UKZN successfully fires up powerful liquid rocket engine in ground tests
AchieversLatest newsResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal December 7, 2021
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Aerospace Systems Research Group (ASReG) has successfully tested a powerful liquid propellant rocket engine as the first step towards developing a launch vehicle for placing satellites into Earth orbit. The Ablative Blow-down Liquid Engine (ABLE) was designed by mechanical engineering students in the master’s and... Read more
Announcement of new B.1.1.529 variant
Latest newsResearch December 1, 2021
Stellenbosch University (SU) notes with concern criticism expressed mainly on social media about the announcement of the new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant (Omicron) by SU researcher, Prof Tulio de Oliveira. De Oliveira, a world-renowned bioinformatician and professor in Bioinformatics in the SU School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, together with... Read more
Biofilters with indigenous plants more effective in removing pollutants from stormwater
Latest newsResearchStellenbosch University November 29, 2021
Biofilters with indigenous South African plants such as palmiet, mat sedge, soft rush, cobra lily and vleibiesie are more efficient than unvegetated soils in removing pollutants from urban stormwater which can have a detrimental impact on aquatic systems, posing a major human and environmental health risk. This is one... Read more
How ancient pollen can predict our future climate and what we need to do to conserve SA’s rich biome
Latest newsNelson Mandela UniversityResearch October 27, 2021
Ancient pollen grains found in sediment cores dating back thousands of years are helping scientists to shed light on the earth’s past and future climates. Dr Lynne Quick, a palynologist at Nelson Mandela University, who is currently working on the development of new paleoenvironmental records in Southern Africa says... Read more
A leading cause of death in SA, head trauma is under-researched
AchieversLatest newsResearchUniversity of Cape TownWestern Cape October 7, 2021
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains an under-researched area, despite the large burden of disease it represents. There is currently little data on incidence, outcomes and quality of clinical care administered. Professor Anthony Figaji, the head of the Paediatric Neurosurgery Unit at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of... Read more
Matie searches for perfect recipe for rhino milk
AchieversLatest newsResearchStellenbosch University October 4, 2021
Stellenbosch University (SU) animal sciences postgraduate student Dakota Guy is trying her level best to formulate a replacement milk for rhinoceros that is as close to the original as possible. The formula milk is to be used to bottle feed abandoned or orphaned rhino calves. The current recipe under... Read more
Gender Equality in Science: Inclusion and Participation of Women in Global Science Organizations
Latest newsResearch September 30, 2021
A study reporting on the inclusion and participation of women in over 120 science organizations that are coordinated at a global level finds that women are still under-represented. It calls for a coalition for gender equality in global science to ensure a transformative action agenda. The study was coordinated... Read more
Fertiliser from urine: winning master’s research underscores SDGs
AchieversLatest newsResearchUniversity of Cape Town September 29, 2021
Human urine is treated as a mere waste product, millions of litres flushed away daily. But this liquid gold is rich in nitrogen in the form of urea, which is most often used as a fertiliser. University of Cape Town (UCT) civil engineering master’s candidate Hlumelo Marepula has won... Read more
Academic libraries help combat COVID-19 related fake news
Latest newsResearchStellenbosch University September 14, 2021
Academic libraries in South Africa have provided high-quality information to offset the negative effects of COVID-19 related fake news. This is one of the key findings of a recent study at Stellenbosch University (SU). “Academic libraries have played an important role as sources of trustworthy information against fake news... Read more
Detailed analysis by African scientists of SARS-CoV-2 published in Science
Latest newsResearchStellenbosch University September 13, 2021
Science will publish a detailed analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants produced by hundreds of African scientists and public health officials across the continent. This is the first major output of Africa’s top scientists to increase the continent’s capacity to produce and analyse genomic data. Genomic surveillance has been crucial to... Read more
