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Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientist part of global initiative on precision health
Prof. Michèle Ramsay at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience is one of four co-chairs of the Lancet Commission on Precision Health.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University congratulates the finalists of the NSTF Awards
16 Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers amongst the finalists in the ‘Science Oscars’.
Industry needs to move from quantum awareness to action
SA Quti aims empower industry to bring their quantum future forward to maximise its opportunities.
MERA Lab supports record-breaking EV journey
The Mobility and Electrification Research for Africa Lab played a key role in supporting the record-breaking Cybertruck Expedition across Africa.
Dusting off the shelves: Inside the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Historical Papers Research Archive
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Historical Papers Research Archive is a remarkable resource for anyone looking to take a deep dive into the history of Johannesburg and South Africa.
Researchers shine at AFRETEC & WSoE Research Bonanza
Schools of education are at the centre of some of the most emerging and urgent questions of our time.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ kidney disease expert brings African perspective to landmark Lancet papers
In Africa, chronic kidney disease may be missed due to limited screening and also as warning sign patterns can differ from those seen in high-income countries.
New home for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Library Digitisation Centre
The state-of-the-art Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Library Digitisation Centre (WLDC) officially opened in the Wartenweiler Library on the Braamfontein Campus East.
World-class sports complex to revitalise sport, health, and exercise medicine
The R300m Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex, an integrated training, exercise, clinical practice, and research complex, launches at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University.
Professor Shabir Madhi receives prestigious global infections diseases award
Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, to receive the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement.
The world is adapting to AI use in music - Africa needs to take the lead
Five artist-engineer teams of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and African Music project recently presented their impressive work in a day-long showcase.
AI model sheds light on language evolution
AI model of Early Child Development explains how language evolves.
The next generation of research leaders starts here
Dr Simone Richardson named as one of just 15 CIFAR Global Scholars for 2026-2028
Saliva could flag one of SA’s deadliest and baffling cancers sooner
Could bacteria in saliva offer a low-cost warning signal for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
International Vaccine Institute Board of Trustees appoints Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie as Chair
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI’s Prof. Helen Rees looks towards advancing vaccine innovation and access globally.
Why babies are dying and how we can stop It
New post-portem study reveals over 80% of infection-related neonatal deaths in South Africa are preventable.
New scenarios needed to address climate crisis
Scientists call for a rethink of climate change scenarios that puts justice, diverse knowledge, and systemic change at the heart of modelling.
Navigating the new era of CSI
CAPSI's Professor Bhekinkosi Moyo warns corporates to respond to youth-led shift or risk losing a generation.
Professor Benjamin Rosman leads South Africa’s AI policy panel
The Director of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University’s MIND Institute to head a panel of independent experts in AI research, law and governance.
AIrSynQ’s AI-Powered air quality product development gets funding boost
R11.7 million funding support from the Technology Innovation Agency will enable further development and implementation of the AI4Mines/AIrSynQ solution.
Galloping towards zoonotic detection
How a love for horses and understanding the virus that kills them put Prof. Marietjie Venter in the saddle of virology towards One Health.
What HIV taught us about dealing with obesity
Veteran HIV clinician-scientist Professor Francois Venter takes on the obesity epidemic.
SACAQM opens AI_r Sensor Hosting Programme
The move is to encourage participants and broaden data access to improve air quality monitoring capacity.
Scientists discover surprising new way to control light
A hidden property of light allows it to twist, spin and behave differently - without mirrors, materials or special lenses.
David Fine Award winner develops cold chain logistics solution
The inaugural 2025 winner, Wisdom Mokasi, used his grant to find a promising solution for delivering temperature-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientist recognised among 20 Leaders Shaping Health Across Africa
Professor Helen Rees recognised for driving impact across health systems.
African leadership for pandemic preparedness
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor Helen Rees co-chairs WHO’s Poxvirus Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC).
Volunteering is good for your health and is a national economic asset
Doing good positively affects individual well-being and skills, strengthens community trust and cohesion.
Breast cancer research receives a R 5.28 million endowment
The endowment, funded by the Philip Sceales and Janet Antrobus Cancer Research Trust, will support a wide range of breast cancer research at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½.
WBS launches new book on SA's changemakers
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School recently launched its book Change Agents: Leadership Lessons from 23 of South Africa’s Senior Leaders.
Targeting lung immunity in the race for better TB vaccines
New ways of generating vaccines for tuberculosis using mRNA technology.
From compost to clinic
It's African Vaccination Week in SA 24-30 April, and here's the tech reshaping how Africa can make HPV vaccines.
African science to support vaccine sovereignty
It's African Vaccination Week 2026 in SA from 24 to 30 April and scientists here aim to go beyond fill and finish.
Establishing an International Panel on Inequality
President Cyril Ramaphosa and global experts on inequality met at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University on Friday to begin establishing the panel.
Traditional healers and doctors
Nearly 10 years of collaboration informing rural health.
Nasal spray could transform treatment of deadly cerebral malaria
Master's student Taznita Kista's nose-to-brain innovation could deliver fast and targeted treatment to the brain.
AI is not built for African users, exposing a governance chasm
African Cyber Law Conference gives insights into how AI is shaping law, rights, and digital life across the continent.
Early immune responses linked to protective HIV antibodies
New research links immune response of some people living with HIV with development of neutralizing antibodies.
With us, or against us
World famous Italian historian speaks about how nationalities and nation states can be forged by excluding others.
Shaping the Mpox R&D Roadmap through a One Health approach
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI leads Global Mpox Preparedness as Co-Chair of WHO Poxvirus CORC.
From beats to bytes: AIAM's first AI-driven African music projects
Five artist-engineer teams of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University's AI & Africa Music (AIAM) Project unveiled prototypes exploring AI and African musical traditions.
Developing equitable education in an unequal society
Professor Ruksana Osman to lead the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity and Development until 2029.
Ancient survivor reveals its secret
First-ever egg of a mammal ancestor discovered.
Relearning “English” in a changing world
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor Chris Thurman delivered The English Academy Percy Baneshik Memorial Lecture 2026.
AI is not built for African users, exposing a governance chasm
Artificial intelligence (AI) was not built with Africans in mind, and borrowed AI governance frameworks being enforced don’t fit the continent’s reality.
Learning from Africa’s adaptation
Urban life is being built not just through infrastructure, but through improvisation and social intelligence.
CAPSI celebrates 10 years
The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), based at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School (WBS), marks its 10-year anniversary in 2026.
Co-designing the smart African city
Smart cities depend on more than technology to serve communities.
Gaming today, gambling addiction tomorrow
South African laws must catch up to how gaming environments are grooming minors into gambling-like behaviour.
Mapping the human story behind the science
PhD student Caitlin Wheeler digs deep beyond the data to connect with patients, students and mentors.
‘Seeing’ the air that you breathe
A new AI-driven air quality monitoring system gives people the power to understand the risks to their health posed by air pollution.
CENTRIC aims to be at the forefront of nano-enabled therapies
New Centre for Nanopharmaceutical Translational Research in Infectious Diseases, Cancer and Neurotherapeutics (CENTRIC) to focus on nanopharmaceutical systems.
Thriving through the lens of memory
Imagine this: you’re in a dark cinema, the screen flickers, and a family’s story begins to unravel…
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Academic-industry partnership co-creates a new model for sharing the benefits of genomic research
Rather than researchers allocating funding, community representatives identify entities where benefits are most likely to deliver lasting impact.
No nature, no future
For humans to thrive, nature must thrive. For much too long, we have disregarded this fact. Now, it’s time to set that right.
Experts warn of rising child health risks linked to ultra-processed diets
Lancet series on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) shows global evidence on the health, economic, and societal impact of UPFs.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ postgrads earn global innovation nod
A strong showing at a pan-African Makerthon secured students both a top prize and entry into a prestigious tech incubator.
Putting a price on care work
Revaluing care for the way it connects people, nature and climate change can help society better withstand crises.
Inhalable TB treatment a step closer to market
Novel inhalable nanosystem treatment for tuberculosis gains global recognition for market potential.
Put a plug in it
Solutions that consider social realities and smart collaboration provide the City of Johannesburg with its best chance to resolve the ongoing water crisis.
Largest genomic study of kidney function in Africa reveals new genetic risk factors
Widening diversity in genomic datasets opens the door to discovering variants and biological pathways and thereby strengthening genomic science for everyone.
Slow Poison: Colonial Legacies and the Unfinished Project of Decolonisation
Professor Mahmood Mamdani will be in conversation with Angelo Fick on nationalism, ethnicity, and the turn to neoliberalism.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI shaping the future of TB prevention in SA
Meet the researchers and advocates making progress against tuberculosis through innovation and Africa-based leadership.
From resources to resilience
South Africa is rich in natural resources from minerals to sun and wind. What must change for our natural wealth to become thriving wealth?
A half-century of gene therapy
How Prof. Patrick Arbuthnot helped shape gene therapy in Africa over a 46 years, some 30 years of which at the helm of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit
SAMRC renews Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit for 5-year term
Funding renewal recognises importance of applying advanced molecular biology tech to address some of the most pressing infectious disease challenges in Africa.
Low-field portable MRI enables new insights into brain ageing in rural South Africa
Portable magnetic resonance imaging machines installed in rural Mpumalanga offer unique approach to brain imaging and ageing studies in low-resource settings.
‘Do not be scared to submit to high-impact journals’
The American Psychological Association (APA) recently profiled Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ neuropsychologist Dr Sahba Besharati in its Editor Spotlight story.
What teachers and students need to thrive
Are we preparing students for our past or their futures? Universities need to redefine the relationship between student success and teaching excellence.
GCI and UK Met Office host AI climate hackathon to strengthen modelling expertise
The AI4Climate project will boost AI and machine learning climate science tools and techniques.
Problem first, solution second
The traditional model of philanthropy in Africa is very different from the concept of African philanthropy.
Breathing new life into TB treatment with inhalable nanomedicine
A new nano-based drug delivery technology could outwit tuberculosis (TB) - one of humanity’s most ancient diseases.
Global STEM leaders gather at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ for TechWomen 2026
TechWomen is U.S Department of state-sponsored global programme that connects women STEM professionals from U.S innovation hubs with emerging leaders in Africa.
Data gaps obscure NPO impact on youth employment
Study finds NPOs among SA’s biggest youth employers, but overlooked.
The science of liver regeneration
The liver may already know how to heal itself but Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists are exploring innovative ways to help it along.
The Karoo fossil finder
The Karoo Origins Fossil Centre in Graaff-Reinet showcases ancient life, highlighting Professor Bruce Rubidge’s passionate journey.
Getting better together
Conquering diseases such as cancer requires many minds. A transdisciplinary approach, via hubs, can enable thriving.
Chemical chaos and deathly data silence
Menopause may be making itself heard in mainstream media but women across low- and middle-income countries need to shout louder.
Landmark South African study shows HPV vaccination protects girls living with HIV
New research shows first population-level evidence globally that a national HPV vaccination programme can be highly effective in a high HIV-prevalence setting.
The most powerful drug of all
It’s a simple premise, movement is medicine – not just a mantra for gym buffs and marathon runners. It’s a prescription for a good life.
50 is the new 60
Africa’s population is living longer but not necessarily healthier. Research on brain health, gut health and robust policy can change this phenomenon.
The cosmologist-potter using AI to fight superbugs
Distinguished Professor Bruce Bassett’s cosmic journey to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to join the “leading AI research group in the country”.
Modern Mzansi families
South African families are not all nuclear and members are not necessarily related but innovative socioeconomic strategies enable thriving and connection.
R20-million in prizes up for grabs
Innovators invited to build the future of transport in South Africa’s busiest province.
Take back your life – offline
Although young professional adults mostly live online today, thriving in real life is about intentionality, not rejecting technology.
Teenagers to save the world
Adolescence lasts from just 10 - 24 years old but it is revolutionary and innovative, which is what the world needs now.
Sharing health data responsibly: A model for ethical collaboration
One of the biggest challenges that DS-I Africa scientists face is understanding how to manage and integrate data within their research projects.
Ensuring sweet beginnings in early childhood
Parents can help their toddlers thrive if they encourage play and healthy eating habits.
Strange 275 million-year-old plant-eater with twisted jaws found in Brazil
Even for its time, Tanyka was a “living fossil” from a lineage that scientists thought had already gone extinct.
Before we begin…
Investing in antenatal care is crucial for South Africa’s future, but women need support even earlier than in pregnancy.
Legendary science communicator, Professor Arthur Bleksley, honoured in memorial lecture
Known for his radio shows, such as Test the Team, Bleksley played a huge role in opening up science to the public.
Science and policy experts unite to accelerate climate and health solutions
African universities and regional experts are working with Wellcome to establish new science and policy consortiums.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ announces winners of AI & African Music Project
Supported by Charles Goldstuck, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ alumnus and US-based music executive, the project assists African music creators to leverage AI in music innovation.
Thrive — Flourishing in a changing world
Welcome to the 20th edition of CURIOS.TY. This milestone reflects how far the magazine has come since its launch 10 years ago.
The project that's remapping migration in urban Africa
And with it, a glimpse into the world's future cities.
CURIOS.TY 20: #Thrive
What it takes to #Thrive ... The issue explores what it truly means to flourish – across a lifespan, within communities, and on and with our planet.
Little Foot gets a virtual facelift
Digital reconstruction of iconic fossil reveals unexpected similarities with Ethiopian specimens, contributing to debates on early hominin relationships.
Science Innovation Day shows commercially viable novel ideas
From ground-breaking research to connecting researchers, exciting ideas are coming out of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University Faculty of Science.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ innovation moves from ideas to impact
A group of tech transfer officers from Africa visited Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to learn more about how the Universty enables, manages and commercialises Intellectual Property.
Emerging scientist to explore new nanoparticle therapy for brain cancer
PhD candidate Michael Gomes wins scholarship to advance his research into advanced, targeted drug delivery systems for glioblastoma.
New review points to faster, safer vaccine development
Viral mimic systems and other tech platforms could enable local testing of vaccine candidates and antiviral therapies.
DNA meets metaphor in unique arts with science programme
Postdoc poet Dr Tebogo Matshana explores memory, ancestry and change in the body through artist-in-lab fellowship at genomics institute.
PhD candidate takes research to MIT and Harvard
Bontle Masango focuses on type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes in Africa, and hopes to reduce the impact on individuals and healthcare.
Sona — good call on skills system, now let’s see action
Boost to mandatory grant aimed at enhancing workplace training.
SWEAT Africa 2026
Positioning Africa at the centre of global innovation, investment and collaboration. SWEAT Africa takes place from 13–14 February 2026.
From speculation to science
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ research centre turns Africa’s mineral wealth into measurable opportunity.
Biomedical Soft Robotics debuts in Joburg
Four institutions collaborate to develop core skills and resources which will form the basis for soft robotics capacity.
Shaping the future of finance
Captains of industry convene to hear fintech ‘big bets’ from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers and to ‘open lines of enquiry for intellectual partnerships'.
Peco Power wins prestigious Empower a Billion Lives competition
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ spin-out company has been named the Energy Supply Track Winner in this competition from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
TechWomen @ Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to ignite meaningful collaboration
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to host U.S TechWomen alumnae and delegation in STEM showcase.
Building AI, the African way
AMLD Africa 2026 urges Africa-led artificial intelligence and machine learning education, research and innovation.
WBS launches Chair in Gender Equality
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ signed an agreement with the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) to form the new Chair to be housed at and managed by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School (WBS).
Cultivating socially engaged thinkers and innovators who help change things, for good
The Multipurpose Sports Hall has seldom seen an academic procession, but the venue was packed for the official Postgraduate Welcome ceremony.
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New Postgraduate Hub centralises community
‘Infrastructure of possibility’ to provide one-stop-shop of services and support for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ postgraduate students.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ launches AMPLIFY to support first-year maths students
AMPLIFY will centralise the delivery of large gateway maths courses that are vital for degrees in Science, Engineering, and Commerce.
Low-platinum catalyst could make hydrogen production cheaper
International research team develops catalyst that replaces some of the costly metal with nickel and cobalt.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-led genetic study adds over 1000 new African genomes to global science
Project will likely uncover millions of novel genetic variants that could reshape how disease risk is predicted and how treatments are tailored.
Flies and the hidden drivers of cholera
Study finds that flies can transmit cholera-causing pathogens. Africa carries the largest cholera burden, which is why an oral cholera vaccine trial is timeous.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies awarded prestigious Google PhD Fellowships
Jess Rees and Tristan Bester, have been awarded the highly competitive Google PhD Fellowship for 2025.
Music and architecture students join forces
Architecture and sound came together innovatively at the recent Resonant Spaces performance.
A new playbook for cancer prevention in Africa begins with everyday infections
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists have identified a ‘microbial watchlist’ of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that could cause cancer.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ ranked first for innovation performance
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University has been recognised as the top-ranked university in Sub-Saharan Africa for innovation performance in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII).
Decolonising the airwaves and improving froth flotation
Media Studies scholar Dr Kealeboga Aiseng and chemical engineer Dr Lisa October are the 2026 Friedel Sellschop Fellows.
A precision nanomedicine approach to drug-resistant UTIs
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) could be better treated with targeted drug delivery as overuse of antibiotics increasingly drives antimicrobial resistance.
