Africa: Cement Is a Big Carbon Emitter and Quality Is Costly - a Civil Engineer Explains

Every year the world uses 4 billion tonnes of cement to make the concrete that goes into buildings and other infrastructure. It leaves a huge carbon footprint, and comes with other… Read more »

Africa: Lassa Fever Case in Paris - What You Need to Know

A case of Lassa fever has been reported in Paris, France, sparking lurid warnings about the "horrific Ebola-like bug". Read more »

Africa: Academic Literacy Is More Than Language, It's About Critical Thinking and Analysis - Universities Should Do More to Teach These Skills

Making the adjustment from school to university is no easy task. For instance, there's a big difference between writing a high school essay and crafting an academic paper which… Read more »

Africa: South Africa's Plan to Move Away From Coal - 8 Steps to Make It Succeed

The South African government's Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan was launched in November 2023. It is a roadmap guiding the country away from reliance on coal-fired power… Read more »

Africa: Future Pandemics Will Have the Same Human Causes As Ancient Outbreaks - Lessons From Anthropology Can Help Prevent Them

The last pandemic was bad, but COVID-19 is only one of many infectious diseases that emerged since the turn of this century. Read more »

Africa: Why Are Algorithms Called Algorithms? a Brief History of the Persian Polymath You've Likely Never Heard of

Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and… Read more »

Africa: Becoming a Dad Can Be Scary. Here's How to Be the Best Father for Your Kids

It is natural to feel apprehensive about the responsibilities that come with parenthood - the financial obligations, the emotional and practical support, and the lifelong… Read more »

Africa: Fossilised Circles in the Sand On South Africa's Coast May Be Artwork By Our Early Ancestors

If you have walked on a dune surface after windy conditions have settled, you may have been privileged to recognise one of Nature's wonders: scratch circles. These are structures… Read more »

Africa: South Africa Will Be President of the G20 in 2025 - Two Much-Needed Reforms It Should Drive

South Africa will play an important international role in 2025 as president of the G20. The G20 is a group of 19 countries as well as the African Union and the European Union.… Read more »

Africa: Our New Vaccine Could Protect Against Coronaviruses That Haven't Even Emerged Yet - New Study

The rapid development of vaccines that protect against COVID was a remarkable scientific achievement that saved millions of lives. The vaccines have demonstrated substantial… Read more »

Africa: Cassava - the Perilous Past and Promising Future of a Toxic but Nourishing Crop

The three staple crops dominating modern diets - corn, rice and wheat - are familiar to Americans. However, fourth place is held by a dark horse: cassava. Read more »

Africa: U.S.-Africa Trade Deal Turns 25 Next Year - Agoa's Winners, Losers and What Should Come Next

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) is a landmark piece of trade legislation enacted by the United States in 2000. Its goal is to promote economic growth, development and… Read more »

Africa: African Countries Can't Resolve Their Debt Crisis Under a System Rigged Against Them

The debt situation in many African countries has escalated again to a critical juncture. Twenty are in, or at risk of, debt distress. Read more »

Africa: Personalised mRNA Vaccines - a Revolutionary New Approach in Melanoma Treatment

A personalised mRNA vaccine to treat melanoma has now reached late-stage trials in the UK. This is just the latest step in improving the cure rate of cancer. Read more »

Africa: Hadeda Ibises' 'Sixth Sense' Works Best in Wet Soil

Hadeda ibises (Bostrychia hagedash) are one of the most familiar species of birds across sub-Saharan Africa. They are large, long-legged birds with long, thin beaks for probing… Read more »

Africa: Lessons From Covid-19 - Preparing for Future Pandemics Means Looking Beyond the Health Data

The World Health Organization declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 5, 2023. In the year since, only two provinces -- Alberta and Ontario -- have published… Read more »

Africa: The Challenges African Election Bodies Face Go Beyond 'Democratic Backsliding' - Analysis

Election management bodies are essential democratic institutions. To deliver national polls effectively, they need to be properly resourced, impartial and free from government or… Read more »

Africa: The Covid-19 Pandemic Changed Our Patterns and Behaviours, Which in Turn Affected Wildlife

The Earth now supports over eight billion people who collectively have transformed three-quarters of the planet's land surface for food, energy, shelter and other aspects of the… Read more »

Africa: Jobs for Young Africans - New Data Tool Reveals Trends and Red Flags

An estimated 23.6 million young Africans (aged 15-35) are unemployed - that's one in 22 (4.5%). With this number projected to grow to 27 million by 2030, the need for jobs is… Read more »

West Africa: Russia Has Tightened Its Hold Over the Sahel Region - and Now It's Looking to Africa's West Coast

Armed troops in Niger overthrew the government in July 2023, seizing power for themselves. The following months were rife with speculation that the military government would align… Read more »

West Africa: Gum Arabic From Africa's Acacia Trees in the Sahel Is Used in Hundreds of Products - What's Worth Knowing

The conflict in Sudan has turned attention to a rarely discussed commodity: gum arabic. This product, the dried sap of certain species of acacia trees, is used mainly as an… Read more »

Africa: Teens See Social Media Algorithms As Accurate Reflections of Themselves, Study Finds

Social media apps regularly present teens with algorithmically selected content often described as "for you," suggesting, by implication, that the curated content is not just "for… Read more »

Africa: Talking to Teens About Sex - Advice for Parents On When, How, What to Say and Why It's So Important

The "birds and the bees". The "facts of life". Whatever you call it, many parents dread discussing sex and sexuality with their teenagers. They may be embarrassed, or worried that… Read more »

Africa: Our Laser Technique Can Tell Apart Elephant and Mammoth Ivory

In recent years, the global trade in elephant ivory has faced significant restrictions in an effort to protect dwindling elephant populations. Many countries have stringent… Read more »

Africa: Religion and Covid-19 - Methodists and Church of England Followers More Likely to Have Been Vaccinated Than Muslims and Pentecostals

There are many factors which affect how successfully a vaccine is rolled out. One of these is the public health communication strategy. Surprisingly, a key factor in determining… Read more »