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…
The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is on its way, with regional science fairs kicking off soon. (Picture from the 2024 Eastern Cape science fairs). The Eastern Cape’s brightest young minds are set to shine at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists as the province is set to host regional science fairs from 26 July…
Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday for the funeral of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and other top commanders and nuclear scientists killed during a 12-day war with Israel. The caskets of Guard’s chief Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard’s ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir…
What does it mean to live a good life? Psychologists and social scientists have been focusing on a new idea called flourishing – a sense of well-being that goes beyond just happiness or success. It’s about your whole life being good, including how you interact with other people and your community. So then, how do…
