The dingo fence from space: satellite images show how these top predators alter the desert
As one of the longest structures in the world, the dingo fence is an icon of Australia. It stretches more …
The Conversation
South Africans are revolting against inept local government. Why it matters
A sea change is under way at local government level in South Africa, one which all political parties had better …
Okonjo-Iweala in the WTO top job: breaking the glass ceiling is a win for all women
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as director general of the …
Public trust in the media is at a new low: a radical rethink of journalism is needed
A recent report by an independent panel on the ethics and credibility of South Africa’s news media makes for worrying …
A critical look at what’s missing from Muslim education in South Africa
Political and social landscapes are shifting in most liberal democracies, and one of the issues coming under the spotlight is …
How extractive industries manage to carry on harming the planet
Around the globe, concern is mounting about the unfolding climate and ecological catastrophe. Yet the extraction of natural resources through …
The basis of South Africa’s annual budgets needs an overhaul. Here’s why, and how
Governments in most developing countries use medium-term expenditure frameworks as fiscal policy instruments to match the imperatives of policy, planning …
At last, climate science may be able to predict tropical Atlantic weather better
El Niño Southern Oscillation or ENSO, an anomalous warming of the surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean, is famous …
What’s behind fresh unrest in Somalia – and what needs to be done
Somali government troops have clashed with opposition supporters on the streets of Mogadishu amid growing anger over delayed elections. …
Why we did it: the Kenyan women and girls who joined Al-Shabaab
The direct involvement of women and girls in terrorism has attracted increased interest as the nature of recruitment tactics has …
Why Ebola is back in Guinea and why the response must be different this time
New reports of Ebola in Guinea are causing anxiety given the history of the West Africa outbreak of 2014-2016. This …
Fears loom for teens undergoing vital brain development during COVID. Telling stories might help
“At the end of the war men returned from the battlefield grown silent — not richer, but poorer in communicable …
As the Perseverance rover lands on Mars, there’s a lot we already know about the red planet from meteorites found on Earth
NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully touched down on Mars this morning, and has already begun beaming back images.
But people might …
Are COVID vaccines vegan? Should I get one anyway? An ethicist explains
Some of my vegan friends are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
These vaccines do not contain animal products. …
Moves are afoot in Africa to keep more women in science careers
Women scientists have a vital part to play in scientific leadership and in contributing to Africa’s development and transformation. But …
This rainforest was once a grassland savanna maintained by Aboriginal people – until colonisation
If you go to the Surrey Hills of northwest Tasmania, you’ll see a temperate rainforest dominated by sprawling trees with …
Archaeology is changing, slowly. But it’s still too tied up in colonial practices
For many people, the mention of archaeology makes them think of Indiana Jones. He’s the hero of the 1980s …
Customary law in Nigeria favours men over children in custody cases
The breakdown of a marriage comes with emotional, financial, health and social consequences for the couple, their children and …
Africa indigenous fruit trees offer major benefits. But they’re being ignored
Indigenous fruits have been collected from the wild for centuries for human consumption and other purposes. Across the African continent, …
Ebola strikes West Africa again: key questions and lessons from the past
News of a new outbreak of Ebola in Guinea is indeed distressing. The last in West Africa occurred between 2014 …
Insights from Morocco into how smartphones support migration
For undocumented migrants and refugees travelling to new countries, accurate information is vital. Because of this, smartphones – mobile phones …
How the coronavirus mutates and what this means for the future of COVID-19
The recent appearance of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus causing COVID-19 infections), that may be associated with increased transmission …
Why being endowed with oil is not always a boon: the case of Nigeria and Angola
In countries with weak governance institutions, natural resource wealth tends to be a curse instead of a blessing. Where citizens …
Psychology carries a dark past: how the discipline can be Africanised
It’s well documented by many scholars that psychological warfare took place for a long time as part of the colonial …
Increasing land use could turn Mount Kilimanjaro into an ecological island
Located in Tanzania, with a height of almost 6,000 metres, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain. Over the years, there’s …
Adolescent girls in five African conflict zones share stories about their lives
International organisations around the world are increasingly committing themselves to undertaking inclusive approaches to peacebuilding. These organisations all pledge …
Ancient marvels: the first shell-crushing predators ground up their prey between their legs
Shell-crushing predation was already in full swing half a billion years ago, as our new research published in the Proceedings …
South African astronomy has a long, rich history of discovery – and a promising future
The South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town is the oldest permanent observatory in the southern hemisphere: it turned 200 …
AI makes huge progress predicting how proteins fold – one of biology’s greatest challenges – promising rapid drug development
Takeaways
- A “deep learning” software program from Google-owned lab DeepMind showed great progress in solving one of biology’s greatest challenges
Coronavirus and food safety: what the studies say
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, not much was known about SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus) and its survival in food, on various …
Why political staffers are vulnerable to sexual misconduct — and little is done to stop it
Brittany Higgins’ allegation she was raped in a minister’s office at Parliament House is just one of a number of …
10am brunch, 1pm Kmart: when the media pokes fun at someone’s lifestyle, it’s harder for the next person to get COVID tested
In countries like Australia where infection rates remain relatively low, contact tracing is a crucial defence in our fight against …
Five principles that should guide future DNA ‘editing’ in South Africa
In recent years there have been several major innovations in genetics. One prominent example is CRISPR-Cas9, a novel biotechnology …
Technology and supermarket chains can help strengthen southern Africa’s food systems
Agriculture and agro-processing value chains have been under pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been particularly marked where they …
COVID-19: what happens if some countries don’t vaccinate?
Some countries, such as Tanzania and Madagascar, have issued statements saying they do not have plans to vaccinate their …
A brief history: what we know so far about fast radio bursts across the universe
Fast radio bursts are one of the great mysteries of the universe. Since their discovery, we have learned a great …
Bitcoin: why a wave of huge companies like Tesla rushing to invest could derail the stock market
After Tesla announced it has invested US$1.5 billion in bitcoin and expects to start accepting the cryptocurrency as a payment …
Why African countries must invest more in earth sciences
The African continent contains some of the world’s richest mineral resources. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo produces most …
Top court ruling on South Africa’s spy law is a victory for privacy, but loopholes remain
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared the law which governs the communication surveillance activities of the country’s intelligence community unconstitutional.…
South African president extends special COVID-19 grant. Why this is not enough
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a three month extension of a special R350 (US$24) a month COVID-19 grant …
AI can now learn to manipulate human behaviour
Artificial intelligence (AI) is learning more about how to work with (and on) humans. A recent study has shown how …
Hundreds of fish species, including many that humans eat, are consuming plastic
Trillions of barely visible pieces of plastic are floating in the world’s oceans, from surface waters to the deep seas…
Customary and religious laws are impeding progress towards women’s health in Nigeria
Numerous countries have committed themselves to promoting the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls by ratifying international human …
How many undiscovered creatures are there in the ocean?
“The oceans cover 70% of the surface of our planet, and yet they are still the least explored,” says Sir …
If machines can beat us at games, does it make them more intelligent than us?
The year 1997 saw the ultimate man versus machine tournament, with chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov losing to a machine called …
Where has the joy of writing gone and how do we get it back for our children?
NAPLAN results indicate a decline in students’ ability to write. Outcomes in literacy, including writing, affect student achievement across multiple …
What are nebulisers? And how could they help spread COVID-19?
A nebuliser — a medical device that turns a liquid into a fine mist, typically to deliver inhaled medication — …
To succeed in an AI world, students must learn the human traits of writing
Students across Australia have started the new school year using pencils, pens and keyboards to learn to write.
In workplaces, …