Real-world data gives Africa a smarter path to fighting HIV and TB
African biostatisticians have offered a powerful, data-driven alternative that can accurately inform HIV policy, reduce healthcare costs, and save more lives.
Science Faculty pioneers an Innovation Day
Regardless of their area of focus, all Faculties at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University can benefit from understanding and promoting innovation across their Departments.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ case studies selected to demonstrate societal impact
TB, HIV, Covid diagnostics save lives and applied theatre technique addresses increasing HIV infection in youth.
NEPTTP celebrates postgrad success
The National e-Science Postgraduate Teaching and Training Platform is proud to announce its achievements in advancing postgraduate education in e-Science.
New Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-CNRS agreement strengthens scientific ties
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) launched the first joint International Research Centre (IRC) in Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa has lost nearly a quarter of its biodiversity
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers contribute to groundbreaking study showing the region has already lost 24% of it biodiversity since pre-industrial times.
Sustainable future materials
International workshop at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ ignites breakthrough ideas for a sustainable materials future.
Shaping quantum light unlocks new possibilities for future technologies
Controlling the structure of photons in space and time enables tailored quantum states for next-generation communication, sensing and imaging.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Sappi renew climate change Chair
Mary Scholes leads Chair that focuses on forestry research to boost forest resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Lenacapavir use kicks off in South Africa and Brazil
The first individuals have begun using lenacapavir for HIV prevention in South Africa as part of a study funded by Unitaid led by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI.
Angela Dudley to head new Photonics Chair
Donation from ASP Isotopes is expected to strengthen South Africa’s photonics research by supporting the pioneering work of the Structured Light Laboratory.
Breaking the heart’s barrier to solve drug-resistant TB
African scientists develop nanoscale drug delivery system to treat pericarditis, a drug-resistant and lethal tuberculosis (TB).
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School launches dynamic new journal
The new Africa-focused journal aims to bridge the gap between academia and practice.
Africa’s time has come
Professor Jeffrey Sachs urges bold continental strategy as global order shifts.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ launches postgraduate degrees in cybersecurity
The Bachelor of Science Honours (BScHons) and the Master of Science (MSc) in Cybersecurity will be offered from 2026.
Is malaria messaging working? African biostatisticians have the data
Edson Mwebesa, Fellow at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-based Sub-Saharan Africa Advanced Consortium for Biostatistics (SSACAB), knows children who died from late-diagnosed malaria.
Experts call for an International Panel on Inequality
Experts from 70 countries studying inequality, including Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor Imraan Valodia and Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, call for global support.
Accolades galore for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists and scholars
Prestigious research societies and eminent associations bestow medals, awards and prizes for excellence.
New video series explores what innovation really means in a university
Produced by the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre, the series explores what innovation looks like beyond the boundaries and expectations imposed on this important concept.
Winners of Irish Tech Challenge SA 2025 announced
Seven high-growth tech companies selected to receive up to €10,000.00 in grant funding, a pre-acceleration program and a fully-funded business immersion week.
Building communities of belonging in academia
New Head of Postgraduate Studies and Researcher Development aims to cultivate connections and shared growth to ward off postgrad isolation.
Africa's brain health future advocated for at the G20
Professor Stephen Tollman and colleagues launch a roadmap for Africa's brain health at a G20 ministerial side meeting.
Curiosity and passion drives visionary ‘knowledge worker’
‘Research leadership cannot be reduced to a technical enterprise. It must be innovative,’ says new Research Director.
Realise your full potential as a ‘pracademic’
[Column] Professional and administrative services in universities can contribute significantly to academic and research output.
Inside the cookbook of genetic recipes
Caitlin Wheeler is a Novartis Next Generation Scientist whose PhD zooms in on confounding questions about autoimmune liver disease.
When ‘No’ means ‘No’
[Column] The Centre for Applied Legal Studies is challenging sexual offences legislation.
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.
WIC maps agripreneurship untapped potential
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre (WIC) studied how to better support and develop young agripreneurs in South Africa.
The ascent of African animation
With growing global attention, SA’s local studios are redefining ownership, asserting creative agency and keeping intellectual property.
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.
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.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ launches the Earth Observatory and CORES
The University of the Witwatersrand has launched two initiatives that place Africa at the centre of global earth-science innovation.
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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.
G20 Report: We are facing an inequality emergency
Landmark G20 report led by Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz sounds alarm on ‘inequality emergency’ and calls for International Panel on Inequality.
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.
How HIV disrupts sleep across Africa
HIV significantly affects sleep, with many affected people living in a state akin to chronic jet lag.
New experts in innovation support and development at WIC
Tebogo Machethe and Thandeka Mhlanga recently joined the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre.
Urban anxieties and growing up white
Professor Nicky Falkof explains ‘the devil made me do it’, anxiety in Joburg, and her pursuit of compassion.
What next after post-pandemic seismic shifts?
The Covid-19 pandemic ignited the innovation and imagination that we will need to confront future pandemics.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ receives US$1.8 million from Bezos Earth Fund
The award supports innovative use of artificial intelligence to protect biodiversity and advance climate solutions worldwide.
Brain health and Africa’s future
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ professor joins global task force on dementia.
AIrSynQ – a breath of fresh air at the beach
Guests at Blaauwberg Beach Hotel in Cape Town experience how Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ research powers a new AI air quality system.
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.
Planting a seed for the future
A chemical engineer intends to revolutionise the nature of agriculture.
Nqweba meteorite captures imagination of South Africans
Community work helped piece together the origins and story of this fascinating piece of science.
South African and Swedish research foundations award over R25 million in grants
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to co-lead Communications Work Package of South Africa Sweden University Forum+ phase.
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.
New ethics application system empowers research through software
Infonetica system will streamline applications for research ethics clearance.
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.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ takes water to informal settlements
Johannesburg Water partners with Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to provide sustainable groundwater supply for informal settlements.
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.
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.
The African Data Drive
New interactive tool to bridge Africa's critical data gap for sustainable development.
New cross-continental AI partnership
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, UCT, partner with the CISPA Helmholtz-Center for Information Security to drive research into cybersecurity and trustworthy AI.
The erosion of trust
Poor governance and weak regulation erode public confidence, but democratic scepticism and gender-aware governance can help rebuild trust.
‘New reality’ as world reaches first climate tipping point
Widespread mortality of warm-water coral reefs underway, as world reaches first tipping point.
Top cultural award for Blombos Museum
Blombos Museum of Archaeology named best innovative project in the Field of Museums, Heritage and Geographical Names.
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 untold history of palaeontology
A new book, The untold History and Prehistory of African Indigenous Palaeontology, will be launched at 11am on Tue, 14 October 2025 at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Origins Centre.
Curios.ty 19: #Disruption
The crises, tech, research and people shaping up our world (Spoiler: Quantum is here).
Agitating for understanding
Arts and science interrogate water, energy, and food precarity at conference-exhibition.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ strengthens ties with the Norwegian government
In a visit by the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers presented some of their joint projects.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ breaks ground on Africa’s first fully integrated BioHub
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Interdisciplinary and Translational Science (WITS) BioHub is one of the most ambitious projects in the University’s 100-year history.
Afretec Network awards $2.3M in multi-institutional research grants
The Carnegie Mellon University Africa-led network has awarded almost $7.43M in research funding since it was established in 2022.
Rare tech donation boosts hands-on learning and research at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
High-performance computing gear gives students a real-world training edge.
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.
Home-grown digital tool could tackle adolescent mental health in Africa
The AfriCAT project has been named a winner of the Mental Health Data Prize Africa.
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Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers engage with SA Police Service
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers host Research Governance Section of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on standards to conduct research in SAPS.
CAPSI launches US$128,000 youth competition
Is academic research moving into the world of digital content - reels, carousels and stories - to stay relevant and connect with today’s youth?
Landmark agreement to make HIV prevention tool lenacapavir affordable in LMICs
Unitaid, CHAI, and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI agreement with Dr. Reddy’s to make revolutionary injectable available at a cost of US$40 a year in 120 LMICs starting in 2027.
Fak’ugesi 2025 promises epic Power Surge
Africa’s digital creativity is poised to generate its own momentum as the annual Festival takes place from 7 to 10 October 2025.
AGITATION, the WEF Nexus and Climate Change in South Africa
Conference and exhibition at Origins Centre will interrogate how water, energy, and food insecurities intersect.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ launches research centre to solve South Africa’s water challenges
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½:H2O is a research grouping that brings together government, business, academia, and civil society to bring real-world solutions to water challenges.
At least one more governmental seat for Africa: stronger voice, better health
It is time to increase Africa’s governmental representation on the governing board of the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.
How can Generative AI and the music industry co-exist?
New paper presents a new legal and commercial framework for AI-generated music.
Apply now for the exciting AI & African Music pilot project
The project aims to support ground-breaking music ideas that harness AI and champion African creativity, and build new futures for AI in music.
Birth of first African Blended Intensive Programme
CIVIS network African associate Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University hosts students studying maternal and neonatal immunisation.
Google.org backs the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ MIND Institute with US$1M boost
The Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute has been awarded core funding of US$1 million by Google.org.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ signs up to the Africa Charter
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University joins African higher education institutes as a signatory to the Africa Charter.
Painless microneedle patches could transform HIV treatment for children
What if treatment could be as simple as putting on a plaster, twice a week?
Reimagining vision
Research by PhD student Kruti Naik could change the way eye infections and conditions are treated
Professor Imraan Valodia joins Extraordinary Global Committee on Wealth Inequality
South Africa’s historic G20 Presidency has taken a bold step in addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges: global inequality.
Uncovering links between depression and hypertension in African populations
Dr Vivien Chebii receives Wellcome Early Career Award to study whether mental illness and cardiometabolic disorders share genetic pathways.
Next-generation ‘molecular scissors’ may offer hope for chronic hepatitis B sufferers
The genetic blueprint of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be permanently inactivated with newly engineered TALENs.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists scoop prestigious French prize for AI-powered innovation
The award from the Pierre Fabre Foundation recognises a South African innovation that adapts particle physics technology for real-time air quality monitoring.
From research to market
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ transfers lipid formulation tech, made to enhance drug delivery and efficacy, to Afrigen Biologics.
Understanding SA's climate obligations in relation to changing policy in the USA
The country’s moral compass and economic needs were in the spotlight at an annual symposium focusing on the climate crisis.
Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity
Declaration for science-based actions to benefit athletes and active individuals of all ages and abilities.
AI: ‘Laziness and stupidity’, our biggest risk
In remembering South Africa’s Grand Geek lies a legacy that shows us how we should think about and engage with artificial intelligence.
Africa’s most feared snake can help to sniff out pollution
New research has shown that heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury accumulate in the scales of Black Mambas.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Dean to spearhead Student Affairs nationally as SAASSAP President
The Dean of Student Affairs, Jerome September, has been elected President of the South African Association of Senior Student Affairs Professionals.
New guidance puts communities at the heart of research
Study provides a framework on how researchers can make research more equitable, especially in the Global South.
Five years of nurturing female academic leaders
The Female Academic Leaders Fellowship marked this milestone with high-powered discussions on gender, followed by a ‘fireside chat’ with students.
Karoo Origins fossil centre opens in Graaff-Reinet
New public facility showcases internationally significant Rubidge Fossil Collection.
Shaping quantum light for a more secure future
At Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University’s Structured Light Laboratory, researchers are harnessing light to drive breakthroughs in secure communication and quantum technology.
National Research Foundation rates Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers highly
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scholars rated as world-class, future global leaders, and as next generation researchers.
Top of mind for female students
Students speak of the need for better information on reproductive health and the importance of confronting subtle sexism among staff and students.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ philosopher elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Lucy Allais, Professor of Philosophy at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and at Johns Hopkins University, is the first female South African philosopher to join the Academy.
‘Historic moment’ for first-generation PhD candidate
Anele Siswana, a support staff member in Humanities, has been awarded a prestigious doctoral fellowship.
Global Ethics Day colloquium exposes vulnerabilities in research
Not just research subjects, but research itself, is vulnerable to the onslaught of technology.
Awards for building capacity in quantum and engineering research
Professor Andrew Forbes and Professor Anne Fitchett have won prestigious NSFT-South32 awards
Rhisotope Project goes live
Scientific innovation offers new weapon against rhino poaching, by making rhino horns detectable and traceable.
Entrepreneurship workshop brings innovative ideas to life
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre recently held its annual Entrepreneurship / Prospector @Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ workshop.
€10,000 Irish Tech Challenge SA applications close on Monday
Tech startups in South Africa are reminded that the window to enter the Irish Tech Challenge 2025 (ITCSA) is about to close on 4 August 2025.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ celebrates research excellence
Research Office acknowledges exceptional researchers at annual event.
Climate change significantly worsened deadly 2022 Durban floods
New study formally and scientifically attributes the extreme nature of the floods to climate change.
What does it really take to become a Professor?
A global study of 532 promotion policies from 121 countries explored what really matters when universities decide who should become a full professor.
MIND Director named coveted CIFAR Fellow
Professor Benjamin Rosman has been appointed a Fellow of the prestigious CIFAR Learning in Machines & Brains programme.
Andrew Forbes awarded prestigious Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award
Forbes shares the honours with UCT's Professor Anthony Figaji as recipients of a dual award for 2025.
SmartSpot boosts safe, rapid TB diagnostics
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-developed SmartSpot has become an innovative tool in TB testing, making diagnostics safer, faster, and more accessible.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie recognised as one of Africa’s change leaders
Propelled by ambition and motivated by success, Dr Bradley Max Segal is one of five Africans featuring in FORBES AFRICA's 30 Under 30 Class of 2025 cover story.
Digital Humanities takes centre stage in futures research
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and the University of Edinburgh join forces with a new research Chair in Digital Humanities to shape more inclusive, just, and equitable digital futures.
New Mervyn King Centre to champion corporate governance and sustainability
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School (WBS) announces the new Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Mervyn King Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability.
Affordable power brick innovation energises underserved communities
A pioneering solar power solution co-developed with Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University is transforming access to energy in underserved communities, one “Power Brick” at a time.
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Anglo American Digital Dome recognised for its academic and cultural heritage
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation and the City of Johannesburg unveiled a historic Blue Plaque at the old Johannesburg Planetarium.
Ochre was a crucial tool in early human innovation
New research challenge the long-standing assumption that ochre was used solely for symbolic or decorative purposes.
Shanghai delegation at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to explore innovation and collaboration
The high-profile delegation from the Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment (SSCI) visited to identify potential key strategic partnerships.
Research Chair leads Africa’s 21st century therapeutic revolution
Development of drug delivery systems focused on targeted therapy, nanomedicine, and regenerative medicine.
Investigating fungi and what makes them dangerous
A Wellcome award for first-of-its-kind fungal research in Africa may unlock the origins of human infection.
New global index proposed to manage natural resources more sustainably
The Nature Relationship Index offers a new way of of measuring how countries use and protect natural resources.
Bots with brains: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ robotics goes underground
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ RAIL Lab trains intelligent machines to navigate caves, pour milk, and plan like humans, pushing the frontiers of autonomous AI research.
New resource illuminates gene activity in African populations
First-of-its-kind dataset helps us understand why people from genetic backgrounds may be more vulnerable to certain diseases.
The art of sound in architecture
Artist-in-residence Fellow brings sound innovation to School of Architecture and Planning
New research maps optimal locations for climate-fighting reforestation
The study identifies 195 million hectares globally where tree restoration will deliver maximum climate benefits without harming communities or ecosystems.
Some relief for health researchers
Council approves R22 million to assist researchers and students impacted by US funding cuts.
.jpg "Dr Kristie Bloom at AGTRU works with mRNA vaccine development for TB and other infectious diseases")
Getting the message from particles to protection
mRNA vaccine innovations are revolutionising how homegrown life-saving jabs can tackle persistent diseases like TB.
It’s been a good month for Politics
The Political Studies Department celebrated staff and students who made an impact in their field and society.
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New framework demystifies POPIA for researchers
The Academy of Science of South Africa’s framework guides researchers on how to interpret and implement POPIA for research.
Prestigious NRF P-rating for Dr Mitchell Cox
Cox earned the rating for his work in research and developing cutting-edge structured light and low-cost laser internet.
Rees honoured with 2025 Dr Lee Jong-wook prize
Professor Helen Rees received the coveted World Health Organizations prize for her “outstanding contribution to public health”.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ named recipient of prestigious grant for AI climate research
The Bezos Earth Fund’s AI Grand Challenge for Climate and Nature has awarded the grant to the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Climate Risk Modelling project.
Emerging global issues threaten adolescent health and wellbeing
Decline in alcohol, tobacco use, and increased participation in education, but obesity and poor mental health loom large.
Puff adders play an important role in conservation and as a rodent control solution
One of Africa's most widespread snakes could be agricultural hero in disguise.
Global innovation award for converting cashew waste into key vaccine ingredient
Scientists win prestigious international award for pioneering a biodegradable, Africa-sourced ingredient that could transform the future of vaccine production.
WBS hosts first Natural Gas Symposium
Stakeholders from the oil and gas industry attend this much-anticipated conversation on the status of natural gas supply in South at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School.
Levelling the African European academic playing fields
Visit by Secretary-General of CIVIS European Universities’ network aims for collaboration that builds trust and public engagement with Africa.
