Spineless cactus, a promising source of sustainable energy
ResearchUniversity of the Free State June 21, 2023
The spineless cactus is a unique perennial plant that is able to yield close to 40 tons of dry matter per hectare per year with a rainfall of 500 mm per annum. “This equates to eight tons of biomethane or 11 000 litres of diesel-equivalent energy per hectare,” says Axel... Read more
Study reveals poor postpartum contraceptive use by young mothers
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal June 20, 2023
Does having a child change the contraceptive use behaviour of young mothers? That’s the question Dr Lungisile Shange sought to answer from research she did which earned her a PhD in Population Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Shange’s study focussed on postpartum contraceptive use by mothers aged... Read more
SA’s ‘silent mass disaster’ of missing, unidentified people
ResearchStellenbosch University May 28, 2023
An estimated 7 000 – but likely closer to 10 000 – unidentified bodies in South Africa’s medico-legal laboratories are waiting to be identified each year, says Dr Kathryn Smith, an interdisciplinary visual and forensic artist and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Stellenbosch University (SU). “Statistics are kept... Read more
UFS expert to attend the WHO Traditional Medicine G20 Health Ministers Global Summit
Research May 27, 2023
Prof Matsabisa Motlalepula, an African traditional medicine expert from the University of the Free State (UFS), will attend the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in India in August after being invited to serve as a member of the Summit External Advisory Group for the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit (“Advisory Group”).... Read more
The Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings has selected and announced 9 young scientists from South Africa to participate at the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Physiology/Medicine from 25 to 30 June 2023 in Lindau, Germany. The nominating partner, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)... Read more
GBV suffering of women of foreign descent in Durban
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal May 20, 2023
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) graduate Dr Venencia Nyambuya received a PhD in Media and Cultural Studies for her research which focused on documented and undocumented women of foreign descent challenging gender-based violence (GBV) in Durban amid xenophobia. According to Nyambuya, violence and the abuse of women present an alarming... Read more
Undiagnosed depression threatens control in TB patients
ResearchUniversity of the Free State April 19, 2023
Each year on 24 March, the world commemorates World TB (Tuberculosis) Day. This date coincides with the day in 1882 when Robert Koch announced his discovery of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the germ that causes TB. This infectious disease is transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sings, shouts, or sneezes.... Read more
Leading-edge healthcare institute a “game changer” for Africa
ResearchStellenbosch University April 19, 2023
The launch of its new state-of-the-art Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) places Stellenbosch University (SU) at the forefront of biomedical sciences on the African continent. The BMRI is a world-class biomedical research complex on par with the best in the world and is unparalleled, not only on the African continent,... Read more
Scientists identify new benchmark for freezing point for water
Latest newsResearchStellenbosch University April 17, 2023
Scientists have discovered yet another amazing aspect of the weird and wonderful behaviour of water – this time when subjected to nanoscale confinement at sub-zero temperatures. The finding that a crystalline substance can readily give up water at temperatures as low as -70 °C, published in the journal Nature today, has... Read more
SARChI Chair highlights Paediatric Tuberculosis strides and challenges
ResearchStellenbosch University March 27, 2023
As the world marks Tuberculosis (TB) Day on 24 March, Professor Anneke C. Hesseling, who holds the DSI-NRF South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Paediatric Tuberculosis (TB), has shared insights into the strides being made to mitigate the burden of the disease among children in South Africa. Professor Hesseling,... Read more
