Stone age desert kites found in southern Africa
A team of researchers with the University of Johannesburg's Palaeo-Research Institute has found multiple instances of desert kites in a part of South Africa. In their paper published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, the gro.....»»
The New Gods of Weather Can Make Rain on Demand—or So They Want You to Believe
In a gold-trimmed command center on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, scientists are seeking to wring moisture from desert skies. But will all their extravagant cloud-seeding tech—planes that sprinkle nanomaterials, lasers that scramble the atmosphere—.....»»
Mass breeding of desert locusts unlocks new food source
Mass breeding of desert locusts in a controlled environment could provide a sustainable source of protein for animals and humans as well as business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers say......»»
Endangered gazelles find Libyan "safe haven"
Cocooned in white bags and nestled in the arms of volunteers, eight young rhim gazelles—an endangered species native to North Africa—have been transferred to an uninhabited Libyan island......»»
Outsourcing conservation in Africa: NGO management reduces poaching and boosts tourism, but raises risks for civilians
There's an experiment going on in conservation in Africa. With biodiversity imperiled, and nations facing financial and political crises, some governments are transferring the management of protected areas to private, non-governmental organizations (.....»»
Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho"s Mafadi summit, but it vanished about 150 years ago
Lesotho is a small, land-locked, mountainous country located in the middle of South Africa. Its Eastern Lesotho Highlands are often referred to as the region's "water tower" because they receive some of the highest rainfall amounts in southern Africa.....»»
New clam species discovered in South Africa"s kelp forest
A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western coast of South Africa......»»
Expert Q&A: NASA"s cancellation of VIPER is a frustrating setback for lunar exploration
In July 2024, NASA announced it canceled its plans to send the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the moon's southern polar region. The rover was meant to search for water and other resources called volatiles, such as hydrogen.....»»
New research underscores the close relationship between Saharan dust and hurricane rainfall
Giant plumes of Sahara Desert dust that gust across the Atlantic can suppress hurricane formation over the ocean and affect weather in North America. But thick dust plumes can also lead to heavier rainfall—and potentially more destruction—from la.....»»
Study reveals historical mismatch in Southern Ocean contributes to heat and carbon uptake
The Southern Ocean plays a central role in the global uptake of heat and carbon, which is widely thought to be due to its unique upwelling and circulation. An international research team, led by the University of Liverpool, explored whether there are.....»»
Research team develops new antimalarial agent for combating drug-resistant parasites
Malaria remains a serious health issue globally, especially in Africa. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites in the Plasmodium genus. In 2021, there were 247 million cases of malaria and 619,000 deaths reported worldwide......»»
One elephant can sustain more than 2 million dung beetles in east African savannas, study finds
How many dung beetles are there in East Africa? That question inspired a research project more than 20 years ago when Frank Krell was a research entomologist with the Natural History Museum London. Throughout a three-year-long project along with his.....»»
Woodchip bioreactor helps reduce pesticide run-off from horticulture greenhouses
Pesticides seeping out of intensive horticulture into waterways have long-concerned NSW north coast communities. Now a new Southern Cross University study provides evidence that bioreactors can significantly limit this toxic run-off......»»
Tunisia"s sandy beaches eaten away by coastal erosion
In Tunisia's seaside town of Hammamet, bulldozers diligently shovel sand from a nearby desert onto a popular beach in an attempt to stop it from disappearing due to erosion......»»
"New El Niño" discovered south of the equator
A small area of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand and Australia, can trigger temperature changes that affect the entire Southern Hemisphere, a new study has found......»»
Insect infestation ravages North African prickly pear
Amor Nouira, a farmer in Tunisia's Chebika village, has lost hope of saving his prickly pear cacti, ravaged by the cochineal insect spreading across North Africa......»»
Enhanced information in national policies can accelerate Africa"s efforts to track climate adaptation
New analysis of African national adaptation policy documents finds that most fail to provide comprehensive and consistent information. But the authors also uncover compelling examples of robust plans that hold lessons for upcoming climate talks......»»
New Texas trends survey highlights power outages and preparedness in the shadow of Hurricane Beryl
As Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast continue recovering from Hurricane Beryl, a new survey from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University is providing insight into Texans' past experiences with extreme weather, including prolonged power.....»»
Genetics reveal ancient trade routes of Four Corners potato
A new study shows that a native potato species was brought to southern Utah by Indigenous people in the distant past, making it a candidate for the only culturally significant plant species to have been domesticated in the southwestern U.S......»»
"It"s unbearable": heat waves scorch southern and eastern Europe
Unrelenting heat is blanketing swathes of southern and eastern Europe, with dozens of cities on red alert as scorching temperatures fuel wildfires, strain power grids, and make daily life unbearable......»»
Peeling back the genetic layers of stone fruit domestication
The Prunus genus, encompassing apricots, peaches, plums, and mei, is vital due to its economic and nutritional value. However, the genetic foundations of these species' shared and unique traits remain largely unexplored. This knowledge gap hinders ad.....»»