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......»»
Researchers explore future climate in Africa, using clues from the past
In September 2023, extreme rains struck South Africa's Western Cape province, flooding villages and leaving a trail of destruction. The catastrophic devastation is just one recent example in a string of extreme weather events that are growing more co.....»»
Fossil snake traces: Another world-first find on South Africa"s Cape south coast
Snakes are familiar, distinctive—and often feared—reptiles. And they've been around for a long time: body fossils found in the UK, Portugal and the US stretch all the way back to the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago......»»
New research to improve production of high oleic sunflower oil
Researchers from Skoltech, Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, OilGene—a startup launched in Skoltech—and other organizations have found new markers that will accelerate the breeding of high oleic sunflowers and improve the pro.....»»
New path for early human migrations through a once-lush Arabia contradicts a single "out of Africa" origin
Our species, Homo sapiens, migrated out of Africa multiple times—reaching the Levant and Arabia between 130,000 and 70,000 years ago, as exemplified by human fossils and archaeological sites found at various locations......»»
Cocoa prices are surging: West African countries should seize the moment to negotiate a better deal for farmers
The global price of cocoa is spiking, a direct response to dwindling cocoa output in west Africa. In September, cocoa futures reached a 44-year price peak due to mounting concerns over reduced supplies from the region......»»
Fear of human "super predator" pervades the South African savanna
Research published October 5 in the journal Current Biology finds that mammals living in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, home to one of the world's largest remaining lion populations, are far more afraid of hearing human voices than lion.....»»
Explosion in fish biodiversity due to genetic recycling, study shows
Scientists show that the extraordinary diversity of cichlid fish in Africa's Lake Victoria was made possible by "genetic recycling"—repeated cycles of new species appearing and rapidly adapting to different roles in the ecosystem. An evolutionary c.....»»
Gluten-free African grain teff shows antioxidant activity in human cells
Teff, a gluten-free grain historically grown in East Africa but increasingly available in the United States, seems to have antioxidant properties in human cells, say UNC Greensboro (UNCG) researchers. Their study, which examined the effects of Eragro.....»»
How rape myths, unconscious biases prejudice the judicial system against women, and rape survivors in particular
It is well documented that women who are sexually assaulted, or raped, rarely report the crime to the police. The US charity, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, has shown that 1 in 6 women in the US has been the victim of rape or attempted.....»»
Why an unusual global export industry keeps growing in a developing country
The global citrus export industry based in South Africa is a surprising outlier in many ways, not least for its vigorous growth. Somehow, the diverse industry has emerged as the second biggest in the world after Spain......»»
RNA recovered from extinct animal in world first
Scientists have for the first time recovered RNA from an extinct species, the Tasmanian tiger, raising hope for the resurrection of animals once thought lost forever, Stockholm University researchers told AFP......»»
First increase in rhino numbers in Africa since 2012, monitor says
There was a 5% increase in the number of rhinos observed in Africa last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said in an announcement Friday made to coincide with World Rhino Day......»»
Invasive alien species are a serious threat to the planet: Four key messages for Africa
Climate change has negatively—and irreversibly, in some cases—affected ecosystems around the globe. Sadly, though, it is not the only phenomenon that's altering our natural world......»»
How well you do at school depends on how much your teachers know: Insights from 14 French-speaking countries in Africa
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have made remarkable progress towards reaching universal school enrollment in the past 25 years. Across the region, 8 in 10 children of primary school age are now enrolled in school, and in countries such as Benin and.....»»
Pollen analysis suggests dispersal of modern humans occurred during a major Pleistocene warming spell
It's an Ice Age mystery that's been debated for decades among anthropologists: Exactly when and how did the flow of Homo sapiens in Eurasia happen? Did a cold snap or a warming spell drive early human movement from Africa into Europe and Asia?.....»»
The deep genetic structure of Africa reveals unique ancestry of inhabitants of the Angolan Namib
Africa is the birthplace of modern humans and the continent with the highest level of genetic diversity. While ancient DNA studies are revealing some aspects of the genetic structure of Africa before the spread of food production, issues concerning D.....»»
Was the freak "medicane" storm that devastated Libya a glimpse of North Africa"s future?
Storm Daniel landed on the Libyan coastal town of Toukrah in the early hours of September 10 and started moving east. Soon the wind was rising and heavy rain falling, forcing people to stay indoors. By afternoon the rain was clearly out of the ordina.....»»
Migratory birds can be taught to adjust to climate change, study shows
One result of climate change is that spring is arriving earlier. However, migratory birds are not keeping up with these developments and arrive too late for the peak in food availability when it is time for breeding. By getting the birds to fly a lit.....»»
Despite risks fish farms are booming in Africa
Farming fish has seen rapid growth in Africa but it can be an expensive, high-risk operation......»»
South Africa"s smallholder vegetable farmers aren"t getting the finance they need, says researcher
Fresh efforts are being made to increase the share of black ownership in South Africa's agricultural sector. This follows decades of missteps and badly designed interventions that have failed to significantly change the ownership patterns in the sect.....»»