Understanding intellectual property can supercharge innovation
Producing knowledge is a daily pursuit at universities — knowing how best to protect and draw value from it is crucial.
South African study identifies two new breast cancer genes in black women
Genetic factors contribute to some 30% of breast cancer cases in SA, necessitating investment in genomic research in African contexts.
Older adults are getting infected with HIV, but prevention focuses on young people
Prevention and treatment campaigns are not adequately targeting the particular needs of the 50+ years age group.
UCL-Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ partnership empowers researchers in science communication
The fellowship for six early-career researchers is designed to bridge the gap between academia and society.
African scientist receives prestigious German research accolade
Alexander Humboldt Award bestowed on pharmacogeneticist Prof. Collen Masimirembwa for dedication to ensuring Africans receive safe, efficacious medicines.
World renowned Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Sterkfontein Caves reopen
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University announces the reopening of one of humanity’s most important palaeontological sites to the public.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ lauds high school principals
The annual Principals’ Function cements commitment to innovation in education and the success of young people.
Pioneering tests could improve the assessment of dementia in ageing Africans
International researchers have introduced two improved tests that could precisely detect cognitive dysfunction in older African adults.
Reduced sodium legislation saves lives
Study finds that legislation in 2013 to reduce sodium in processed food is now associated with significant declines in blood pressure levels.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers find a way to shield quantum information from “noise”
Breakthrough could lead to more stable quantum computers and networks, making future technology faster, more secure, and widely accessible.
Leadership training empowers Africa’s health regulators
The new African Regulatory Leadership Programme (ARLP) is a step towards regional harmonising and establishing the African Medicines Agency.
Afretec Gender in STEM Forum 2025
The Forum, organised by the Afretec Inclusion group, was held in Rwanda in February, bringing together STEM academics from eight member institutions.
The next 1,000 days can set the scene for life
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life (conception to two) are critical for development. Research shows that the next 1,000 days (2 to 5) are also fundamental.
Don’t wait for us, take the lead
Leading climate scientist, Professor Sir David King, urges South Africa to take the lead into combating climate change.
Retirement reimagined
“As people live longer, retirement is evolving from a single event to a life stage transition that can take 10 to 15 years.”
New fossil discovery of an early human ancestor reveals that it walked upright, just like humans
Remarkable new fossils from Swartkrans Cave reveal that a prehistoric relative of humans was also extremely small and vulnerable to predators.
Writing the AI-wrongs in journalism
The rise of AI in journalism signals the time for guidelines around disclosure, transparency and accountability.
CBIE delegation visits Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to strengthen partnerships
The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) delegation and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ stakeholders explored research, innovation, and academic opportunities.
Study shows type 2 diabetes doubled in sub-Saharan Africa in 6 years
Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes can, over time, increase the risk of heart and kidney disease and lead to eye, vascular and nerve damage.
‘I am the golden thread’
The Mid-career Academic Portfolio Writing Retreat guides scholars in leadership development through self-reflection.
How academics can share and play with Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ new ‘toys’
Recent major research equipment acquisitions demonstrate the need and potential for proactive pursuit in the competitive research resources environment.
Superpowers for disability access
Thanks to the global tech revolution, support for people with disabilities has expanded exponentially in recent years.
Burnt out?
Experts in psychiatry, psychology, and ergonomics explain how burnout manifests and what we can do about it.
Platinum, President, and gold awards for excellence in health research
Lifetime achievement for Prof. Karen Hofman, President Award for Adjunct Prof. Precious Matsoso, and a gold medal for Prof. Shane Norris at the SAMRC awards.
Student side-hustles
From selling handbags to offering haircuts, there are Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies out there turning campus corners into mini marketplaces.
Award-winning pharmaco-geneticist advances drug discovery and development for Africans
Professor Collen Masimirembwa of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience receives Precision Medicine World Conference Pioneer Award (PMWC) 2025.
Animals that work for us
Bees, birds, and bats are part of an invisible workforce that supports humanity.
Cracking the job interview code
[Q&A] In our competitive job market, recruiters require job seekers to have multiple skills to even secure an interview.
Global research explores climate change impact on maternal and child health
Analysis of birth records and climate data will establish how many adverse pregnancy outcomes occur due to climate change.
Enabling equity for all employees
Although SA still faces severe headwinds regarding workplace equity, there seems to be a broader societal shift. Here’s what Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is doing.
Moving out, moving in – The South African semigration story
The rise of remote and hybrid working practices post-pandemic has led to an interesting shift in population growth across South Africa.
Is there (work)life after professional sport?
We cheer them on to the finish line, but what happens to pro athletes after their last race?
When your boss is an algorithm
The digital revolution has opened unimagined opportunities, but it comes with a threat of leaving the most vulnerable workers behind.
Cash and counselling slash unsuccessful TB outcomes by half
A new study shows that tuberculosis patients cash-incentivised and counselled have a 52% lower relative risk of having an unsuccessful treatment outcome.
How Africa became the birthplace of human evolution
Nature Africa marks 100 years since Australopithecus Africanus transformed our understanding of the origins of humans.
A swift, secure, stimulating experience awaits postgraduate students
A packed Great Hall was abuzz with excitement as the 2025 cohort of postgraduate students convened for their Orientation and Welcome on 5 February.
SACAQM and AfricaWeather Partner to Advance Air Quality Monitoring
Partnership will bring advanced monitoring, hardware, IoT communications, and artificial intelligence to AfricaWeather’s environmental intelligence platform.
Land Labour Life
Simon Gush’s visual art and academic research are interconnected.
Regular physical activity before cancer diagnosis may lower progression and death risks
Even relatively low levels of physical activity may be advantageous, findings from a study led by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Sport and Health (WiSH) show.
Alternatives to traditional cancer treatment
Opinions around cancer treatment options can be highly divisive, but many patients don’t have the luxury of choice.
Killing cancer with cryoablation
Freeze, fry, microwave, or obliterated – treating early cancer which can progress to advanced life-threatening cancer with cryoablation.
The future of work – A flicker of a silver lining
With a disastrously high unemployment rate and inequality, South Africa has a mountain to climb, but there is hope.
Africa’s largest human microbiome study sheds light on gut diversity and health
The most extensive study of the gut microbiome in Africa has discovered new microbial species and never-before-reported metagenomes* from several African sites.
The sorcerer’s apprentice: The impact of AI on future jobs
What is the future of humans in the world of AI? We look at the myths and realities, risks and opportunities posed by the adoption of AI.
Plugging South Africaʼs skills GAP
Are we adequately training young people for the labour market, or do we need to review our approach to education and training?
Curios.ty 18: #Work
Work isn't static. It changes as we change. In this issue, we turn to our researchers as we grapple with the evolving nature of work and an unknown future.
Let’s talk about #Work
[Editorial] AI, Africa, equity, skills, burnout, toxic workplaces, semigration, sex work, and retirement, all in this issue of Curios.ty.
The chalk-dust revolution
What impact does the changing world of work have on how higher education is delivered to students?
Three million years ago, our ancestors were vegetarian
Nitrogen isotopes in tooth enamel show no evidence of meat consumption in Australopithecus.
Carbon revenues fuel misguided policies in African conservation
Researchers working in Africa warn against consultants promoting a single veld-burning strategy for carbon credits, urging caution for stakeholders.
What we did in 2024
Our research impacted humans, animals and machines, while our students’ side hustles drove innovation, and our scholars deepened our knowledge.
Looking back at 2024 with the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre
It was a year of establishment and growth for the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre (WIC) as it broke new ground to coordinate and encourage innovation across Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½.
What bone scans reveal about a tiny croc from SA
Journeying back to the Jurassic Era, scientists used cutting-edge tech to uncover the secrets about Orthosuchus stormbergi, a small, early crocodile ancestor.
Lightning sparks art: New Fellow joins Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Lightning Lab
WIC’s new Artist-in-Lab Fellow aims to create evocative art exploring the mysterious, inexplicable, and magical essence of lightning.
Boost for air quality monitoring in Gauteng
South African Atmospheric Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) and Evotel join forces to monitor the province’s air quality.
Tackling the global energy crisis
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is part of a new $150 million partnership to support the global energy transition.
African Urbanisms Conference and Urban Fare
Delegates from various corners of the world converged at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to reflect on urban planning and chart the way forward.
Researchers use laser beams to pioneer new quantum computing breakthrough
Innovative computing system using lasers and everyday display technology marks a significant leap in the quest for more powerful quantum computing solutions.
-with-Professors-Lynn-Morris-and-Mucha-Musemwa-600x300px.jpg "Publishing from the South: A Century of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University Press")
Celebrating a century publishing excellence
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Press commemorated 100 years of publishing excellence with the launch of the book 'Publishing from the South: A Century of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University Press'.
Celebrating the recipients of the Postgraduate Merit Scholarships
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Postgraduate Merit Scholarship (PMS) was launched in 2023 with funding from a generous alumnus of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ joins Upanzi Network - an African research labs collab
Carnegie Mellon University Africa announced today that it will expand its digital public infrastructure initiative across the continent.
Nobel laureate warns of big tech and disinformation threats to democracy
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa believes South Africa’s traditional media is strong, but that won’t last, posing an ongoing threat to democracy.
Toolbox for academia and industry engagement
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre (WIC) partnered with Afretec to workshop practical steps of collaboration.
IT leader scoops industry awards
It’s a season of abundance for Dr Stanley Mpofu, who has been named CIO of the Year by industry peers, among other accolades.
Three Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists named amongst the world’s most highly cited
Professors Andrew Forbes, Shabir Madhi, and Derick Raal are three of just 10 South Africans on the annual list of Highly Cited Researchers™.
Unlocking intelligence: The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ MIND Institute to transform AI research in Africa
The Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute advances AI research, exploring machine, human, and animal intelligence.
Award for climate change biologist
Nearly 1 million species face extinction. The award to Dr Shannon Conradie by the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant boosts interventions.
Royal Society of SA awards Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies medals, fellowships
Professor Sally Archibald receives the 2025 John F.W. Herschel Medal and Doctors Mitchell Cox and Simone Richardson are 2025 Meiring Naudé medallists.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies appointed to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council
Two Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ academics and several alumni are among the economic thought leaders appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
New Digital Dome launches in Joburg
After major refurbishments, the old Johannesburg Planetarium has been transformed into the state-of-the-art Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Anglo American Digital Dome.
Workshop explores sustainable design in the age of AI
The workshop gave scholars insights that empowered them to create AI-powered solutions for Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Tuesdays are for Zulu Therapy – Ingoma
Keeping heritage alive through ingoma provides a sense of community, cultural pride and resilience to students.
Rising heat exposure threatens maternal and newborn health
Largest systematic review of its kind assesses 198 studies across 66 countries for the impact of heat on maternal, foetal, and neonatal health.
.jpg "Gabrielle Mudiwa recipient of the 2024 Achmat Dangor Literary Prize_pic Sam Herbst")
Gabrielle Mudiwa awarded the Achmat Dangor Literary Prize 2024
This inaugural award enables a talented young writer to pursue an MA in Creative Writing at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ thereby ensuring that Dangor’s legacy endures.
Young engineers shine with innovative tech
EIE Open Day 2024: Can a robot do medical triage? Can a face detector spot you when you’re wearing a mask? Can geysers be smart?
Recognition from respected research entities
National research associations have awarded accolades to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies across a range of scholarly disciplines as well as in research management and ethics.
Applications invited for new Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics
Based at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Chair will lead academically rigorous research in precision medicine and genomics in Africa.
Training the Next-Gen animators
Four young South African 2D animators train with the world’s best to become teachers for a new generation.
A trek across the desert, in search of our origins
Two researchers transect the inhospitable Namib desert, in search of evidence of ancient human existence in this harsh landscape.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ teams clinch coveted SATNAC Challenge awards
Swelihle Sibiya and Andile Mgomezulu won the R&D Challenge and the Huawei Challenge respectively, at the 2024 SATNAC Industry Solutions Challenge.
Innovative app helps adolescents with depression
The Kuamsha app was developed as part of a study to address depression in adolescents in rural and low resource settings.
Create a caring, nurturing culture at work
Today is World Mental Health Day with an urgent call to action for employers: 'It is time to prioritise Mental Health in the workplace'.
Largest study of its kind in Africa finds African men have high risk of prostate cancer, earlier
Researchers have identified the genetic risk factors that contribute to prostate cancer in a diverse group of African men.
Ancient San rock art reveals earliest known depiction of extinct Dicynodont
Rock painting suggests San people were engaging in palaeontology long before Western scientists.
.jpg "Skeletal reconstruction of Moschorhinus kitchingi. The skeletal proportions are based on the preserved elements of NMQR 3351. Illustration by Brandon P. Stuart.")
Moschorhinus kitchingi: The Ancient Stocky Survivor of the Karoo
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and the University of Southern California offer a detailed look at the skeleton of Moschorhinus kitchingi beyond just its skull.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ chemists win prestigious chemistry awards
Two Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ chemists have been rewarded for their research by the South African Chemical Institute (SACI).
Pioneering disability inclusion: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ DRU and Afretec lead the way
Two-day workshop redefines inclusive education and how to leverage new technologies to empower students and staff with disabilities.
Clinician-scientist in surgery receives doctoral fellowship at SA Women in Science Awards
Dr Gabriella Hyman awarded the prestigious Dr Esther Mahlangu Doctoral Fellowship for her clinician-scientist role and research in SA public health sector.
AI in Africa: It’s a matter of MIND
As the world races ahead with AI advancements, concerns are mounting that Africa could be left behind. Enter the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ MIND Institute.
Eastern Cape meteorite find revealed
The spectacular entry of a meteorite into Earth’s atmosphere has unleashed a chain of events that would not be out of place in a Hollywood movie script.
“Space junk” that fell in Eastern Cape was a car-size meteorite
Meteorites are rare and hold deep scientific value as they give us a glimpse of the make-up and birth of our solar system.
New Director of Energy Leadership for WBS
Dr David Phaho will take the helm of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC) from 1 September 2024.
Anomalies in Particle Physics are key to new discoveries
Deviations in the way that particles interact point to the existence of new bosons.
WIC leadership role changes announced
These reflect the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre's agility and responsiveness in continuing to grow the University’s innovation ecosystem.
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Foundation for Democracy opens its doors for business
The Foundation looks to reshape discussions about democracy in Africa.
Exploring the next frontiers in social impact
The 5th African Philanthropy Conference was held against the spectacular backdrop of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and was the biggest gathering yet.
African expert in precision medicine wins international award
Distinguished Research Professor Collen Masimirembwa in the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience to receive award for research in pharmacogenomics.
A celebration of researchers achieving research excellence
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ recognises more than a hundred scholars for exceptional research accomplishments in 2024.
Colloquium explores ethical dilemmas arising from the use of AI and Big Data in research
Philosophical, legal, moral, teaching and other angles unpacked at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ SARIMA Carnegie 4th annual Global Ethics Day online event on 6 August.
Memoir of a decade in African genomics research
A book commemorating 10 years of the AWI-Gen project shares stories of those who researched how genetics, environment, and lifestyle affect health in Africa.
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£2 million grant to research reducing AIDS-related deaths caused by bacterial and fungal infections
Professor Nelesh Govender was awarded one of 7 prestigious 5-year UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Research Professorships.
140 “missing middle” accounting students funded through donation by anonymous donor
The donation was made in honour of Professor Margo Steele, the first female head of school of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Accountancy.
8th World Conference on Research Integrity awards South African Community of Practice
SARIMA Community of Practice for Research Ethics and Integrity wins Anderson-Kleinert Diversity Award at 8th World Conference on Research Integrity (WCRI).
A rising star in SA Higher Education Research named a finalist in 2024 HERS-SA Awards
Fezile Wagner, who leads Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½' Analytics and Institutional Research Unit, is a finalist in the non-profit Higher Education Resource Services-SA (HER-SA) Awards.
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Lesotho's Lost Lake sheds light on past and future water security
Scientists uncover fascinating evidence of an ancient mountain lake that flourished thousands of years ago.
BePRECISE consortium unveils guidelines to enhance reporting in precision medicine research
The inaugural reporting guidelines for precision medicine research, of which Professor Michèle Ramsay is co-author, have been published in Nature Medicine.
From knowledge to impact: Bridging the academic-entrepreneurship divide
Aspiring African innovators and entrepreneurs converge at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to learn skills to transform ideas into market-ready solutions.
Transformation: Carnegie Diversifying the Academy welcomes 2024 recipients
Eight PhD students and postdocs were inducted into the programme run by the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Transformation and Employment Equity Office (TEEO).
Postgrads learn how to become ‘academic entrepreneurs’
To grow their entrepreneurial spirit and skills, 70 postgraduate students attended the Pan-African Entrepreneurship Week during the winter break.
Peco Power empowers rural community with Rent-to-Own Electricity
The pioneering technology from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is transforming energy access with its new impact-driven Champion Franchise Model.
Research rock stars dazzle at 'Science Oscars'
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers won in six out of 15 categories at the prestigious NSTF-South 32 Research Awards.
Mobile phone data help track pathogen spread and evolution of superbugs
Novel way to map spread and evolution of pathogens, and their responses to vaccines and antibiotics, reveals how to help predict and prevent future outbreaks.
