Science Round-Up • Coronavirus experts: second wave expected in September

A researcher from SDU, together with other European scientists, has come up with a simulation model that predicts a second wave of the coronavirus in the European region.

According to the model, the second wave in Denmark will peak in weeks 38-40 and begin to subside around weeks 40-42.

The calculation has been made by the methods of particle physics with a premise that the precautions and restrictions are the same.

Many European countries face risk
Some 18 countries are included in the model, all of which are expected to face new waves.

They are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The research team urges a tightening of the current measures.

READ MORE: Coronavirus Round-up: Doctors call for second wave strategy


Animal feed soon to be locally-produced
A test facility at Ausumgaard in Holstebro has obtained new critical knowledge to help one of Danish agriculture’s biggest problems – the substantial amounts of soya beans imported from South America. Denmark has been importing between 1.5 and 1.7 million tonnes of soya bean to feed its livestock, and it has major consequences for the climate – the green think-tank Concito estimated in 2014 that the emission of greenhouse gases related to the Danish demand for soya proteins corresponds to over 80 percent of the emissions of cars. However, more than a third of the total agricultural area must be converted into pastures should the supply be made in Denmark.

READ MORE: Soya and palm oil imports emit tonnes of CO2 (second brief)

State-funded oil and gas study receives criticism
A research project assessing oil and gas extraction has been criticised by experts for hindering all of the commitments of the Paris Agreement. The research aims to discover a new method to extract more oil and gas, but cheaper. The centre has received a grant of 1 billion kroner from the state North Sea Fund and the international oil and gas companies Total and Noreco, reports Videnskab. The research is carried out by researchers from the country’s five largest universities at DTU’s Centre for Oil and Gas, and several researchers have raised a voice that fossil fuel research funding should be phased out for climate’s sake. However the head of DTU’s Center for Oil and Gas, Morten Jeppesen, contends that Danish oil production is less climate-damaging than in other countries.

Concussion patients in Denmark struggle at work
A new study from the Danish Centre for Concussion and the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with the Centre for Brain Injury shows that patients who have suffered long-term consequences due to concussion find it difficult to return to work. According to the study up to 25,000 Danes suffer a concussion every year – 30 to 40 percent of whom experience prolonged discomfort that lasts beyond the first month. The study suggests, among other things, those who are back at work face challenges as the symptoms are invisible. The patients have said their managers and colleagues find it hard to understand that they cannot handle as many tasks.

Massive-scale Mars project collaboration
DTU Space is contributing to NASA’s seven-month, 13 billion kroner mission to look for signs of past life on Mars. DTU Space has developed equipment that consists of a unique camera system to take pictures and examine material in rocks. NASA on July 21 announced that the mission was launched on July 30 and is successfully heading to Mars.

 




  • Who counts as Danish? The dangerous politics of identity and fear

    Who counts as Danish? The dangerous politics of identity and fear

    In Denmark, the “Great Replacement” theory is no longer confined to the fringes of far-right conspiracies: it’s making its way into mainstream discourse. For Mira C. Skadegård, associate professor at Aalborg University in Copenhagen and expert in structural discrimination, its growing popularity reveals a “deep, irrational fear that politicians are capitalizing on”

  • Belonging is a big challenge, and many internationals find it hard to become part of the tribe

    Belonging is a big challenge, and many internationals find it hard to become part of the tribe

    Second episode of the series about how internationals are doing in Denmark. This one is about belonging: while many internationals say they are struggling to find a place in the Danish tribe, many initiatives have been launched and organisations are working. The challenge, at this point, seems to be bringing them together.

  • 3daysofdesign starts today

    3daysofdesign starts today

    With hundreds of events, world-class brands, and tens of thousands of visitors, the main design festival in Scandinavia and Northern Europe is about to start. Keep it Real is the theme for the 2025 edition

  • Danish media are saying that soon immigrants will replace Danes – And this is dangerous

    Danish media are saying that soon immigrants will replace Danes – And this is dangerous

    A demographic projection by SDU, made for Politiken, claimed that by 2096, immigrants and their descendants could outnumber Danes of Danish origin. The report sparked a national debate, especially due to the framing of a possible “replacement.” Critics, including researchers from the Rockwool Foundation, called the calculation flawed and misleading, saying that there is a “racist logic” behind it.

  • Jobs, housing, and paperwork: these are the struggles that internationals face in Denmark

    Jobs, housing, and paperwork: these are the struggles that internationals face in Denmark

    Many internationals in Denmark face ongoing challenges, with finding a job as the biggest hurdle. Being overcharged for housing comes second, while paperwork is a major obstacle for non-EU citizens.

  • Broløbet runs into logistical problems

    Broløbet runs into logistical problems

    Each day, over 18,000 cars use the Øresund bridge between Denmark and Sweden. The 8km bridge and 4km of connecting tunnel are vital for the two countries, but one thing is certain- they’re firmly off-limits to pedestrians


  • Job vacancies rise in Denmark

    Job vacancies rise in Denmark

    After a decline during 2022–2023, the number of vacancies has been increasing since 2024. However, there are still differences between geographical areas and industries

  • Most people in Denmark find jobs through ads and networking, survey shows

    Most people in Denmark find jobs through ads and networking, survey shows

    A survey conducted on 18,000 people shows that one-third of those interviewed found a job through their personal network, the same proportion as those who found a job via job advertisements. Institutional channels, like job centers, lag behind

  • Who gets left out of Denmark’s labor boom?

    Who gets left out of Denmark’s labor boom?

    According to Danmarks Statistik, the country’s total employment rate stands at 78,2%. That figure drops to 71.9% for immigrants from Western countries, and 63.3% for immigrants from non-Western countries