July 21
Nigeria: Nigeria's Chronic Power Shortages - Mini Grids Were Going to Crack the Problem for Rural People, but They Haven't. Here's Why
Electricity is a scarce commodity in Nigeria. With just over 4,000 megawatts supplying nearly 220 million people, the electricity access deficit stands at about 40% nationwide. The… Read more »
February 08
Africa: Secrets of Soil-Enriching Pulses Could Transform Future of Sustainable Agriculture
From lentils to chickpeas, and even the humble baked bean, pulses are perhaps best known as an alternative, plant-based source of protein. These plants are environmental heroes:… Read more »
February 06
Africa: Money Helps People Live Longer - Study
Nearly half of South Africa's 60 million people receive social grants, ranging from child support to pensions. The grants are designed to provide financial assistance to people… Read more »
Nigeria: The Plight of Women Fishers in Lagos's 'Floating Slum'
Makoko, a coastal fishing community in Lagos, Nigeria, was established by fishermen in the 19th century. It is considered the world's largest "floating slum". There are conflicting… Read more »
January 29
Africa: That Sharp, Green Smell of Freshly Cut Grass? It's a Plant's Cry for Help - and It May Work As a Less Toxic Pesticide for Farmers
Have you ever wondered about that sharp, green note that hits your nose when you mow the lawn or cut flower stems? Those are green leaf volatiles, or GLVs: easily evaporated oils… Read more »
January 31
Africa: Oil Firms Forced to Consider Full Climate Effects of New Drilling, Following Landmark Norwegian Court Ruling
Norway's district court in Oslo recently made a decision on fossil fuels that deserves the attention of every person concerned about climate change. Read more »
January 26
Africa: Certain Indoor Air Pollutants Can Be Absorbed Through the Skin - Here's What You Need to Know
Even though most of us will spend a majority of our lives indoors, that doesn't mean we aren't still exposed to air pollution. Indoor air contains a wide array of pollutants… Read more »
January 29
Kenya: Healthcare Workers Abuse a Third of Young Mums From Informal Settlements - Study
Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18. Read more »
January 25
Africa: One in Twenty People Has No Sense of Smell - Here's How They Might Get It Back
During the pandemic, a lost sense of smell was quickly identified as one of the key symptoms of COVID. Nearly four years later, one in five people in the UK is living with a… Read more »
January 16
Africa: What Happens to Your Liver When You Quit Alcohol
According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to humans. He chained Prometheus up and set an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night, the liver grew back… Read more »
January 25
Africa: The Emergence of Jn.1 Is an Evolutionary 'Step Change' in the Covid Pandemic. Why Is This Significant?
Since it was detected in August 2023, the JN.1 variant of COVID has spread widely. It has become dominant in Australia and around the world, driving the biggest COVID wave seen in… Read more »
January 15
Africa: First Polar Bear to Die of Bird Flu - What Are the Implications?
Climate change is a threat to polar bear's survival. Now they have a new deadly challenge facing them: bird flu. It was recently confirmed that a polar bear from northern Alaska… Read more »
January 08
Africa: How to Maintain a Healthy Gut Microbiome in 2024
We all know by now that the pillars of a healthy lifestyle are regular exercise, eating enough fruit and vegetables, a good night's sleep and staying hydrated. All of these things… Read more »
January 19
Africa: Measles Is the Most Infectious Disease Known to Science - Adults Should Consider Getting Another MMR Vaccine
Imagine a disease more infectious than any other known to medical science, that would kill 2.6 million young children every year and leave millions more with deafness and even… Read more »
January 22
Africa: Health, Safety Compromised for People Living With Long Covid and Intimate Partner Violence
What happens when a person is experiencing long COVID and intimate partner violence at the same time? There has been no attention paid to this question anywhere in the world since… Read more »
Africa: Tiny Water-Walking Bugs Provide Scientists With Insights On How Microplastics Are Pushed Underwater
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can cause big problems when they enter the water supply. One way my fluid dynamics lab explores microplastic movement is by studying… Read more »
January 23
Africa: Strep A Explainer - Why Invasive Cases Are Increasing, How It Spreads and What Symptoms to Look for
A jump in the number of people with serious illness caused by group A Streptococcus -- also referred to as Streptococcus pyogenes or Strep A -- has made headlines recently. There… Read more »
January 22
Africa: Good Lunchboxes - Here's How Parents Can Prepare Healthy Food and Keep Costs Down
Heading back to school is a time of great anticipation for many families, but it is not without challenges. One of the big challenges is preparing healthy, easy, affordable and… Read more »
January 18
Africa: Excessive Social Media Use During the Covid-19 Pandemic Exacerbated Adolescent Mental Health Challenges
How does time spent online, and especially social media, affect the brains and behaviours of children and youth? Read more »
Africa: Students Do Better and Schools Are More Stable When Teachers Get Mental Health Support
When it comes to mental health at school, typically the focus is on helping students, especially as they emerge from the pandemic with heightened levels of anxiety, stress and… Read more »
January 15
Africa: Ultra-Processed Foods - Here's What the Evidence Actually Says About Them
The perils of ultra-processed foods received widespread coverage in recent months - thanks in no small part to the publication and promotion of TV presenter and doctor of virology… Read more »
January 17
Africa: Caffeine - Here's How Quitting Can Benefit Your Health
Caffeine is the most consumed psychoactive compound in the world. Even if you don't drink coffee or tea, you probably still regularly consume caffeine since it's found in… Read more »
January 09
Africa: Phd Students' Mental Health Is Poor and the Pandemic Made It Worse - but There Are Coping Strategies That Can Help
A pre-pandemic study on PhD students' mental health showed that they often struggle with such issues. Financial insecurity and feelings of isolation can be among the factors… Read more »
Africa: Wanting to 'Move On' Is Natural - but Women's Pandemic Experiences Can't Be Lost to 'Lockdown Amnesia'
The COVID-19 pandemic was - and continues to be - hugely disruptive and stressful for individuals, communities and countries. Yet many seem desperate to close the chapter entirely,… Read more »
Africa: Viruses Aren't Always Harmful. 6 Ways They're Used in Health Care and Pest Control
We tend to just think of viruses in terms of their damaging impacts on human health and lives. The 1918 flu pandemic killed around 50 million people. Smallpox claimed 30% of those… Read more »