Norway’s energy debate at ONS 2026: Minister of Energy Terje Aasland framed the “energy trilemma” (security, affordability, emissions) as urgent and practical—saying Norway must keep delivering oil and gas while scaling renewables, carbon capture and storage, and pushing innovation that also cuts costs. Space industry boost: ESA signed its first European Launcher Challenge contracts, including Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum winning €197.8m (with Norway funding), after a 30-second flight from Andøya Spaceport—aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on SpaceX. Health tech from Norway: University of Bergen researchers used a wearable sampler (U-RHYTHM) to track hormone bursts during sleep, improving understanding of a common, often-missed cause of high blood pressure. Neuroscience: Oslo University Hospital pilot work links slower brain “cleansing” to mild cognitive impairment, raising questions about how sleep affects brain health. Maritime batteries: Corvus Energy launched a high-power LFP marine battery system with BYD cells for vessels needing rapid charging and power optimization. Privacy in the Arctic/tech: Norway is moving to target facial recognition in smart glasses as privacy concerns grow. Nordic finance talks: Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland are exploring a unified stock market to boost liquidity and cross-border investment. Wildlife spotlight: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 released a sneak peek from a record 65,000 entries, including Arctic and rhino-related stories.