SA professor appointed co-principal investigator in landmark HIV prevention network
Sinéad Delany-Moretlwe is Professor of Global Health and Infectious Diseases and Research Director at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI.
.jpg "Saurodersmus robertsoni NHMUK PV OR 28877: Right femur depicted both in situ within the rock matrix (left) and after extraction (right).")
Discovering Scotland's first 'almost-mammal’, Saurodesmus robertsoni
Researchers identify the oldest known non-mammaliaform cynodont from Scotland.
Beetle outbreak: Another fossil rove beetle from Botswana
A new species of fossil paederine rove beetle from Orapa.
‘It’s all about the youth’
Dr Solomon Assefa, the former Vice President at IBM Research, delivered the inaugural Professor Barry Dwolatzky Memorial Lecture.
Afretec awards almost $1.7 million
One of the grant recipient projects from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University will investigate the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Report on governance and management in SA health system launched
The Academy of Science of South Africa released the report, "Achieving Good Governance and Management in the South African Health System" on 28 June 2024.
Tackling brain health through strategic global partnerships
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Faculty of Health Sciences and Barrow Neurological Institute, USA, MoU cements relationship to further research neurological conditions
Gilead results on injectable lenacapavir for PREP
First HIV prevention trial in history to show zero HIV infections with an intervention.
Researchers discover a potential vaccine to prevent tuberculosis in people of all ages
In a critical global public health development, a candidate vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) has been created using a gene-editing approach.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-Bath Spa collaboration takes off
Three-year bursary scheme to support strategic collaboration between the two universities.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD student wins prestigious John Kiel Scholarship
Pedro Ornelas is one of 72 students globally who won an award from the International Society for Optics and Photonics.
New cutting-edge digitisation equipment for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Digitisation Centre
This addition marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to preserve the University's vast archives and collections.
Sappi Chair marks a milestone year of climate action
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ research team is spearheading sustainability efforts to bolster climate resilience in the forestry industry.
The social consensus revolution
[Column] To prevent South Africa from becoming a failed society, we must all rise and become active citizens.
Musankwa sanyatiensis, a new dinosaur from Zimbabwe
A new Late Triassic sauropodomorph dinosaur discovered in the Mid-Zambezi Basin, Zimbabwe.
Reimagining democracy
Democracy, as a system of government by the whole population, seems to have had its heyday. Is ‘People Power’ a viable option?
Q&A: The South African Constitution
Constitutional expert, Professor Cathi Albertyn, answers your questions on the South African Constitution, the bedrock of South Africa’s democracy.
A violent freedom
Despite the knife-edge upon which South Africans live, the country is not, in fact, a failed state – but a new form of democracy is required.
The Untouchables: Crime and corruption
Corruption is not unique to SA as US and UK have shown. Democracy relies on holding authorities accountable, but no one seems keen to do that.
Religion and the state: A shifting cocktail of contradictions
Many countries are grappling with religious challenges. Can political structures withstand the pressures of religious groups’ ‘New Right’ ideology?
AI and democracy: For better and for worse
Today’s news and current affairs landscape, which underpins our democracy, requires both ethical content producers and discerning consumers.
Peter Sarnak awarded the 2024 Shaw Prize
Celebrated mathematician and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ alumnus acknowledged for his profound impact on number theory.
A drought of political will
South Africans are still fighting for the right to basic water supply as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
Stabilising the crumbling walls of the Fourth Estate
Journalism as an institution is facing a bleak outlook. It needs to dig deep to find ways in which to pull itself out of the well.
Study that empowers traditional health practitioners to test for HIV expands in rural SA
National Institutes of Health 5-year, $2.8m grant to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Vanderbilt University will advance traditional health practitioner-initiated HIV testing.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ hosts Southern African synchrotron workshop
South African researchers have fully funded access to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, through the NRF.
NHI: From aspiration to implementation
Access to healthcare services is a constitutional right but is equal healthcare in South Africa a reality in our lifetime?
Curios.ty 17: #Democracy
This issue is very timely as South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, and heads to the polls again on 29 May 2024.
Celebrating 30 years of democracy
[Editorial] Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ continues to contribute towards advancing democracy, social justice, and human rights.
Marching to new drums
A generation of ‘born frees’ are heading to the polls in 2024. What is the soundtrack, if any, that underscores this election year?
How colonialism bastardised ancient rituals
Traditional rituals and practices such as lobola and initiation are often misunderstood in democratic societies where they are viewed through a western lens.
Social grants: A hand up, not a hand-out
The child support grant and proposed pregnancy grant give children a healthier start in life and make democratic and economic sense.
Realising disability rights in Southern Africa
People with disabilities still experience barriers to the realisation of their rights. A new view on disability is required.
Playing the migration blame game
Pushing a nationalist agenda and fuelling xenophobia is politicians’ way of disguising the causes of South Africa’s economic woes.
Democratising knowledge through open access
More than half of SA’s academic publications appear in Open Access sources, with Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University embracing this trend.
Finding ubuntu in the word of the law
Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima, the Acting Director at CALS is driven by human rights, and the fight for social justice.
Stokvels secure income and social capital
A stokvel research project at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ could lead to greater financial freedom, transparency, and accessibility for members.
Who is accountable for environmental rights?
The lack of enforcement of environmental laws allow powerful entities to act without consequence. Where does the buck stop?
What environmental equality in Africa really looks like
As countries move to adopt green technologies to fight climate change, the Global South is left at a disadvantage in this new revolution.
Conflicts of (natural) interest
The creation of conservation areas has become a tug-of-war between the needs of local communities and preserving critical natural resources.
Using Ubuntu to recognise animal rights
[Column] Under the SA Constitution, animals do not enjoy the same rights as humans. But Ubuntu principles can change that, writes Dr Sheena Swemmer.
Ethical conundrums of the great dictator
[Column] As elected president for one day, I struggle with the same ethical question as those who have come before me: To plunder or to serve?
Democracy and Archives: A quest for truth
Archives are the custodians of evidence in the pursuit of truth and records of Commissions of Inquiry are fundamental to support democracy.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Liberty launch new Fintech Hub
New Hub will be a place where researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals can get together to leverage technology to solve problems in the field of finance.
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai shed light on South Africa's ancient ecosystems.
CHAMPS receives grant to study causes of death in adults with HIV in Africa
New grant will enable Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network to leverage laboratory capacity and partnerships in Africa.
Global collaboration adds up for mathematician
Number theory specialist Professor Florian Luca is now a CNRS Fellow-Ambassador.
Vaccinologists Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi awarded Sabin’s prestigious Gold Medal
The Sabin Vaccine Institute presented the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal to physician-researchers Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi.
ERC Advanced Grant for Paleoanthropologist Gabriele Macho
European Research Council funds project on early human evolution at Senckenberg.
How to avoid and manage dehydration
About 60% of the human body is made up of water. Excessive water loss can be fatal.
What happened to the Just Energy Transition grant funding?
Researchers take a closer look to determine who the money has gone to, when it was disbursed, and what it was spent on.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ welcomes 12 000 future researchers
The University held its annual Postgraduate Orientation Programme from 4 – 6 March in the Great Hall and online.
Light correcting light
Researchers have found a way to send patterned light messages through obstructions, without distorting the message.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie awarded prestigious scholarship
Geoffrey Mwendwa, a PhD candidate in Physics, secures one of the initial spots in the 100 PhDs for Africa Programme (EXAF).
New fossil rove beetle is a first in Africa
In the heart of Botswana, a groundbreaking discovery at the Orapa Diamond Mine has unveiled a fossil that sheds light on the evolutionary history of beetles.
Make sure the water from your tap is safe to drink
With an increasing risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera spreading in cities, it is important to learn how to keep your family safe.
Urgent TB vaccine trial kicks off in SA
Professor Lee Fairlie from the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI) is a Co-National Principal Investigator of the trial.
Empowering academic fellows to share their impact
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Carnegie Diversifying the Academy (CDTA) Programme recently hosted its inaugural Pioneering Science Communications Workshop.
Political theorist Achille Mbembe named 2024 Holberg Prize Laureate
The Holberg Prize is one of the largest international prizes awarded annually to an outstanding researcher in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology.
Advancing gender and leadership in higher education
A group of ten Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University staff and students recently attended the Afretec Gender in STEM Workshop in Kigali, Rwanda.
Accolades for advancing public health, for good
Medals for health scientists at South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Scientific Merit Awards.
Dung beetles show their love by sharing the load
Before mating, some male and female dung beetles work together to move their brood balls to a location unknown to either.
Women in leadership at the ARUA CoE MEN
Sustained female leadership in the Centre of Excellence for Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology (CoE MEN).
World-class pharmaceutical sciences training goes global
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) enables international research opportunities for its postgrads, postdocs, and early career researchers.
Public research showcase reveals how to age successfully in Africa
A ‘whole of society’ approach is needed to address health issues as populations in Africa age.
Advancing paediatric antibiotic research
Two new African-European research collaborations tackle severe infections in neonates and children.
Connecting a community through concepts
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University hosts the Fifth International Legitimation Code Theory Conference.
Meet the 2024 Friedel Sellschop Fellows
Doctors Saeideh Babaee, Ashley Coates, Isaac Nape, and Matt Noakes are the 2024 Friedel Sellschop Fellows.
UK Fellowships for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ humanities researchers
The African Fellowships programme advances South-North research collaboration to find solutions to global challenges.
Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition opens in the Western Cape
The exhibition showcases the archaeological heritage and rich marine environment of the Southern Cape coastline.
Mission impossible? Not for these postdocs
8 Postdoc Fellows join Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to boost research on the intersecting themes of climate change, just transition, sustainability, and inequality.
Getting into that natural study rhythm
Q&A: Academic stress and pressure can lead students to use unhealthy choices such as medication cocktails, energy drinks and supplements.
Hooked on games and the silver screen
What is it about TV and film that’s so compelling that we can’t resist immersing ourselves in celluloid?
Seeing through the cigarette tax smokescreen
The high taxes on tobacco are counterproductive in decreasing smoking. It only benefits the illegal cigarette trade – and its political masters.
Researchers demonstrate that quantum entanglement and topology are inextricably linked
This experimental milestone allows for the preservation of quantum information even when entanglement is fragile.
Curios.ty 16 (#Drugs): Between hope and hell
In this issue, we highlight the diversity, scope, and multi-dimensional nature of drug-related research at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University.
DRUGS!
Editorial: The word ‘drugs’ evokes a range of reactions – from the hopes of ‘miracle’ cures to the sadness of addiction and social harm.
The future of medicine
Imagine a world where medicines can be guided to the exact place that they are needed in the body – a world closer than you think.
Leading the way to an HIV cure
The battle to save millions of HIV-positive lives bears fruit in unexpected ways.
Obesity – a new treatment frontier
Current treatments are complex and expensive but new studies reveal that obesity medication could be the answer to this epidemic.
Alternatives to traditional cancer treatment
Opinions around cancer treatment options can be highly divisive, but many patients don’t have the luxury of choice.
Jagged little pills or panacea for health?
Vitamin and nutritional supplements are big business, but are they effective or just a waste of money – or even dangerous?
The daily drugs in our diet
“We need to create an environment for people where the healthy choice is the easier choice.”
Inside the mushroom bubble
Psychedelics: Are they the magic bullet some claim for the treatment of conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder?
Cheers to SA’s most pervasive drug
Alcohol is so ubiquitous and its marketing so pernicious that there’s a tendency to underestimate its impact on public health. So, why do we drink?
Your drug questions answered
From alcohol to cocaine, caffeine to cough syrup, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ experts shed light on legal and not-so-legal drugs of choice.
Turning green grass into gold
Academia can help show how the cannabis industry can be a thriving sector in the country.
Beating the ʻpharmaceutical arms race’ in sports
Drugs in sport is eroding the public credibility of many sports heroes’ superhuman performances. Can trust be restored?
Blocking the opioid pipeline
Treating opioid addiction is a painful, time consuming and often frustrating process. New medication can help solve this problem.
Antibiotics: Too much of a good thing?
The complicated doctor-patient dynamic requires managing expectations to protect both drug efficacy and public health.
The antibiotic bully in your beef
The use of antibiotics in livestock threatens public health, the environment, and food security. Researchers explore plants as an alternative.
Mosquitoes on birth control
Eradicating malaria in SA is a national policy goal, but is easier said than done. But sterile insect technique could take the bite out of mosquitoes.
Down the rabbit hole to bring back some words
Profile: Dr Eva Kowalska argues that drugs and addiction are not synonymous, as her research of drug literature and opioid biographies reveals.
Motivational messaging for medicine
Behavioural Linguistics is a new advanced area in healthcare that's especially critical to medication compliance and adherence.
Printing 3D patches to heal wounds
New biotechnical treatments can fast-track recovery from traumatic injuries.
Sucking the venom out of the bite
Treating snake bite victims remains antiquated – hopefully a new way of creating antivenom can lead to a better solution.
From ancient apothecary to modern medicine
How our early ancestors shaped our medicine use today. Throughout history, humanity has used nature's pharmacy for healing.
Put a pill in it!
Column: When it comes to health, we have grown into a society that is looking for a quick fix, rather than treating our lives holistically.
Doobee or not doobee?
Unravelling Shakespeare's Green Quill: Professor Francis Thackeray's quest for cannabis connection.
New Optica Emerging Leader in Optics Chair
SA visionary and quantum expert, Dr Isaac Nape, has been appointed as the inaugural Chair that seeks to advance quantum research.
African endocrinologist again amongst the world’s best
Distinguished Professor Derick Raal has for the fourth time been named as a Highly Cited Researcher™ globally.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ mourns the loss of Professor Peliwe Lolwana
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is saddened by the loss of Professor Lolwana, who recently retired as the Director of the Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL).
Research ethics and integrity as a force for good
While polarisation has emerged as a defining characteristic of our age, ‘good’ ethics can navigate differences to tackle shared challenges.
'Teleporting' images across a network securely using only light
Researchers show for the first time, how we can transport images across a network without physically sending the image.
Upgraded Micro-CT Scanner to advance research
Advanced 3D imaging technology allows for fossil-bearing rocks to be examined non-invasively and saves time and resources.
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New research sheds light on Bantu-speaking populations’ expansion in Africa
The study is unique in that it contains genetic data of both living and past (archaeological DNA/aDNA) populations.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers pioneer a new way of searching for Dark Matter
Researchers explore whether Dark Matter particles actually are produced inside a jet of standard model particles.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ secures Digital Transformation research grants
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University scholars have secured funding as a network partner of the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec).
What happens to South Africans when they have sleep disorders?
The Restonic Ezintsha Sleep Clinic will pioneer South African sleep research and treat sleep disorders.
First FEBE Research Seminar breaks down barriers
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment hosted its inaugural Research Seminar on 25 and 26 October 2023.
2023 Afretec Conference celebrates collaboration
Higher education leaders from across the continent recently convened for the second Pan-African network's annual conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Shoes maketh man
The humble “plakkie” made its debut up to 150 000 years ago.
Snake researcher features in ‘Women in Herpetology’
50 stories from around the world celebrate the grit and passion of women in amphibian and reptile science.
Ancient sea level and climate changes led to major extinctions around South Africa
Sea level and climate changes altered the marine ecosystems at the South Pole 390-385 million years ago.
Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth
Superdeep diamonds formed between 650 and 450 million years ago show how continents developed and moved.
ICESCO Chair for Innovation and Futures in Africa launched at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
The Chair will be located within the Tayarisha Research Group that focuses on the effects and implications of digital transformation and governance in Africa.
Future-proofing pandemic preparedness and response
Comparative analysis of the Pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations texts.
PhD graduate leads efforts to create first quantum microscope
Chané Moodley will be heading a research team into finding the best ways of developing and commercialising a quantum microscope.
Terminally ill patients need more than prayers from spiritual leaders
Cancer patients in Soweto give more clues on how spiritual leaders can assist them to find peace amidst a difficult journey.
WMI summit explores the changing mining landscape
The Summit is another step forward in developing mining tech and skills to drive a low-carbon future and just energy transition.
New study shows signs of early creation of modern human identities
Early ancestors collected eye-catching shells that radically changed the way we looked at ourselves and others.
South Africa’s meteorite heritage grow to over 50
Discovery of two meteorites are the first to be found by a member of the public on South African soil in over 40 years.
Crocks' ancestors grew old sloooowly
A gigantic, ancient crocodylomorph species that was recently discovered grew slower than other large reptiles of its day, such as dinosaurs.
First fossils of ancient human relatives journey to space
Fossils from Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba become the oldest astronauts to travel to space, flying on Virgin Galactic's spaceship VSS Unity.
Maths education researcher wins prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
National Research Foundation awards Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor Jill Adler for advancing maths teaching, research, and empowering maths educators in post-democratic SA.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ RHI launches Project PrEP
The study will generate real-world data on integrating a new PrEP method, the Dapi-ring, to protect women against sexual transmission of HIV.
Renowned medical oncologist to Chair Ethics Committee
Emeritus Professor Paul Ruff was appointed Chairperson of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC): Medical, effective 1 August 2023.
Genomics research in Africa will improve global health
African populations are the most genetically diverse in the world, with thousands of different ethnolinguistic groups across the continent.
