Tiger breeding, exports flourish in S.Africa: charity
South Africa's legal lion breeding has spawned a tiger farming industry for commercial exports, potentially posing a threat to the species already in decline, an animal welfare group warned Tuesday......»»
Urban Kenyans mistrust police even more than rural residents do—study sets out why it matters
Across the African continent—from Nigeria and Ghana to South Africa—widespread protests have taken place to demand police reform in the wake of police misconduct and brutality. A continent-wide survey done in 2022 shows very low trust in the poli.....»»
60% of Africa"s food is based on wheat, rice and maize—the continent"s crop treasure trove is being neglected
African countries have become reliant on a few food items. Just 20 plant species now provide 90% of our food, with three—wheat, maize, and rice—accounting for 60% of all calories consumed on the continent and globally. This deprives the continent.....»»
South Africa"s legal team in the genocide case against Israel has won praise. Who are they?
South African justice minister Ronald Lamola led a top legal team to argue the country's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January......»»
Exploring the integration of crops and livestock in different historical contexts from ancient times to the present
Crop–livestock integration, the practice of combining crop planting and livestock breeding, is recognized as a fundamental approach to fostering a circular and green economy in agriculture......»»
World"s richest five men double fortune since 2020: Oxfam
The world's wealthiest five men have more than doubled their fortune since 2020, the charity Oxfam said on Monday, as it called on nations to resist the ultra-rich's influence over tax policy......»»
New rice lines for Africa offer virus protection
Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is responsible for high crop losses in Africa, particularly among small-scale farmers. A research team has now produced rice lines that are resistant to the disease by means of genome editing......»»
Aircraft observations point to near neutral carbon dioxide exchange in northern tropical Africa
The forests and grasslands of northern tropical Africa take in about as much carbon dioxide in the wet season as they release in the dry season, according to a new study based on observations from aircraft. The findings contradict earlier research th.....»»
Orbitally induced strong monsoons facilitated early human dispersal to East Asia, finds study
In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers have shown that orbitally induced strengthening of the Asian summer monsoon played a key role in the dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa to East Asia during the la.....»»
Ars readers gave nearly $40,000 in our 2023 Charity Drive
Ars' total charity haul since 2007 now tops $506,000. Enlarge / Much love to everyone for taking part. (credit: CanStockPhoto) Last month, we asked readers to donate to a couple of good causes in our 2023 Charity Drive s.....»»
Monitoring the well-being of reservoir water through an uncrewed surface vehicle
In a recent tragic incident, approximately 100 elephants in Africa perished due to inadequate access to water. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that around 2.5 billion people worldwide could face water scarcity by 2025. In the f.....»»
Study finds protected areas for elephants work best if they are connected
Conservation measures have successfully stopped declines in the African savanna elephant population across southern Africa, but the pattern varies locally, according to a new study......»»
Increase in rice farming in sub-Saharan Africa found to be producing rising amounts of methane
A team of engineers and atmospheric scientists at Harvard University, working with a colleague from the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has calculated the increased amount of methane being expelled into the atmosphere.....»»
Invasive, carnivorous frogs are now breeding in Georgia, biologists say
An invasive species of carnivorous tree frogs that feed on native wildlife are now breeding in Georgia, a sign that the amphibians have gained a stronger foothold in the state, biologists say......»»
Scientists discover why chicken farms are a breeding ground for antibiotic resistant bacteria
Scientists from the University of Nottingham are one step closer to understanding how bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella enterica, share genetic material which makes them resistant to antibiotics......»»
Study warns of widespread population collapse of African raptors
An international team of researchers has found that Africa's birds of prey are facing an extinction crisis. The study, co-led by researchers from the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews and The Peregrine Fund, warns of declines among ne.....»»
Global triggers: Why these five big issues could cause significant problems in 2024
The tensions between the US and China made the global economy shudder in 2023. The ramifications of the Ukrainian war echoed beyond the country's border. In Africa, the coup d'état in Niger and Gabon contributed to the global democratic retreat of r.....»»
Everlasting African wildfires fueled by aerosol feedback
Africa is on fire. It has been for thousands of years. The continent contains more than 50% of the total area on Earth that is burning, on average, and there is no sign of it stopping; indeed, the migrating, hemisphere-hopping African wildfire season.....»»
Scientists sequence full genome of sea cucumber inhabiting hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vents are an unlikely environment for animals to flourish, characterized by rapid changes in temperature and a challenging chemistry: acidic pH, rich in sulfur and methane. Not to mention the high hydrostatic pressure and the darkness of.....»»
New alginate extraction method may help cultivated kelp be as good as wild kelp
Norway's exports products derived from from tangle kelp (Laminoria hyperborea) and knotted kelp (Ascophyllum nodosu) to the tune of more than NOK 1 billion a year. The industry mainly extracts alginate from kelp, which is used in over 600 different p.....»»
"Nutritional quality must be at the heart of climate-smart agriculture," researchers say
According to a major research study, farmers in sub-Saharan Africa need to diversify away from growing maize and switch to crops that are resilient to climate change and supply enough key micronutrients for the population......»»