Pachyderm perfume: How African elephants use odor to communicate
University of Queensland researchers have found African elephants use their acute sense of smell as a form of communication......»»
Collaboration uncovers mechanisms of an African plant with anti-HIV potential
A collaboration between The Wistar Institute and the University of Buea in Cameroon has uncovered the mechanisms for a medicinal plant with anti-HIV potential in Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch, a species of African tree that has been used in tradit.....»»
Flies carry bacteria, and some are resistant to antibiotics—evidence from three South African hospices
Houseflies live close to humans and domesticated animals and because they are so mobile they can easily spread bacteria that make people sick......»»
"Critically endangered" African penguins just want peace and food
Mashudu Mashau says it takes about two minutes to catch a penguin, a task he does weekly to investigate sightings of injured or sickly seabirds......»»
Curly-Tailed Cats Communicate with an ‘Accent’
A genetic mutation makes some cats’ tail curl over their back, giving them something akin to an accent when they communicate with other kitties.....»»
Decline in West African coastal fish stocks threatens food security and livelihoods
Small-scale fisheries play a vital role in providing food and livelihoods for millions of people around the world, particularly in low-income countries in Africa. However, there is limited statistical data on the composition, abundance, and distribut.....»»
Let African Communities Manage Their Climate Adaptation Plans
Outside groups often offer their solutions for climate adaptation in Africa. But the best people to manage the climate crisis are the people in those communities themselves. For climate adaptation to succeed in Africa, let communities and local leade.....»»
Which animals carry mpox? Our study identified African forest dwelling rodents as one source
Mpox is a disease caused by the highly infectious monkeypox virus. It's quite easily passed on from one person to another. But it originally came from infected animals......»»
Bees help tackle elephant-human conflict in Kenya
"We used to hate elephants a lot," Kenyan farmer Charity Mwangome says, pausing from her work under the shade of a baobab tree......»»
53 years of survey data confirm African elephant decline
Habitat loss and poaching have driven dramatic declines in African elephants, but it is challenging to measure their numbers and monitor changes across the entire continent. A new study has analyzed 53 years of population survey data and found large-.....»»
African voices in ink: Researcher uncovers letters from Igbo people
Who writes history? It depends on who you read. Dr. Bright Alozie of Portland State University considers himself a historian of ordinary voices. His newly published book explores petitions and the trend of petition writing by Igbo individuals to Brit.....»»
Secrets of the corpse flower revealed
The unusual odor of the titan arum, commonly called the corpse flower because its scent is reminiscent of rotting flesh, draws crowds of curious visitors to greenhouses around the world during its rare blooms. What also intrigues scientists is the co.....»»
Saturday Citations: Color vision created demand for colorful animals; observing black hole light echoes; deadlines!
This week, researchers hypothesized that human culture is distinguished from cultures of other species like whales by unique open-endedness—the ability to communicate and understand an infinite number of possibilities. An ancient unicellular organi.....»»
Researchers call for nuanced understanding of "tribe" in Arab world
The study of Arab tribes should not be abandoned because Middle East and North African citizens continue to insist on the relevance of the term in their daily lives, says a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Political Science......»»
African countries shouldn"t have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused, says economist
As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever......»»
Handling the hype: Researcher seeks to improve science communication
Being a scientist has its challenges. Knowing how to communicate your scientific research in a socially responsible manner can be even more difficult. Thankfully, one researcher at Michigan State University and colleagues at several other universitie.....»»
Something to sniff at: Lab-engineered receptors illuminate odor detection
A team of researchers led by Duke University, the University of California San Francisco, and the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope have engineered odorant receptors to reveal the molecular basis of odor discrimination......»»
Saturday Citations: On chimpanzee playwrights; the nature of dark energy; deep-diving Antarctic seals
This week, researchers reported the world's second-tiniest toad, winning the silver in the Brachycephalus contest. Chemists at UCLA disproved a 100-year-old organic chemistry rule. And researchers in Kenya report that elephants don't like bees, which.....»»
African Sahara "greening" can alter Northern Hemisphere climate, modeling study finds
Africa's Sahara Desert may be considered a vast expanse of barren sand with limited vegetation, an extreme environment for plants and animals to thrive, but life always finds a way. Indeed, vegetation growth in the desert has waxed and waned over mil.....»»
Fungi may not think, but they can communicate
Fungi form distinct networks depending on how food sources are arranged. Fungi can be enigmatic organisms. Mushrooms or other structures may be visible above the soil, but beneath.....»»
Nigeria"s last elephants: What must be done to save them?
Nigeria has a unique elephant population, made up of both forest-dwelling (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna-dwelling (Loxodonta africana) elephant species. But the animals are facing unprecedented threats to their survival. In about 30 years, Nigeria'.....»»