Signing, to save a life
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-Afretec Tech-Entrepreneurship Workshop held marks a pioneering stride for young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and the Bank of China produce the first Chinese Investors’ Confidence Index for South Africa
The index, called CICISA is a quarterly index that tracks the evolution of the “investment climate” or “investment attractiveness” of South Africa over time.
Putting the choice in the hands that matter
A new study has been launched that will harness real-world data to maximise the impact of PreP products on reducing HIV infections.
.jpg "Gogo Grace is one of the traditional healers who is now a certified HIV counsellor and tester in Bushbuckridge Mpumalanga_photo Sandra Maytham Bailey")
Traditional healers in rural Mpumalanga help diagnose HIV
Research project in Bushbuckridge empowers traditional healers to conduct HIV testing, refer those positive for treatment, thereby curbing new infections.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ lecturer wins the Silver Jubilee Medal from the South African Institute of Physics
The award is made for outstanding achievements by a young physicist that contributes to the research, education or technology development in physics.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-UoE research partnership ‘heads to Space’
Researchers from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and the University of Edinburgh held a symposium to explore collaborative opportunities for Space Research projects.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ GCI co-leads pioneering initiative to fight the impact of tropical cyclones
The new R110 million project aims to improve early warnings and enhance resilience to changing tropical cyclones in southern Africa and Madagascar.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Researchers rewarded for excellence
Researchers from all over Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ have been rewarded for their excellence at a Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ ceremony.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to co-lead international research on Migration and Health
The research will focus on the health of migrants in the African Union and European Union corridor, one of the largest migration corridors globally.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ audience fascinated by first mission of its kind to Jupiter
South African-born space physicist Professor Michele Dougherty is a principal investigator on the Juice mission to Jupiter.
The surprising path to life: breaking free from Plate Tectonics
New research reveals that the emergence of life on Earth did not require Plate Tectonics
Smarter human oversight is crucial in facial recognition AI
Enhanced human verification techniques and practices will always be required to ensure accuracy and ward off inherent biases.
Researchers demonstrate noise-free communication with structured light
A new approach to optical communication that can be deployed with conventional technology.
India, South Africa and Australia shared similar volcanic activity 3.5 billion years ago
Ancient volcanism dating back to 3.5 billion years ago are common to Archaean cratons of South Africa, India, and Australia.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Sappi launch new Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability
Through the Research Chair Professor Mary Scholes will identify critical research needs and develop research outputs related to climate change.
Curios.ty 15 (#Energy): Igniting innovation
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½' research magazine focuses on how our researchers are powering up their creativity and expertise to find sustainable energy solutions.
Energising and futureproofing our world
Editorial: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but for South Africans it feels like we are upending this fundamental law of physics.
The first to fuel the fire
The first fuel that enabled human beings to land on the moon was harnessed right here in Africa.
Rolling blackouts: Light at the end of the tunnel?
SA’s could create a new model for many countries facing power shortages but it could also lead to more muddling in the dark.
How to spend $8.5bn correctly to energise and green SA
Dr Andrew Lawrence explores how funding received from the Just Energy Transition Partnership can most benefit South Africa.
Clean, safe, controversial
Nuclear energy has had a bad rap, but in South Africa’s current energy conundrum, its importance in the mix is clear.
The red flags in green hydrogen
Scientists can do better to take industry and government-driven hype out of green hydrogen so that its actual potential can be realised.
Your 8 quirky energy questions answered
From Star Wars to hot curry to Einstein – we’ve got you covered.
Building sustainable cities
Long-term economic and social side-effects need to be considered when thinking about our cities’ energy solutions.
Woodlands and forests con-tree-versial
A tree is not just a tree. It is also fuel, paper, furniture, livelihood, and industry.
Energy in the body
How does the body convert food to fuel? How much do we need? And will running really help with weight loss?
Killing cancer with cryoablation
Freeze, fry, microwave, or obliterated – treating early cancer which can progress to advanced life-threatening cancer with cryoablation.
The energy it takes to navigate an abled-bodied world
The implementation of universal design and access could improve the lives of people living with disabilities.
The psychology of energy
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers shed light on alternative energies and how to leverage them when we’re depleted and in the dark.
A planet called 'Home'
Our home planet Earth is unique, not only in its position in space but in the way it manages energy to create a comfortable spot for us to inhabit.
Finding facts in a lightning bolt
Lightning research will answer several questions about this lesser-known force of nature.
Can Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ go off the grid?
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero is the next big thing on the global agenda, but academics agree it’s not feasible in the medium term on campus.
Skills for a green world
South Africa needs to reskill and upskill in the face of changing technology and shifting workplaces.
‘Clean Coal’ could be a game-changer for SA
Q&A: Coal has a bad reputation, but ‘clean coal’ holds various potential opportunities, says Professor Samson Bada.
On ant(eater) patrol
PROFILE: Living to find innovative ways to solve tough challenges, Dr Wendy Panaino digs deep into the lives of pangolins.
Overcoming energy poverty
Researchers are developing innovative solutions to counter the energy poverty that impacts teaching and learning.
Educating science student-teachers about energy
How good is a science curriculum that’s insulated from working scientists or that ignores climate change and sustainable development?
Africa is getting hotter
Continued extreme heat exposure is affecting the health of vulnerable groups in communities.
Column: Ensuring a just energy transition is complex
Focusing on the dynamics in the electricity sector, Professor Imraan Valodia outlines the challenges South Africa is facing and what can be done.
A country worth fighting for
Column: South Africa is a country on the ropes. Its critical infrastructure, including its energy supply, is crippled. Do we still have some fight left?
Sellschop’s neutrinos and an elusive energy
These ghost particles have travelled light years to where we are and are proof that humans are essentially stardust and sunlight.
Bridging the energy gap with AI
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can help catapult South Africa’s energy distribution into the future.
New fossil of a 252-million-year-old sabre-toothed lion shows it reigned just before mass extinction
Fossil is described in a paper exploring the rapid turnover of top predators in African terrestrial faunas around the Permian-Traissic mass extinction.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ breaks ground on R250 million sports complex
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex is an integrated facility for training, research, and clinical practice.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre signals a new era in #InnovationForGood
The WIC will harness the creativity and ingenuity of the University’s rich, diverse community of innovators to solve complex, real-world problems.
Be(IE) innovators of the future
The first Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Course sparks a new era for #Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Innovation.
Sun-powered microgrid study launched in Pretoria
The Pecogrid pilot study will examine the viability of the large-scale rollout of microgrid inverter systems in informal communities.
Respiratory virus plagues SA but new vaccine for pregnant moms saves babies
Does immunising a woman during pregnancy protect her unborn baby against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the months after it is born?
Civil engineers use public satellite images to study why the Jagersfontein dam failed
Study by civil engineers at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University finds that the history of the Jagersfontein dam deviates from best engineering practice.
The Lancet Series on the commercial determinants of health
The 3-paper Series launching at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ today is a ground-breaking exposé of the products and practices collectively called the commercial determinants of health.
Esteemed astronomer joins Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ as a Distinguished Professor
Professor Athol Kemball joins the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Physics as a Distinguished Professor through the Carnegie Africa Diaspora Programme.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Telkom launch new industry solutions lab
Telkom and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ sign a partnership agreement to establish the new Telkom Industry Solutions Lab.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ awards 29 Centennial Postdoctoral Fellowships
The University has invested R9-million in postdoctoral fellowships to advance its innovation and internationalisation strategies and its research agenda.
Human genome editing – progress, promise, and challenges
The 3rd International Summit on Human Genome Editing took place in the UK in March. Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor of Genetics Michèle Ramsay was on the organising committee.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and US Congress celebrate 20 years of PEPFAR
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Reproductive Health and HIV Institute hosted a US Congress Delegation to mark the programme’s two decades of HIV/Aids relief.
Living in food insecure households associated with poor mental health – SA study
To ensure adequate food, one in five South African households revealed that they had to send someone to beg for food.
Dr Mitch Cox named 2023 Optica Ambassador
He is one of 10 exceptional early-career members selected from around the world to serve as a 2023 Optical Foundation Ambassador.
Successful cure of HIV infection after stem cell transplantation
An international group of researchers including Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists have identified a third case of HIV infection cured by stem cell transplantation.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ names three scholars as Friedel Sellschop Fellows
The University awarded the prestigious Friedel Sellschop fellowship award to Dr Mitchell Cox, Dr Eloise van der Merwe, and Dr Abhishek Pandey.
Why South African moms buy commercial milk formula when breast is best
Baby formula companies use nefarious and exploitative methods to create an artificial demand for their products, thereby undermining breastfeeding.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre announces team
Dr Adam Pantanowitz has been appointed as Chair in Innovation and Director of the WIC, and Letlotlo Phohole as Senior Programme Manager.
Researchers find distortion-free forms of structured light
Research offers a new approach to studying complex light in complex systems, such as transporting classical and quantum light through optical fiber.
Use practical wisdom in climate change actions
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ Global Change Institute among global scientists calling for a mindset shift about climate change which draws from various knowledge systems
New Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-UoE doctoral training centre
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University is proud to collaborate with the University of Edinburgh (UoE) to establish a new collaborative doctoral training centre in Africa.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researcher invited into her second exclusive global explorers club
Dr Keneiloe Molopyane joins the EC50 class of 2023, after also being selected as an Emerging Explorer for the National Geographic Society in 2021.
This is not just a building ...
The new Data Sciences and Innovation Hub at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Rural Campus marks 30 years of rural public health research and sets the scene for an innovative epoch in 2023.
Transformative Fellowships for humanities researchers
The African Fellowships programme advances South-North research collaboration to find solutions to global challenges.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ physicist is joint winner of The World Academy of Sciences award
Professor Andrew Forbes shares the award for physics with Professor Jueinai Kwo of Taiwan.
Ground-breaking report card gives crucial health data to manage illnesses of middle-age
Adults aged 45-65, as caregivers and workers, are high risk for non-communicable diseases, but data on healthy ageing in SA are insufficient to inform policy.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ endocrinologist again named as one of the world’s most highly cited researchers
Professor Derick Raal has for the third time been named as a Highly Cited Researcher.
Just transition requires political, economic and behavioural change
Achieving access to minimum resources and services for all, while safeguarding our planet, requires redistribution and societal transformation.
Mental health in SA is at shocking levels but people are not seeking help
A new study reveals that South Africans suffer higher rates of probable depression and anxiety than other countries.
Social vulnerability and food insecurity persistently prevalent in South Africans
A new study reveals astounding levels of social vulnerability in South Africa, which is linked to food insecurity.
‘Jet lag’ discovered in body clocks of people living with HIV in rural South Africa
People living with HIV have a significantly delayed internal body clock consistent with jet lag symptoms, found a study by SA and UK universities.
How we treat animals is key to human health, just look at Covid-19
‘Scientivist’ says planetary health must be foremost on all agendas because the ill-treatment of animals and delicate ecosystems plays havoc with human health.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers are part of a study on how to end Covid-19 as a public health threat
Study provides recommendations to end the public health threat without exacerbating socio-economic burdens or putting the most vulnerable at greater risk.
We are in ‘an abusive relationship’ with nature
Earth became our servant, and we need it to be our family, says Research Professor Matthew Chersich in delivering his inaugural lecture.
Do financial incentives boost vaccination rates?
Cash incentives only have a marginal effect on increasing vaccination uptake by adults, according to a Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and Columbia University study.
Global recognition for research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor of Pharmacy, Yahya Choonara, is the 2022 FIP Distinguished Pharmaceutical Science Award winner.
Climate change to impact mountains on a global scale
Research shows climate change will negatively impact mountain landscapes, including increasing risks such as avalanches, river floods and landslides.
‘Dad’s subwoofer’, an electric walking cane, and, is that lighting!?
4th year engineering students show off their bold and visionary solutions with amazing final-year projects.
Africa’s first endovascular robotic unit will advance research and enable ‘outreach intelligence’
The new unit at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) is both a robotics research opportunity and a global responsibility.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ hosts largest gathering of journalists
Over 350 journalists from across the continent will spend three days at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University for the 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference.
Artistic Research is blurring academic and research lines
Artistic research and its ‘tangible’ output – a creative academic degree – is an emerging yet robust field of study and enquiry in Africa.
Review of concussion in sport research underway
Consensus statement by the Scientific Committee for the International Conference on Concussion in Sport will be released in 2023.
Regular physical activity may boost effectiveness of Covid-19 jab
A new study by a team of South African researchers shows the more you exercise, the more protective Covid vaccination seems to be.
Two Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ professors awarded Science for Society Gold Medals
The Academy of Science of South Africa has awarded its highest honour, Science for Society Gold Medals, to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professors Karen Hofman and Achille Mbembe.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to kick-start a national quantum technologies initiative with R54 million funding
The South African Quantum Technologies Initiative (SA QuTI) aims develop a well-established critical mass in the national quantum community.
Maropeng brings visitors Face to Face with early Hominins
The new Face To Face exhibit showcases hominins from The Cradle of Humankind that are brought to life by science and art.
Major partnership to drive digital transformation in Africa
The Afretec network has made 20 million US dollars available to members, including Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, to collaborate in engineering and technology.
SA ICT employers, practitioners look to global skills markets
The number of SA employers reporting they are recruiting ICT skills overseas has increased dramatically in the past year – up from 38% to over 50%.
Curios.ty 14 (#Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½100): A century of doing good
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½' research magazine celebrates 100 years of changing the world for good.
100 Years of changing the world. For Good
Guest Editorial: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ remains a beacon of hope in society. We continue to strive for excellence in all that we do and use our knowledge for the good of society.
Stay curious – there’s a whole new world coming in 2122
Editorial: The stories in Curios.ty 14: #Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½100 showcase the University’s sustained participation, influence and impact in the lab, the classroom, and society.
How higher education can help heal us all
“We live in the most unequal country in the world. We can help bridge the divide and we don’t have any time to waste.” – Dr Judy Dlamini.
Academic and science activism saves lives
Meet the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ science superheroes whose research has saved lives.
Mapping African genetic diversity for better health
The contribution of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience to the field of human genomics is rewriting history on the African continent.
Death makes us alive
Without death, there would be no life – this might sound like ancient mysticism, but Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists are proving it.
Thirty years of the lab in the bush
Agincourt, one of the longest-running research centres of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, tracks health and wellbeing over the life course.
The politics of protest
Protests are a hallmark of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ history and have contributed to the University’s legacy of social activism, democracy and constitutionality.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ at a time of national crisis: Then and now
South African universities should revisit their multiple publics and explore what a public university in southern Africa today should be.
Telling African stories through art
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Art Museum covers 3 000 m2, housing more than 12 000 artworks, of which 5 551 comprise the Standard Bank African Art Collection.
The evolution of science and research practice
How has science and research practice at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ has evolved over a century?
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Digital Dome to light up the sky
It’s the end of an era as Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Planetarium is reimagined as a ‘out of this world’ digital dome.
Facing climate change head-on
Climate change took nearly a century to become mainstream science. Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is taking the lead in facing up to the challenge.
Digging for the truth of humanity
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers have over the past century changed, and challenged, the way we think about the evolution of humanity and our ancestors.
Navigating life through the eyes of a gogga
Curiosity about dung beetles could lead us into our future.
Research by the books
Books based on research by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ authors create a rare recording of history that tracks changes over time.
Identifying faces to recognise humanity
The development of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Face Database: An African database of high-resolution facial photographs.
Business for good
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is exploring the opportunities created by social enterprises that focus on addressing local, regional and global challenges.
Beyond the Ivory Tower
Four Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ units demonstrate how translational research can respond to the needs of a world outside the academy.
The best job in the world
Column: Telling the stories of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ research and academics might hopefully light a fire in the mind of the world’s next Einstein.
A philosophy for good. A University for good
There is something significantly common in the way in which all good things are good.
CTIF & Jamfest 2022: Unplugged - but still connected
Joint hybrid conferences for African civic tech innovators and media makers, journalism innovators, and other creatives.
Basaltic magma chambers may grow catastrophically fast
Basaltic magma chambers can grow extremely rapidly - in months to years.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ hosts international lightning conference - a first for Africa
Lightning protection research is paramount in order to safeguard people, animals, and infrastructure against one of the biggest weather-related killers.
National Research Foundation accolades for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists
The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience won the National Research Foundation Science Team Award while seven Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies received A-ratings.
Groundbreaking discovery from South Africa challenges the recent re-interpretation of magma chambers
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers have compelling evidence for the existence of a magma chamber deep within a South Africa’s ancient crust.
‘Mandela's Children’ 32 years later
The stories, people and science behind Africa's largest longitudinal study have been captured in a book by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Distinguished Professor Linda Richter.
Street-based female sex workers of all ages in SA at sustained high risk of acquiring HIV
Street-based female sex workers in SA have very high HIV incidence, hence the need to sustain and strengthen efforts to mitigate risk and provide care.
A new way to save rhinos
Technology used to stop a nuclear bomb from being sneaked across a border could one day be at the forefront in the fight to save the rhino.
Obesity and industry - it's not what it looks like
Voluntary actions from industry are not helping fight against obesity-related conditions.
New Partnership Academic Programme on Nuclear Law
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ is one of five universities to partner with the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote the safe use of the peaceful application of nuclear science.
