedish waters 2008-10-28 A round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was caught in late July off the Swedish coast near Karlskrona. This is the first find of its kind in Sweden. The species, which originates from the Black Sea and probably spread to the Baltic via ballast water, has been found in the Gulf of Gdansk since 1990, in the southern Baltic. Today it is one of the most common coastal fishes there, so it was expected that it would show up in Swedish waters sooner or later, according to researcher Gustaf Almqvist of Stockholm University.
Pairs of cleaner fish co-operate and give better service on the coral reef 2008-11-17 Co-operation in nature often works as an exchange of goods or services between two different parties. In an article in the recent issue of the scientific magazine Nature researchers from Stockholm University have studied how certain fish on coral reefs keep other species of fish clean. The Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) helps other fish species by eating parasites from their skin. The cleaner's favourite food is, however, the nutrient-rich mucus layer that covers the client fish.
Anthropogenic nutrient and pollutant loads to the sea 2008-10-28 A new study by Georgia Destouni and her research group at Stockholm University (SU) shows that the waterborne nutrient and pollutant loads from land to the sea may be larger from small near-coastal areas, which are left without systematic environmental monitoring of their coastal loads, than from the large, systematically monitored main rivers.
Fisheries management and environmental conditions; win-win for Baltic Cod 2008-10-28 Stockholm, October 20: Politics have played a critical role in the increase of the cod stock in the Baltic Sea, but environmental conditions are equally important. Only the synergies from these two factors have resulted in a stock increase that exceeds the sums of both factors. These are the preliminary results from an ongoing analysis at Stockholm University (Department of Systems Ecology, Baltic Nest Institute at Stockholm Resilience Centre). The study is highly relevant for the management decision on Baltic cod, which will be taken by the Council of Ministers on October 27th 2008.
New computer calculates turbulence and tomorrow's climate 2008-12-05 This page has moved.
Ice cores map dynamics of sudden climate changes 2008-08-29 New, extremely detailed data from investigations of ice cores from Greenland show that the climate shifted very suddenly and changed fundamentally during quite few years when the ice age ended.
Benny Andersson to receive Honorary Doctorate from Stockholm University 2008-08-25 Stockholm University’s Faculty of Humanities is to confer an Honorary Doctorate on musician and composer Benny Andersson. The ceremony will take place on the 26th September in Stockholm’s City Hall.
New fish romping in the southern Baltic 2008-08-25 In less than three decades the round goby has become one of the most colorful features of the southern Baltic. The fish, which comes from the Black Sea, has rapidly adapted to Baltic conditions and can locally dominate coastal fish populations. This has led to competition with domestic fish species, such as the flounder, but it has also become a significant contribution to the diet of important predatory fishes, such as cod and perch. This is shown in a dissertation in systems ecology at Stockholm University.
Democracy Without Boundaries – an open conference 2008-08-25 Democracy Without Boundaries - an open conference at Aula Magna, Stockholm University, 8th May 13.00 pm - 16.00 pm.
Women with Latvian citizenship dominate Latvia’s civil society 2008-08-25 Highly educated women with Latvian citizenship and activist role models make up the majority of Latvia’s civil society core activists today.
Expert call for changes to sustainable development thinking 2008-08-25 Experts call for deep-rooted changes to sustainable development thinking and suggest a new UN panel on Ecosystem Sustainability.
Sudden "ecosystem flips" imperil world's poorest regions, say water experts 2008-08-25 Canadian and Swedish researchers probe links between agriculture and environmental degradation.
Media research congress in Stockholm, Sweden, about media and global divides 2008-08-25 World-renowned media researchers and experts will meet in Stockholm, Sweden, July 20-25 2008 for the media research congress “Media and Global Divides”. The congress addresses relations between media and contemporary global divides and it will explore the roles of the media with regards to today’s global inequalities. The Department of Journalism, Media and Communication at Stockholm University is to host the event.
Scientists provide an explanation for the evolution of animal personalities 2008-08-25 Few would deny that humans have personalities and human personality research has a long tradition in psychology. Farmers, dog-owners and others who spend time observing animals know that also non-human animals can differ strikingly in character and temperament. Yet, only in recent years it has become evident that personalities are a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom. Indeed, animals as diverse as spiders, mice and squids appear to have personalities. In an article in Nature, researchers from Stockholm University, The Netherlands and USA, argue that animal personalities are shaped by how much an invididual stands to lose.

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