Curios.ty 19: #Disruption
The crises, tech, research and people shaping up our world (Spoiler: Quantum is here).
Disruption as a catalyst for reinvention
[Editorial] For a leading African university like Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, disruption has become not just an inevitability, but a force for reinvention.
The erosion of trust
Poor governance and weak regulation erode public confidence, but democratic scepticism and gender-aware governance can help rebuild trust.
How Africa’s quantum tech could rewrite the future
This year is the International Year of Quantum, and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers are making extraordinary contributions to the field.
Where we MIND humans as much as code
In a world dictated by data, scale and speed, the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ MIND Institute prioritises the human being.
Rising from global disruption
South Africa’s constitutional principles set us apart from the rest of the world, providing us with a foundation that enables us to navigate a disrupted world.
How cashew nut shells could help Africa make vaccines
Waste to wonder: Chemists and scientists are engineering a next-generation vaccine from a surprising and humble source.
Planting a seed for the future
A chemical engineer intends to revolutionise the nature of agriculture.
You want to save the planet? Change the way you think
Lifestyle changes will be of more benefit in the fight against climate change than industrialised solutions such as electric vehicles.
What next after post-pandemic seismic shifts?
The Covid-19 pandemic ignited the innovation and imagination that we will need to confront future pandemics.
Rerouting mental health in Africa
Africa has the world’s most diverse genome research, which holds potential for precision medicine and revolutionising mental health treatment.
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Dreaming with new tools
Artificial Intelligence is inspiring African architects to build, create and explore with traditional knowledge that spans generations.
Saving the lifesavers from sleep disruption
Dr Joshua Davimes is on a mission to understand sleep, sleep deprivation and its impact on frontline emergency workers in Africa’s extreme conditions.
The musical that moved the world to SA’s beat
Amapiano, the musical genre that emerged from the townships of SA in the mid-2010s, has grown from a local underground sound into a global cultural force.
The ascent of African animation
With growing global attention, SA’s local studios are redefining ownership, asserting creative agency and keeping intellectual property.
Rock art pigments — a crucial milestone in human culture
Cross-disciplinary research unearths how society began depicting images on walls, revealing the cultural dynamics of hunter-gatherers.
When ‘No’ means ‘No’
Sheena Swemmer
Realise your full potential as a ‘pracademic’
[Column] Professional and administrative services in universities can contribute significantly to academic and research output.
I think I think… therefore…am I?
[Column] Late afternoon, July 2055. I am lazing on the beach, in the port city of Howick in KwaZulu-Natal, pondering eternity and existence.
How the Taung Child shook up the scientific world
Almost 100 years before calls to decolonise science, Taung was challenging researchers to reassess their internal biases.