2011 - English

EXTENSION: Professor Jon Petter Omtvedt hopes to extend the periodic table with elements 119 and 120. Photo: Yngve Vogt

Racing to be the first to create the world's heaviest element

Published Nov 17, 2011 12:00 AM

All heavy elements are created in gigantic supernova explosions. Now scientists are competing to create the world's heaviest element in a laboratory. Production time: less than one atom per month. Lifetime: a few modest microseconds.

SELF-INVENTED EQUIPMENT: Professor Jon Petter Omtvedt will be taking along a van load of self-invented equipment for the chemical experiments that will be conducted abroad. Photo: Yngve Vogt

The World's most difficult chemical experiment: The struggle to discover the secret of super-heavy elements

Published Nov 17, 2011 12:00 AM

In order to find the chemical properties of super-heavy elements, chemists must conduct one of the world's most demanding chemical experiments in a matter of seconds. In this effort, the University of Oslo is at the global cutting edge.

HOT AND COLD WATER: Ole Martin Løvvik demonstrates thermoelectricity with one glass of cold and one glass of hot water. The new technology utilises the temperature difference and generates enough energy to operate a rapidly rotating fan. Foto: Yngve Vogt

Temperature differences give rise to electricity

Published Nov 9, 2011 12:00 AM

Over half of all the energy in the world is lost as useless waste heat. Much of this heat loss can now be converted to electricity.

KILLS CANCER CELLS: University of Oslo researchers have discovered that certain inflammatory reactions are part of the body's natural defences against cancer. The picture shows macrophages, which are typical inflammatory cells (green) that kill cancer cells (blue and red). PHOTO: Clara Hammarström

Future cancer treatment: Inflammation fights cancer

Published Aug 30, 2011 12:00 AM

Many have believed that inflammation can lead to cancer. On the contrary, University of Oslo researchers have now found that inflammation can fight cancer. This means that in the future, cancer may be treated with inflammation-promoting immunotherapy.

THE BODY'S RADIATION WARNING: Cells that are exposed to low-dose radiation emit a molecular warning. The message is sent to other unirradiated cells in the body, which then can turn on resistance to radiation. Professor Erik Olai Pettersen and Postdoctoral Fellow Nina Jeppesen Edin have now found out how to turn this resistance on and off. The research was done at the cell cultivation laboratory at the University of Oslo. Photo: Yngve Vogt

Turns resistance to radiation treatment on and off

Published Aug 30, 2011 12:00 AM

Radiation can make cancer cells resistant to radio- and chemotherapy. University of Oslo researchers have now figured out how resistance can be switched on and off.

BURN DANGEROUS FAT: Eili Tranheim Kase has found a new substance which can birn fat around intestines and muscles. Photo: Yngve Vogt

New medicine against obesity

Published Aug 30, 2011 12:00 AM

Researchers at the University of Oslo have discovered a substance which can fight obesity. The pharmaceutical industry is interested and the potential market value is estimated to a billion dollars per year.

UNNOTICEABLE SWEAT: "Even simple mental arithmetic can have a big impact on the sweat meter," says scientist Christian Tronstad (right). Photo: Yngve Vogt

Sweat meter warns patients of dangerously low blood sugar

Published Aug 30, 2011 12:00 AM

Some diabetic patients receive no warning before they pass out from low blood sugar. A modern sweat meter could alert patients in time. Biathletes and ME patients might also benefit from the sweat meter.

FINANCIAL SPECULATORS: The purchase and sale of inclement weather is primarily associated with the electricity market. But the storm market is also attracting financial speculators, Professor Fred Espen Benth points out. Photo: Yngve Vogt

Storm Shopping

Published Mar 7, 2011 12:00 AM

It is possible to buy and sell cold, heat, rain and snow on the Chicago Stock Exchange. A professor in stochastic analysis has found the optimal formula for reducing the risk of storm shopping.