Book launch on seminal study as ‘Mandela’s children’ come of age
The Birth to Thirty (Bt30) study in Soweto is Africa’s largest and longest-running birth cohort study.
Longest daily weather record for the South digitised
A project examining the Dutch East India Company’s day registers reveals unique information on the Cape’s past climate.
A lifetime dedicated to vaccines saving lives
Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ won the 2020/21 NSTF-South32 Lifetime Award.
Training scholars in groundwater to rock economies and make a splash in water security
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ hydrogeologist Prof. Tamiru Abiye is a National Research Foundation-rated scholar and winner of the 2021/22 NSTF-South32 TW Kambule Researcher Award.
In with the old: taking the long view when restoring grasslands
Restoration science and practice are critical in combatting the loss of old-growth grasslands and the loss of biodiversity.
Why metals matter in the modern world
Sehliselo Ndlovu, Professor of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, won a 'Science Oscar' at the NSTF-South32 Research Awards on 22 July 2022.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ innovation changing the world for good
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University is home to a wellspring of talent from multiple disciplines where life-changing innovation is incubated.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Research Office recognition for academics awarded by the National Research Foundation
The luncheon celebrated Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ NRF A-rated academics as well as scholars awarded previously but not formally acknowledged in person due to lockdown restrictions.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ VC inducted into prestigious Royal Society (UK)
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, internationally renowned nuclear physicist, joins the ranks of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies win lifetime achievement, research, and capacity development awards at Science Oscars
Professors Shabir Madhi, Sehliselo Ndlovu and Tamiru Abiye were winners at the 2021/2022 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South 32 Research Awards.
Mammals were not the first to be warm-blooded
Karoo fossils provide “smoking gun” on clues to when warm-bloodedness evolved in pre-mammalian ancestors.
IPBES report warn of over exploitation of wild species
Over consumption of wildlife species for energy and food will place stress on the communities that need them for survival.
Widely-used kidney function tests underestimate scale of kidney disease in Africa
A commonly used blood test which measures how well a person’s kidneys are working may not pick up kidney disease for people in Africa.
Structured light just got more colourful
Researchers from the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Structured Light Laboratory showcase recent advances in replacing the traditional linear optical toolkit with nonlinear control.
Famous Sterkfontein Caves deposit 1 million years older than previously thought
New dates for Australopithecus-bearing Sterkfontein Cave deposit places South African hominin fossils at the centre of global palaeo research.
73-year-old Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor to take on the Amazon river to fight climate change
Professor Kurt Sartorius and his colleague from the School of Accountancy, Wayne van Zijl, will set out on an expedition that nearly broke him 50 years ago.
Light travelling in a distorting medium can appear undistorted
That light gets distorted when passing through distorting media seems self-evident. Now Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Researchers have discovered a hidden property in the light that rem
Boost to pursue his high-risk, high-reward ideas
Professor Benjamin Rosman is one of 18 early-career researchers in the world to be named CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars for 2022-2024.
Genetic risk scores could predict disease in Africans
Using genetic risk scores to predict which individuals have a higher risk genetically of developing a particular disease is set to revolutionise medicine.
A career-long love affair with science
From being dazzled by the launch of space stations in the 1970s to pushing the boundaries of quantum physics.
The 2022 ICT Skills Survey goes live
The impact of hybrid work models on IT skills in South Africa will be among the issues coming under the spotlight this year.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Entrepreneurship Clinic will enable youth to become the future job creators
“Young entrepreneurs are one of the country's best hopes in solving the jobs crisis” - Dr Robert Venter, Project Leader for the WEC.
SA research leads to new WHO guidelines for improved TB treatment
Ground-breaking research conducted in SA to find shorter, more effective treatment for drug-resistant TB has informed global policy changes.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists in the team that made the first image of the black hole in the centre of our galaxy
This result provides overwhelming evidence that the object is indeed a black hole and yields valuable clues about the workings of such giants.
Unleashing the potential of university-based archives
Towards the creation of a future Civil Society and Human Rights Archive and Research Hub at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½.
National Research Foundation rates three Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies for the first time as world leaders in their fields
The NRF has awarded new A-ratings to three Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ academics in the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Health Sciences respectively.
Geologists explain why most basaltic magma chambers are roofless
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ geologists come up with an original interpretation for a long-standing petrological paradox – the common absence of roof rocks in basaltic magma chambers.
Twelve Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies in the running for Science Oscars
Twelve Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers are contenders for the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards for 2021/2022, four of whom were nominated in two categories each.
Health Sciences student wins Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ FameLab
Mpho Mathole won the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ leg of the international science communication competition and will go on to participate in the nationals later this year.
Future Ecosystems for Africa programme launched at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
Programme aims to identify African ecosystem vulnerabilities while leveraging African-informed transformative change opportunities.
Self-healing arrays of twisted light from a laser
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ physicist part of team that develops novel laser.
South African History Archive returns home
SAHA was officially relaunched at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and will be part of the Archives and Research Hub.
SA teaching hospital shows 23 percent decrease in superbug transmission after novel intervention
A study shows for the first time that Ultraviolet room decontamination paired with manual cleaning decreases transmission of CRE by 23% in a hospital setting.
R50 million donation to advance innovation in South Africa
Alumnus Dr David Fine's generous donation will be used to establish the Angela and David Fine Chair in Innovation.
Mapping mosquitoes to combat malaria
Theresa Mazarire in the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Institute for Malaria (WRIM) combines environmental science and public health to control malaria mosquitoes.
Job losses, pay cuts – State of the Newsroom during Covid-19
The 2020 State of the Newsroom report looked at a year of ‘shock, confusion and a need to radically adapt’.
R10 million for the palaeosciences
#Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½100 donation will be used to fund the Micro CT scanner upgrade to benefit palaeontologists.
It’s complicated … but let’s talk about #Gender
Read the 13th issue of Curios.ty, themed: #Gender. We feature research across the gender spectrum that aims to ensure a more equitable and tolerant society.
To live and love across a spectrum
EDITORIAL: The way we choose to identify ourselves provokes questions and demands interrogation to ensure a more equitable and tolerant society.
STEM - not all are equal
Structures need to be put in place at higher education institutions to give women their rightful opportunities.
Beyond the binary
The gender binary has reached its expiry date but it still hasn’t been consigned to society’s dustbin.
The politics of a woman’s body
The backsliding of women’s rights happening right now should be the clarion call that gender rights are still everybody’s business.
The knife between her thighs
Female Genital Mutilation - South African researchers and medical practitioners are increasingly seeing it in its most extreme forms.
Finding Nemo’s sexual identity
As a species, we are only starting to scratch the surface of our understanding of gender, sex, and identity.
Levelling the playing fields
The competitive sporting world is playing catch-up with the realities of gender in modern society.
A woman’s work is never done
The work that women do in households is largely overlooked, yet it is critical for a well-functioning society.
Parenting in the city
Building cities for women will make them more inclusive for all groups.
Older people do bonk
The notion that people older than 50 neither desire nor engage in sexual intercourse is a misnomer that demands further research, particularly in Africa.
Monetising Pride
Responsibility and representation: Where does the buck stop for brands and business sales targeting the LGBTQIA+ community?
Fractured histories
Coloured women find their centre beyond the whisper and gossip.
Being queer in Africa
Despite a history of openness to queerness in pre-colonial times, Africa is now largely unwelcoming to LGBTQIA+ people.
Same-sexuality past and present
The notion that homosexuality is ‘unAfrican’ is totally false. People have engaged in same-sex relationships for centuries.
An illegal failure of our criminal justice system
Hate crimes such as the so-called “corrective rape” of lesbians and trans women is a black mark against SA’s constitutional democracy.
A heart for the queer and gay
Dr Ahmed Badat spends his life focusing on improving LGBTQIA+ mental health training for medical students.
Let’s talk about sex (and health), please
Changes in sexual functioning are a side effect of many physical and mental illnesses, however, across genders, sexual health and behaviour are not addressed.
Mobilising big data and AI to fight GBVF
Gender-based violence and femicide is a pandemic more insidious and endemic than a virus – how technology can help combat and prevent it.
Monstrous males/femme fatales
Gender portrayals in animated films have come a long way, which is important, as animation can be a tool for positive social change.
'Real' men lift others up and don't put them down
Men cannot be left on the periphery of conversations about gender-based violence and abuse.
Performing masculinity in Men’s Res
Q&A with Moeketsi Gordon Koahela on his research into masculinity and male university students.
Philanthropy’s feminist future
Could a growing understanding of the role of women in African philanthropy spark the evolution of the charitable giving sector?
Towards gender parity in academic leadership
Eight female fellows of the Female Academic Leadership (FALF) Programme at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ share their experiences of breaking the glass ceiling.
We’re not your victims
COLUMN: Srila Roy says that feminists in the Global South are fighting the battle on two fronts, making a history of their own.
SA’s first black female doctor was a Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie
When apartheid became law in 1948, a black woman from Limpopo had already achieved a series of firsts …
New project will examine Covid-19 vaccine acceptance in southern Africa
A new project will examine Covid-19 vaccine acceptance in SA and Zimbabwe and recommend strategies to promote vaccination.
Creating job opportunities for SA’s youth
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Entrepreneurship Clinic gets going with programme to drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
Developing equal partnerships in unequal societies
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ strengthens EU partnerships through becoming a CIVIS Alliance strategic partner.
Bushveld Complex functioned as a big magma tank
Scientists find that large, long-lived, and entirely molten magma chambers did exist in Earth’s crust.
New promising interventions to protect term and premature babies from deadly respiratory virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and hospitalisation in infants.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ physicist awarded 2022 Sang Soo Lee Award
Professor Andrew Forbes recognised for his outstanding leadership in founding and growing an optics and photonics community in Africa.
French National Order of Merit awarded to Professor Helen Rees
This accolade recognises her outstanding medical career and commitment to improving global health with a focus on public health in Africa.
Population based survey reveals why SA is at a turning point in the pandemic
South Africans had extensive immunity against severe Covid-19 disease and death prior to Omicron, due to high infections in the first 3 waves and vaccination.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ celebrates research excellence
It was an upbeat post-pandemic return to campus when Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ academics gathered to celebrate research excellence.
City-slicker or rural farmer? What the bugs in your gut can tell you about your health
Scientists have for the first time described the microbiome in SA individuals in ‘city’ and ‘rural’ populations and discovered new bacteria in SA microbiomes.
Why and how Africans need to participate in genetic studies
Underrepresented populations need to feature more in genomic studies so that they benefit from research that explores how their unique genetics affect health.
Hat-trick of research accomplishments for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ digital technologist
A researcher and lecturer in the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Education has begun 2022 with three high-profile achievements.
Covid-19: New tracker for shopping malls
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ team develops social distancing and shopper behaviour tracker for malls.
Reading the nutritional signs in your burger, chips and soda combo
A study into fast food nutrition labelling found that just 58% of SA’s biggest fast food retailers surveyed provide nutritional information on their products.
EIE hosts first engineering Women’s Conference
The virtual conference highlighted the dynamic interventions that women are making in STEM.
![Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [© Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres¬sangle]](/media/wits-university/news-and-events/images/news/2021-sept-dec/Asediba.jpg "Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [© Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres¬sangle]")
Ancient human relative, Australopithecus sediba, “walked like a human, but climbed like an ape”
New lower back fossils settles a decades old debate proving early hominins used their upper limbs to climb like apes, and their lower limbs to walk like humans.
EIE Open Day 2021
From ‘sniffing’ for an internet connection to estimating poverty from space, Open Day had you covered.
Lighting up the digital divide with ‘Fibre, Before the Fibre’
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ leads efforts to develop low-cost, long-range free-space optics that can connect informal settlement communities to high-speed internet.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, British Council to boost innovation in Africa
The new Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Entrepreneurship Clinic will form part of the Innovation for African Universities Project that will drive economic development.
A child of darkness
Meet Leti, a Homo naledi child discovered in the Rising Star Cave System that yielded Africa’s richest site for fossil hominins.
Harnessing Thor’s hammer
How forensic science is unlocking the mysteries of fatal lightning strikes that could help save thousands of lives.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ ergonomics expert joins prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa
Professor Andrew Thatcher from the School of Human and Community Development has been appointed as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
New Surgical Skills Lab to train specialists and sub-specialists
R22-million project to enhance the training of surgeons in South Africa.
New Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ laboratory will advance African genetics research
The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience today launches a new research lab to understand African genetics and advance precision medicine in Africa.
My story: from Kenyan villager to international researcher
My name is Francis Otieno and I am telling this story to inspire school kids, emerging researchers, and everyone – your dreams are possible!
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies win six Science Oscars at prestigious national research awards
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers won six National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 research awards .
R70m to transform the ‘Bara Burns Unit’ into a world-class facility
New specialised Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Roy McAlpine Burns Unit will treat burn survivors and will create a high-tech skin bank and tissue engineering laboratory in Soweto.
SA ICT sector navigates pandemic unscathed but skills gaps remain
The 2021 ICT Skills Survey results were released on 28 September 2021.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-educated billionaire launches R3-billion vaccine development project in SA
It will help to establish two research centres to boost cancer and vaccine research at the University of the Witwatersrand.
A rising research star
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has awarded the Rising Star Fellowship to Associate Professor Peace Kiguwa.
Oppenheimer donation advances African Future Studies at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has donated R15 million towards the African Future Studies Initiative at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University.
Remote work a win for South Africa's ICT professionals
JSCE-IITPSA ICT Skills Survey results will be released on 28 September 2021.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ humanities scholar a Falling Walls winner
Professor Dilip Menon’s transnationalism research earns him prestigious Falling Walls Award.
Let’s DIY future democracies for good
#DIYAfrica 2021 creates space for Africans to “Do It Yourself” and realise the potential of new and emerging technologies to bring about change.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to coordinate South Africa’s national quantum initiative
The South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI) aims to drive local quantum technology research and innovation.
Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine shows promise in protecting people with HIV
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical (VIDA) research unit conducted the phase 1B/2A clinical trial.
African Research on Kidney Disease begins in Mpumalanga
It’s South African Kidney Awareness Week from 6-10 September and the ARK Consortium has begun a unique African study.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ leads ambitious partnership to drive AI in Africa
The AI Africa Consortium partners with Cirrus AI to bring large-scale AI infrastructure capacity and expertise to the African research community and industry.
Burning of fossil fuels directly impacts dung beetles
Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere negatively affects dung beetles size and survival.
Johannesburg turned into live laboratory to measure 'killer' lightning
DEHN AFRICA donates R500 000 to the Johannesburg Lightning Research Laboratory at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University to support pioneering research in lightning protections.
Are you quantum or not? Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD student cracks the high-dimensional quantum code
A new and fast tool for quantum computing and communication.
Research shows that female sex workers are exposed to extremely high levels of violence
This is the first time evidence has been available from a national sample and illuminates the health and complex life experiences of these vulnerable women.
The scandalous times of a book louse
Deborah Minors interviews Professor Robert Muponde on his new book, 'The Scandalous Times of a Book Louse: A Memoir of a Childhood'.
Former Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie wins 2021 Dirac Medal
Physicist Professor Saul Teukolsky receives the prize for theoretical work essential to the detection of gravitational waves.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ launches new Centre for Journalism
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Centre for Journalism will engage with the rapidly changing world of African journalism.
Variants, the fourth wave, vaccines and the unlikelihood of herd immunity
What might happen in South Africa?
Curios.ty 12 (#Solutions): Advancing society for good
Our cutting-edge research offers #Solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing society today.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½.For Good. solutions inspire hope
Editorial: From solutions to the structural, political, and socioeconomic challenges in South Africa, to those ‘moonshot moments’ that advance society for good.
Reinventing higher education
We need to rethink higher education by asking what kind of society we want to create.
No place for politics in bricks and mortar
South Africa’s infrastructure seems to be falling apart at the seams. What needs to be done to save the country from further deterioration?
Building a better city
A ‘world class African City’ begins and ends with history and geography.
Pay the taxman his dues
A wealth tax could make a significant contribution to alleviating South Africa’s ailing fiscal situation.
What adds up when teaching maths?
To help close the maths gap in South Africa, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ experts believe the focus should lie on the teacher.
Getting serious about gaming
Games from the Game Design programme at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Digital Arts tell important stories, and allow for solutions to many real-world problems.
Zoom in. Team up. The new era of therapy
Can online platforms help therapists and tutors transform teaching and care beyond the pandemic?
Love in the boardroom
Can love be the central guiding value in big business and in complex decisions?
Mathematics solutions to boost tourism numbers
Numbers in tourism translate into revenue for the sector. Mathematicians are now number-crunching creatively to solve tourism challenges.
Photographing ghosts in space
Photographing a black hole in space, 55 million light years from Earth, seems an impossible task but scientists went to unprecedented lengths to achieve this.
How the brain solves problems
The connections among areas of our brain and how they interact is what counts when trying to find solutions to problems.
Think big to heal South African society
The ructions caused by the pandemic are an opportunity to reconsider core values and spending priorities to address our social ills.
Sense and sensuality in people with disabilities
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers are creating the space and support for people with disabilities to talk about sex.
Enabling engagement
Breaking down the perceptual barriers between students and people living with disabilities.
