From left: Albertus Willem van Niekerk, Dzunisa Chauke, Ismaail Hassen and Milla Vorster. Four young scientists will showcase their award-winning innovations at the World Innovative Science Project Olympiad in Bali, Indonesia, from 10 to 13 December. The selected young scientists are: Dzunisa Chauke, a grade 12 pupil from Khanyisa Education Centre; Milla Vorster, grade 11…
The saying “Nothing Without Us is for Us” is a powerful reminder that lasting solutions can only emerge when those most affected are included in shaping them. This call for inclusion resonates deeply as Africa prepares to participate in key global policy spaces such as the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO…
A supermassive black hole violently gobbled up an enormous star, producing a cosmic outburst with the light of 10 trillion suns, according to a new study. The black hole flare, as the phenomenon is known, is thought to be the biggest and most distant ever recorded — it was detected from 10 billion light-years away. “This…
Malaria remains one of the world’s most devastating infectious diseases, claiming more than half a million lives each year. In Africa, the illness is mostly caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes – Plasmodium falciparum. When the parasite invades the human body, it faces a hostile environment: soaring fevers, attacks from the body’s immune system,…
The Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) discourse in Africa has suffered major setbacks over the years due to persistent misinformation about nicotine, which continues to cloud public understanding. At the click of a button or tap of a smartphone screen, unverified health rumours can spread within seconds. Amid polarised policy debates and the absence of scientific…
Mummies are most often associated with Egypt, where the oldest ones are about 4,500 years old. But researchers say they have found mummies that are much older, on the other side of the world. “We found that in southern China and Southeast Asia, there were many archeological sites that contain human burials that are between…
Georgina Rannard Climate and science correspondent Michael Brown Giraffes in Uganda’s Kidepo Valley Giraffes are one of the world’s most distinct and well-loved creatures, always thought to be one species. But now scientists at the International Union for Conservation of Nature say we can welcome three more species of the world’s tallest mammal. It’s not…
Scientists have uncovered a real-time neural communication system between gut microbes and the brain, revealing how certain bacteria can directly influence appetite, and potentially behavior, through a newly identified “neurobiotic sense.” PHOTO/Shutterstock By HEALTH CORRESPONDENT A groundbreaking discovery from Duke University School of Medicine reveals a direct connection between the microbiome and the brain, shedding…
Report finds extreme climate events linked to price hikes for rice, corn, cocoa, coffee, potatoes and other food items. South Korean cabbage, Australian lettuce, Japanese rice, Brazilian coffee and Ghanaian cocoa are among the many foods that have been hit by price hikes following extreme climate events since 2022, a team of international scientists has…
As science soars with game-changing HIV tools, a funding crisis threatens to ground progress “We come together at a pivotal time for the HIV response, one defined by both incredible scientific possibilities and deeply troubling political realities,” said Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn, the President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), and co-chair of the conference. The…