Engineering empathy
In search of ways to help his father recover from injuries suffered in a motorbike accident, Nabeel Vandayar enrolled at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to study medicine.
Healing South Africa’s public health headache
Academia binds the public and private healthcare sectors in the move towards universal healthcare .
Another brick in the pay wall
The media industry in South Africa has been sputtering along for several years. How do we prevent it from totally collapsing?
Social media regulation: Can we trust the tech giants?
Some scholars consider these ‘liberating technologies’ because they empower citizens to speak back to power and hold leaders accountable.
What the world needs now
As the world looks to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, it’s clear that the time for sitting on the side-lines is over.
Repurposing drugs to treat dangerous diseases
In drug repurposing new uses are identified for a drug outside of its original scope of indication, resulting in more effective treatment.
Can philanthropy grow Africa?
Despite the fact the philanthropy is pervasive – benefactors and beneficiaries abound – relatively little is known about its practice in an African context.
Make South Africa great again!
Column: We don’t just have the ability to turn South Africa around, we have a responsibility to do so.
Weekend theatrics so the show could go on
The solution was to convert the school hall of the McAuley House convent, The Nunnery, into a theatre – over one weekend.
One of the world’s rarest chameleons found clinging to survival
Chapman’s pygmy chameleon, long feared to be extinct in the wild has been found surviving in patches of rainforest in Malawi.
How light pollution affects dung beetles
Light pollution makes it difficult for dung beetles to see the stars which they use to orientate, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers find.
Variant Bio Launches New Partnership on Kidney Disease in South Africa
Variant Bio is excited to announce the first research project in South Africa through a partnership with the African Research on Kidney Disease (ARK) Consortium
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of education in the 21st Century – escaping Plato’s cave
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ was part of an eminent panel to discuss the purpose of education in the 21st Century.
'Grand Geek' to lead Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ Innovation Strategy
Professor Barry Dwolatzky has been contracted as Director of Innovation Strategy.
Re-inventing the Doppler effect
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and HUST researchers report a new form of the Doppler effect.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ graduates awarded start-up capital for pharmacy innovation
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Pharmacy graduates were awarded seed funding for their automated, antimicrobial-surface coated pill-dispensing innovation, Ra-Pill.
Covid-19 vaccine research ALIVE and thriving at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE) has awarded research grants for cross-disciplinary Covid-19 vaccine-related projects.
SA-French research cooperation fostering scientific excellence with CNRS-Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ bipartite agreement
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) today signed a bipartite agreement of research cooperation to foster scientific excellence.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ tackles water crisis through new water research programme
The Claude Leon Foundation will fund two research chairs and a research programme in water stewardship worth R15.7 million.
Breathing life into bone
An international Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½-led team of scientists used high-powered X-rays to show how an extinct South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed.
Hate killings of black lesbians in South Africa
“We only write about them when they are dead."
South Africa’s underground astronaut
Profile: NatGeo Emerging Explorer Dr Keneiloe Molopyane.
Dream team heads for world robotics soccer cup
For the first time, a Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University team will compete in the international RoboCup tournament.
Photonics unlocks second quantum revolution
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University’s future hub of Quantum Technology is switched on.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ neuropsychologist awarded prestigious global scholarship
Dr Sahba Besharati in the Department of Psychology is one of just 19 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars, a programme that supports early-career researchers.
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Quantum Initiative launches at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Q will provide first a forum for quantum scientists in all fields across the continent to connect.
Pandemic impact on ICT skills in the spotlight in 2021 ICT Skills Survey
The JCSE-IITPSA Skills Survey assesses skills demand and supply from both a corporate and practitioner perspective.
WhatsApp + maths tutors = a solution for poor learners
An innovative maths WhatsApp hotline threw high school teens an educational lifeline during 2020.
GCRF Funding of Synchrotron Techniques for Africa lauded as great success
Results include 80+ researchers now collaborating from multiple continents, over 50 world class papers published and a new generation of scientists trained.
Survey to unearth health info practices around Covid-19 in SA
Various studies have been conducted to understand the issues surrounding the Corona virus, and its impact on different population groups.
Rhino anti-poaching research goes nuclear
From 2010 to 2019 over 9 600 rhinos were killed in poaching attacks. On this current trajectory, South Africa’s rhino will be nearing extinction in nine years.
One of the world’s coolest inventions
South African-born engineer and entrepreneur is making a significant contribution in the fight against Covid-19.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Archaeologist named 2021 National Geographic Explorer
Archaeologist and biological anthropologist, Keneiloe Molopyane, is recognised as a trailblazer by the prestigious National Geographic Society.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and French National Centre for Scientific Research announce PhD projects
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have announced five CNRS-Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD projects to be supported in 2021.
South African materials technology used in CERN’s ATLAS experiment
The use of South African technology to produce high tech electronic components will cost five times less than importing the technology from the United States.
Who catches and transmits flu in SA and the implications for vaccination
A new study has found a high burden of influenza in a rural and an urban setting in SA, where asymptomatic people – particularly children – transmit this virus.
In defence of Joburg minibus taxi drivers
It's Global Road Safety Week from 17-23 May. Research by a bioethicist challenges assumptions about road safety, minibus taxi crashes, and who's responsible.
DeepMind establishes scholarship for four Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Masters students in machine learning
Scholarships seek to increase diversity in the fields of machine learning and are aimed at students from backgrounds underrepresented in AI.
Launch of new online magazine Nature Africa
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University is a founding partner of the new online magazine reporting on scientific research and policy across Africa.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientist appointed to a position of leadership at the European Laboratory CERN
Professor Bruce Mellado has been elected Chairperson of the Institutional Board of the Tile Calorimeter of the ATLAS experiment at CERN.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial results show efficacy against the B.1.351 variant in SA study
Results from the initial primary analysis of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial conducted by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ VIDA in SA have been published.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ cancer researcher awarded highest honour from Cancer Association of South Africa
Professor Paul Ruff received the 2020 A.G. Oettlé Memorial medal from CANSA in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cancer research.
How the language you speak aligns to your genetic origins and may impact research on your health
A new study challenges the presumption that all South-Eastern-Bantu speaking groups are a single genetic entity.
AI-powered Algorithm released to detect the third wave in South Africa
While models show a low risk of a third wave in South Africa, the country is still highly vulnerable.
Sales of sugar sweetened beverages decline after SA introduces Health Promotion Levy – study
A study by PRICELESS-SA and partners shows that SA’s 2018 “sugar tax” led to a reduction in purchases of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs).
Challenging perspectives on magma chambers
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers report on a new phenomenon in magma chambers called “magmatic karstification”.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students develop unique cannabis cultivation tech
Two master’s students are developing new technologies aimed at disrupting the booming cannabis, or so called ‘green gold’, industry.
Disentangling the neuromolecular networks involved in speech and language
As a biochemist/biophysicist working primarily with proteins, Sylvia Fanucchi is naturally drawn to the mechanisms of interactions of biological macromolecules.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ announces team to advance AI research in Africa
The team, led by Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, will lead Africa’s effort to advance artificial intelligence research and its application across the continent.
Image of black hole shows magnetic fields around a black hole are strong enough to resist gravity
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ astrophysicists are the only two scientists on African continent that contributed to the study.
Professor Roy Shires wins International Excellence in Endocrinology Award
The Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C. has named Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor Roy Shires as the recipient of the 2020 International Excellence in Endocrinology Award.
![[...] Ellipses Special Issue](/media/wits-university/news-and-events/images/news/2021-jan-april/[...] Ellipses Special Issue_600x300px "[...] Ellipses Special Issue")
‘Johannesburg Lasts’, a special issue of Ellipses Journal for Creative Research
Online and interactive creative research from the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Arts and Arts Research Africa.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ tests the waters at Wakkerstroom
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists provide free testing of water quality in honour of International Water Day in Wakkerstroom.
South African Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study a global game-changer
Findings of the SA study in the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial results in SA and UK confirm high levels of efficacy
Results of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial in SA and UK have confirmed high levels of efficacy against the original and variant Covid-19.
Whale and dolphin brains are special, but for heat production, not for intelligence
Scientific evidence shows specialised features in the large brains of whales and dolphins that are adapted for heat production.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and Biovac partner to develop skills to produce viral vectored vaccines in South Africa
The Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit via Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Enterprise has partnered with Biovac to develop the skills capacity to produce viral vectored vaccines in SA.
Prehistoric killing machine exposed
Previously thought of as heavy, slow and sluggish, the 260-million-year-old predator, Anteosaurus, was a ferocious hunter-killer.
New technology allows scientists first glimpse of intricate details of Little Foot’s life
High resolution X-ray imaging of Little Foot's skull and dentition shows Little Foot suffered periods of dietary stress and illness when she was a child.
Targeted spraying to prevent malaria in low transmission setting halves cost of current practice
A study by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists and partners has proved that a targeted malaria transmission prevention intervention is not inferior to the 'blanket' approach.
New Earth Sciences Cluster
This new Cluster will further encourage world class research through collaboration, coordination and communications.
National Research Foundation A-rates four Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists again
The NRF has re-awarded A-ratings to four Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists, a grading which confirms that they are recognised as leading international scholars in their fields.
South African Child Gauge tackles the slow violence of malnutrition
The DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ helped develop the 15th issue of the South African Child Gauge®.
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial results
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit, which runs the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa, has announced results.
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine shows sustained protection of 76% during 3-month interval until second dose
Researchers at the University of Oxford have today published in Preprints with The Lancet an analysis of further data from the ongoing trials of the vaccine.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine the first to demonstrate clinical efficacy against South African variant
Clinical efficacy demonstrated in Phase 2b South Africa trial.
Geophysicists develop innovative seismic technologies
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ geophysicists have invented cost-effective and environmentally friendly seismic technologies that will contribute to sustainable mining exploration.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ joins York Univeristy in Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence Data Modelling consortium
Consortium will research predictive modelling and forecasting of the transmission of COVID-19 in Africa, using Artificial Intelligence.
Curios.ty 11 (#Viral): Covid-19 - An opportunity for a global reset
The pandemic demands a relook of how we connect with each other and the world.
How Covid-19 enabled a reset in the world
Editorial: The Covid-19 pandemic has gone viral and has severely impacted on how we interact, conduct our business, teach and learn.
How national identity affects infection outcome
Could a country’s collective psychology determine the outcomes of a pandemic? A global cohort of researchers believes so.
CTRL-ALT-DELETE: Re-setting the post-pandemic South Africa
The Covid-19 lockdown has had a massive impact on South Africa’s economy, exposing profound weaknesses such as the country’s huge inequality.
How vaccines save lives
The story of how vaccines save lives is important to tell – now more than ever.
Second wave severity: What semi-saved South Africa?
South Africa has surprised itself and the world with fewer Covid-19 deaths despite a significantly higher infection rate as predicted.
The long haul to partial recovery
So-called Covid long-haulers afflicted with 'Long Covid' are showing how long and frustrating the journey to recovery can be.
Making sense of the numbers
Modelling pandemics might be an imperfect science, but it is the best that we have.
Pandemic history foretells a dismal future
If history has taught the world anything, it’s to ignore the warning signs and carry on catching diseases.
When the US sneezes...
Different nations’ responses to the pandemic should serve as a warning to exercise extreme caution in choosing leaders.
Virus wages war on women
Almost everyone has suffered in some way from the effects of the Covid pandemic – but women have suffered far more.
Understanding the infodemic
Covid-19 misinformation, mythology, and fake news has implications for public health.
Valour and the virus
Throughout her career, Professor Glenda Gray has focussed on one thing only – saving lives.
Teaching in a Covid global village
It takes a village to raise a child but the global village is shrinking.
A fleeting green moment in time
Scientists predict that an Age of Pandemics is imminent unless human beings change their ways.
The blame game: Putting a pandemic on the pangolin
Is blaming a threatened species for a global pandemic not an indictment of our environmental conscience?
What we caught online
We need new rules of engagement on social media – even if we don’t know it yet.
Privacy and the dollars in you data
The balance between sharing personal data online and how it’s used and by whom is difficult to define and complex to regulate.
Infection online
Online attacks and phishing surged during Covid-19. Is there a permanent solution to cybercrime?
TikTok/WeChat: US and them
Banning popular apps like TikTok and WeChat is about more than a spat between the US and China.
Big data: A sword to wield or a knife in the back?
Competition policy will determine if big data is a tool for inclusion or exclusion.
Keeping an eye on the virus from the sky
Profile: When Covid-19 hit, 21-year-old Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ engineering student, Xolani Radebe, knew that he wanted to be part of the solution.
Beating the pandemic through innovative thinking
Three Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ postgraduate students demonstrate how their research and innovative ideas contribute to addressing a pandemic.
Finding security in the unseen
Messages carried in structured light can secure quantum communications in the future.
Dimming the lights on malaria
The fight against the disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people in Africa each year could be as simple as changing a light bulb.
Along came a virus…
Column: Professor Lynn Morris reflects on a lifetime of virus hunting, from HIV, through Ebola, to SARS-COV-2.
In the company of criminals
Column: Using the Covid-19 National State of Disaster to try to govern booze and cigarettes, is the wrong approach.
The making of a hospital
How the Wayside Inn became the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
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A wealth tax for South Africa
New paper shares details on how to implement a wealth tax in South Africa.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists artificially infect mosquitoes with human malaria to advance treatment
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists and local and global partners have artificially infected mosquitoes with human malaria and identified a new chemical compound to treat malaria.
Building Africa's AI initiative
Considerations behind the largest and most complex undertaking of its kind in Africa’s history.
AI helps to identify new Covid-19 hotspots in Gauteng
Gauteng Government, IBM Research and Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University are fighting the pandemic with artificial intelligence.
Annual SoAP exhibition goes online
For the first time, the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Architecture and Planning (SoAP) held its End of Year School Show online.
Species across the globe at risk
Changes in fire activity are threatening more than 4 400 species globally.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies receive 2020 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme has recognised two female Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists for their groundbreaking research.
Pioneering research and innovation through the Nairobi Alliance
An innovative research partnership with the potential to transform lives and support communities across the world has launched today.
First peer-reviewed results of phase 3 human trials of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine demonstrate efficacy
For the first time, Covid-19 vaccine phase 3 human trial results have been peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal.
Huge money boost for Planetary and Space Science Project
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ plays key role in securing funding to develop Planetary and Space Science projects in Africa.
PhD student receives major international grant at CERN
Humphry Tlou, a physics PhD student at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, is one of two students to be awarded with the CERN ATLAS PhD grant.
The hunt for an HIV vaccine
Unique insights from an inspiring cohort of women in South Africa.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University physicist wins top South African physics award
The Gold Medal from the South African Institute of Physics is the greatest distinction that is conferred in South Africa for achievements in Physics.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University statement on Oxford Covid-19 vaccine results in UK and Brazil populations
Scientists at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University are encouraged by results announced today by colleagues at the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca.
The postgraduate blueprint for a future that works
Register for postgraduate study at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University and be part of the future of exciting possibilities.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ie receives grant to develop early-career research managers
Research manager, Caryn McNamara, one of more than 50 international grantees to help develop research management professionals.
HIV study shows new injection is more effective than current daily HIV pill to prevent HIV in women
Early unblinding of the of long-acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) is a milestone for prevention of HIV among women in sub Saharan Africa.
Africa’s first 5G Innovation Lab
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, Huawei and rain jointly launch Africa's first 5G laboratory at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.
Biomimicry control for Covid diagnostics
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers develop solution to improve accuracy and safety of Covid-19 testing.
Major new African genome study finds varieties that inform African history, migration and immunity
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ geneticists and partners publish groundbreaking study that informs African population history, environmental adaptation, and susceptibility to disease.
GCRF START grant fulfilling a vision
Exciting new research at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ made possible through the GCRF START grant.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researcher receives $150 000 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer grant
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ conservation scientist, Dr Bernard Coetzee received the prestigious Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer grant for his work on light pollution.
EIE Virtual Open Day 2020
The School of Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) recently held its Open Day online for the first time.
Anticipating a 'second wave'
Covid-19: When and how South Africa should try to prevent or mitigate it.
Covid-19 pandemic drives need for policy brief on physical activity for health in Africa
More than ever, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to prioritise physical activity as an imperative for public health in Africa.
New global health research to reduce the impacts of Covid-19 across low- and middle-income countries
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Health Consortium divisions - PRICELESS-SA, Agincourt and Ezintsha - secure grant in association with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
, Zakhele Ndala (School of Chemistry) and Leigh Crymble (Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School)_600x300.jpg "Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD Winners: Tamlyn Naidu (Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering), Zakhele Ndala (School of Chemistry) and Leigh Crymble (Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Business School)")
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD Seminar Winners
Finalists at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ first cross-faculty PhD Seminar kept judges and audiences on the edge.
Trial to test if measles, mumps, rubella vaccine protects healthcare workers against Covid-19
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine may strengthen immune response to viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.
Dietary migration of Kruger's Impala rivals the geographical migration of the Serengeti wildebeest
Research shows seasonal dietary changes increase the abundances of savanna herbivore species.
Diamonds are a quantum scientist’s best friend
The discovery of triplet spin superconductivity in diamonds has the potential to revolutionise the high-tech industry.
Ezintsha study provides new data on current ART regimens with concerns about weight gain
The SA ADVANCE study of the potency and safety of SA's commonly used antiretroviral treatment regimens has published new safety data, especially on weight gain.
How social distancing during a pandemic affects the elderly in rural South Africa
Socialising is essential for brain health in the elderly in rural South Africa – has lockdown affected their cognitive function?
10 years of broadcasting for VOW FM
Voice of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ FM marks 10 years of great radio and growth.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor wins top chemistry prize
Professor Charles de Koning is awarded the South African Chemistry Institute’s (SACI) gold medal and gets inducted as a Fellow of SACI.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researcher writes book on the evolutionary origins of life and death
Durand uses cell death as a lens through which to examine the interconnectedness of life and death.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD students take leadership roles at the European laboratory CERN
The two students have also been awarded highly competitive fellowships for their outstanding work.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientist on global commission that cautions against using gene-edited embryos for pregnancy
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Professor of Human Genetics Michèle Ramsay has contributed to the international report on Heritable Human Genome Editing released in the UK on 3 September.
Student project goes to Dutch Design Week
The work of Joshil Naran, a masters in Architecture student, has been selected to showcase at a global festival for creatives and innovators.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University resumes vaccinating in the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University has resumed vaccinating in the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial currently also underway in the UK, Brazil and the U.S.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University pauses Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial as part of standard regulatory procedure
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University will pause the Covid-19 vaccine trial it is running with the University of Oxford following a medical event in a volunteer in the UK.
GCRO map shows more women get Covid-19 in Gauteng
More women (56%) than men are testing positive for COVID-19 in Gauteng.
Curios.ty 10, #Mood, explores mental health now and in the next decade
By 2030, mental health will be the single largest global challenge we will face (World Health Organization).
How are you really doing? #MOOD
Life as we know it has changed due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which has irrevocably altered the way we live, work, behave, think and feel.
A moment in time
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ postgraduate students in Medical Anthropology share the effects of living under lockdown amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Is South Africa driving us mad?
We live in a state of constant high alert in South Africa. The effect on us is profound but an environment like this also builds resilience.
Putting a number on mental health costs
Mental health costs should be counted in people, not rands and cents.
Mental gymnastics
What’s the best thing you can do for your brain today? Move!
Save you sanity with sleep
Lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your physical health and mental wellbeing – and may have implications for people living with HIV.
The comfort of the Arts
The arts evoke emotion. How do we harness them for wellbeing?
Rock on!
Music is thought to be one of the ways that our ancient ancestors expressed their emotions – and may well have led to early languages.
Can tech save our sanity?
Promising technological and online innovations could be crucial in combating the world’s alarming mental health statistics.
Teaming-up at home
Our dependence on technology brought on by Covid-19 makes cognitive and emotional demands that, unaddressed, threaten our mental wellbeing.
Over ruled – How the head trumps the heart
Our brain is a complex organ – it keeps us breathing, helps us pull our hands from a fire, and keeps our emotions, fears and dreams in check.
The Crocodile Rock
Pay close attention the next time you play a Bach concerto to your pet crocodile. If you look closely, you might just see him tapping his toes to the rhythm.
Traditional answers to mind-body-spirit questions
Indigenous knowledge is critical in helping people cope with mental health issues that western medicine may not address.
How your tribe affects your vibe
We are influenced by those with whom we most closely associate, in terms of our ideologies, political positions and prejudices. Covid-19 exposed who we are.
Madness, she wrote
The feminisation of madness is persistent and pervasive as are forms of Othering across societies.
Feelings about fathers
The role of the father in the family or, more specifically, his absence, has profound implications for the mental wellbeing of his offspring.
Balancing two worlds
PROFILE: Nothing is more empowering than the feeling like you are being heard. Dr Nomfundo Moroe lends an ear and empathy to the Deaf community.
Whiter workplace wellness?
Mental health is set to become a global crisis by 2030. Creating a caring, nurturing culture in your workplace can save employers and employees a lot of stress.
Our ageing brains: Concentrating on dementia
Strong social networks can go a long way to assist people living with forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's.
Understanding suicide
Suicide risk may start in the womb and studies also connect it to factors including smoking, social media and social inequality.
Concentrating on ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a long phrase to describe a short attention span. In students, ADHD can severely impact academic performance.
The right to die
Q&A: Professor of Philosophy, Kevin Behrens explains why euthanasia is not simply a matter of life and death.
Building a better understanding of disability
People with disabilities, be they physical or mental, are often treated differently, which may affect their mental wellness. How to remove the social barriers.
Facing feelings that fuel power relations
Critical Diversity Studies scholar, Adanma Yisa, explains why automated emotional responses shield us from confronting criticism can undermine reconciliation.
Lockdown blues
COLUMN: Every lockdown has a silver lining, Schalk Mouton discovers as he roller-coasters through the emotional demands of living in isolation.
History has no end
Former student leader and now Professor of Law, Firoz Cachalia, reflects on the mood before Nelson Mandela was released from prison 30 years ago.
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Study on SARS-CoV-2 transmission by asymptomatic people in rural and urban SA
How many people in one household contract SARS-CoV-2, transmit it without having symptoms, and how does this virus interact with other pathogens in the home?
Covid 19: Scientific excellence will help explore new frontiers
When university resources are scarce, building and sustaining equitable research excellence should be paramount.
200 000 years ago, humans preferred to kip cozy
Humans prepared beds to sleep on right at the dawn of our species – over 200 000 years ago.
Accounting, governance and integrated thinking
Special Report by the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Accounting on how companies should manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #3: Testing for Covid-19? All you need to know about antibody tests
The third in a series of expert advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #2: Practical guidance on disinfecting
This is the second of a series of Expert Advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Covid-19 Expert Advice #1: How long should I isolate or quarantine for?
This is the first of a series of expert advisories on how to respond to Covid-19 which will be published from time to time by Maverick Citizen.
Investigating energy materials for efficient and cost effective conversion of sunlight into electric
Alternative energy at increased efficiency with lower cost and improved environmental footprints has a domino effect on socio-economic landscape.
Sustainable solutions to the energy challenge
“Our vision one day is to see such fuel cells commercialised and distributed around Africa and the rest of the world," says Sikhumbuzo Masina, PhD candidate.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students dominate global supercomputing competition
Despite Covid-19, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students won second place with their applications to aide analysis of Covid-19 data in the competition held online for the first time.
Male mosquito odours reveal how mozzies mate
For the first time, scientists have identified male mosquito-specific pheromones that influence mating rituals.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ experts to speak at international symposium on climate and environmental factors in COVID-19
Symposium coincides with the publication of their article on environmental drivers and the potential seasonality of COVID-19.
Hat-trick of wins for Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies at Science Oscars
Three Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies in human genetics, economic geology, and public health research data respectively have won National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) awards.
Sharing a secret … the quantum way
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Researchers demonstrate a new quantum approach for sharing a secret amongst many parties, setting a new record for the highest dimensions and parties.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination of pregnant women could prevent pneumonia in babies
Immunising pregnant women with a potential vaccine against RSV could prevent the most common cause of pneumonia in their babies.
Antarctica more widely impacted by humans than previously thought
Data from 2.7 million human activity records show just how extensive human use of Antarctica has been over the last 200 years.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University senior clinicians volunteer for Covid-19 vaccine trial
Senior clinicians in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University have volunteered to participate in South Africa’s first Covid-19 vaccine trial.
Daytime aardvark sightings are a sign of troubled times
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers find that aardvarks feeding in the daytime during droughts might be starving.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students showcase South African electronics research at top international workshop
ACES 2020 ATLAS CMS Electronics is the state-of-the-art international electronics conference for Large Hadron Collider LHC upgrades at CERN.
Top nuclear physicist to lead Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi appointed as the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Vice-Chancellor and Principal from 1 January 2021
The first Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa begins
The first participants in South Africa's first clinical trial for a vaccine against Covid-19 will be vaccinated this week.
PhD student’s study on the state of magma in crustal reservoirs published in Nature Communications
The study challenges a recently-emerged paradigm that magma chambers are huge masses of crystals with just a very small amount of melt.
Challenge accepted: bringing a science paper to life through video
Professor Lee Berger accepts a challenge in science communications to turn a science paper into an interesting video lecture.
Dedicated dozen nominated for science oscars
Twelve Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists across disciplines have been nominated for NSTF-South 32 Research Awards, known as the 'Science Oscars', and eight are finalists.
How to discover your own fossil site
Discovering a fossil site takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. Professor Lee Berger describes the clues that led him to the discovery of Malapa.
The long arm and short legs wars
Professor Lee Berger explores the origins of the this great debate and examines the arguments of the terrestrialists and the arborealists.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students’ research on cover of leading world optics journal
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Master’s students create best practice guide for efficient and accurate use of DMDs in structured light laboratories.
The impact of Gladysvale
Gladysvale is known for its impact on the dating of cave sites in Africa and has produced some of the most spectacular faunal remains of extinct animals.
GeneXpert testing platform for TB repurposed to accelerate testing for Covid-19
Efforts to test for Covid-19 in SA have been boosted through repurposing the Cepheid GeneXpert® Systems, originally designed to test for tuberculosis (TB).
A Question of Numbers
Does the fossil sample for Australopithecus africanus only represent one species. Professor Lee Berger takes on this sticky question.
JCSE Listening Circle Series
Join South Africa’s Grand Geek’ and leading digital experts as they explore Africa’s Digital Future.
A matter of time
Professor Lee Berger explores the use of the absolute age of fossils in questions of phylogeny, and where the age of a fossil is important.
When were there giants?
Is there any evidence in the fossil record that giants have lived on Earth in the past? Professor Lee Berger explores this question.
The context of fossil hominid discoveries in Africa
Professor Lee Berger explains the context of how original fossils are preserved and explores the context of discoveries.
Choices in a fog of uncertainty: lessons for coronavirus from climate change
The science to policy process that was developed to guide climate mitigation decisions can be applied to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The species concept in palaeoanthropology
Professor Lee Berger explains the concept of species in palaeoanthropology.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ needs 300 volunteers for COVID-19 rapid test study
Have you tested positive for coronavirus or been near someone who has? If so, your country urgently needs you for a South African COVID-19 rapid test study.
Exploring the Fossil Hominid Vault at the University of the Witwatersrand
Professor Lee Berger shows what is behind the doors of the Phillip V Tobias Fossil Hominid vault.
An Introduction to the fossils of Sterkfontein
Professor Lee Berger introduces one of the world's longest running and richest fossil hominid sites.
Coronavirus: why South Africa needs a wealth tax now
A wealth tax on the top 1% of South Africans could raise R143 billion. This corresponds to 29% of the R500 billion COVID-19 package announced by the government.
I can’t reach with the screwdriver, please pass the laser!
New metasurface laser opens up a new world of applications using optical control of physical objects.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ publishes first clinical data on COVID-19 in South Africa
Health professionals will face difficult ethical decisions when it comes to dealing with COVID-19 patients.
The muddle in the middle-Pleistocene
Professor Lee Berger explains the mystery surrounding human relatives living in Africa during the middle Pleistocene.
Unique Namibian trial finds smart interventions reduce malaria transmission by 75%
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ scientists along with Namibian, UK and US partners have shown how the smart application of existing interventions can reduce the transmission of malaria.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ COVID-19 dashboard gets grant award from the IEEE
New features added as inter disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration data on the pandemic grows.
Rise of the Prometheus
In the second episode of Professor Lee Berger’s series of lectures on human origin, he delves into his favourite hominid-bearing site, Makapansgat.
Professor Lee Berger to host online video lectures on human origins
Lectures will feature some of the University’s fossils, including the Taung Child, Homo naledi, Australopithecus sediba and various other fossils.
South Africa needs to end the lockdown: here’s a blueprint for its replacement
Academics call on government to develop a comprehensive health and economic strategy if it is to prevent long term socio-economic damage caused by pandemic.
Dinosaur "Easter eggs" reveal their contents in 3D
High-powered X-rays of the world’s oldest fossilised dinosaur embryos show surprising similarities to the embryos of today’s crocodiles, lizards and chickens.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ COVID-19 dashboard goes continental
New features added as inter disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration data on the pandemic grows.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ engineers make face shields to protect healthcare workers
A team of innovative Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies is using their design and engineering skills to create face shields in aid of the fight against COVID-19.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ Forbes appointed as editor-in-chief of international journal
Forbes is the first South African to take over the reins of the 100-year-old publication published by the UK’s Institute of Physics.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers unravel the mystery of magmatic rocks consisting of random proportions of minerals
Geologists found the answer as to why certain magmatic rocks have varying proportions of minerals than what is expected of their type.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ researchers launch most comprehensive COVID-19 dashboard in South Africa
The dashboard is aimed at informing government, scientists, the media and general public with quick, easy-to-understand information on the current situation.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ PhD student develops novel infection control solution
New self-sanitising surface coating will help to address infection control in hospitals, food processing plants and public transport surfaces.
"Little Foot" skull reveals how this human ancestor lived
Micro-CT scanning of “Little Foot” skull reveals new aspects of the life of this more than 3-million year-old-human ancestor.
New study reveals the secret of magmatic rocks consisting of only one mineral
Geologists from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ have come up with an original explanation of how nature may produce a class of magmatic rocks that are made up of only one type of mineral.
Roadmap to a win-win against invasive weeds
Researchers at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University have created the world’s first framework, to better guide the management of terrestrial invasive species.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ academics play leading role in Future Earth 2020 report
The Future Earth Report is an overview of some of the various risks faced by humanity, where it comes to our sustainable future on the planet.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ team and industry closer to final LVPS prototype
Team visits Jemstech to view progress on first SA-made prototype for Tile Calorimeter of the ATLAS Detector at CERN.
Curiosity 9: #ClimateEmergency
2020: The year of extreme weather and how to mitigate the climate change.
Fibre communications on steroids: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ student breaks the code
A team from Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ (South Africa) and HUST (China) show that multi-dimensional quantum communications with twisted light is possible down legacy fibre networks.
Crowd-funding campaign helps Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ students to find large haul of ancient fossils
Group of students find a large haul of fossils on the first day of their dig in Oviston Nature Reserve.
Green Cross needed to halt the climate emergency
EDITORIAL: We do not have a choice. It is incumbent on each of us to tackle the #ClimateEmergency.
Universities cannot be neutral about climate justice any longer
With the world facing a climate emergency, higher education institutions should lead in securing a future for our children.
The burning issue of population control
Many are calling for increased population control but is this a solution to decrease the rate of climate change?
Teens feel the heat of climate change
Climate change not only threatens mental health in South Africa, but also heralds poorer matric pass rates as teens, in particular, inherit the Earth.
Sunny-side up as Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ goes green
Universities breaking new ground in climate research should be models of sustainability themselves.
Finding alternatives to our favourite dirty words
An energy crisis built on an obsession with fossil fuels. Can alternative energy resources save the day for South Africa?
The war on waste pickers
South Africa’s waste pickers are critical to our recycling economy and green future, yet they are marginalised, maligned, and discarded.
Green is the new black
In our bid to save the planet from catastrophe, we have entered “the age of green”.
Clean careers and greener pastures
The green economy could save South Africa in more ways than one – cleaning up the environment will contribute to the economy, too.
Never let a good crisis go to waste
Although we are facing a global climate challenge, there are hidden benefits and opportunities if we respond to this challenge sooner rather than later.
The subtle art of breaking the silence
Underneath the smoke and concrete, artists invite us to respond to changing climates.
The greenbacks in mobile phone mines
Consumer products rule our world. Period. And in our modern lives, electronic equipment is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity.
Hands off our grasslands
Grasslands are vastly biodiverse areas and vital for the sustainability of human wellbeing.
How grass dances with fire
Grasslands have unique strategies that have ensured the enduring survival of southern Africa’s veld.
Changing the leopard’s spots
Chinese people and wildlife poaching: The Africa-China Reporting Project warns of “the danger of a single story”.
The changing nature of accounting
The days are gone where companies must only report on their financial bottom line. Now they should report on their impact on the environment too.
The beauty of a good green deed
PROFILE: An early fascination with the environment sparked an interest in its protection for Miss Earth South Africa 2019.
An evolving understanding of extinction
Palaeoscientists are uniquely placed to interrogate the Earth’s geological records, the origin and development of life, biodiversity change, and extinctions.
Living yoga for the mind
Plants in the office are not there just to look pretty. They can lead to increased productivity, as well as improved mental health for workers.
Climate engineering: saving the world or smoke and mirrors?
Q&A with Professor Bob Scholes on a major project that is about to begin at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ to look at potential and problems with four climate engineering ideas.
Rock steady, grassy green
COLUMN: Reflections on former Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron’s critical jurisprudence and the environment.
Rise of the African Eco-Warriors
COLUMN: While there is paralysis from above, exciting new forms of movement-building from below in Africa are saying ‘No to climate genocide!’
Dare to care in an ocean of apathy and expenditure
COLUMN: Black Friday blues’ impact on my quest to go green, on my green backs, and the implications for Earth.
Jacarandas then and now
Monitoring the timing of recurring biological events is key to understanding the effects of climate change.
Early modern humans cooked starchy food in South Africa 170 000 years ago
The discovery also points to food being shared and the use of wooden digging sticks to extract the plants from the ground