A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that Australopithecus sediba, a possible early human ancestor, had a significant limitation in its ability to bite powerfully. The team used biomechanical testing and computer modeling to demonstrate that biting too hard would have dislocated the jaw of this species.
Three diamonds found in Johannesburg show that plate tectonics was in operation on Earth as early as 3.5 billion years ago, revealing key findings about the ancient planet's history.
A team of scientists reconstructed wildlife populations across Africa to better understand how they shaped the world. They focused on large mammal herbivores and found that dry areas had fewer animals, while wetter savannas were dominated by elephants and fire.
A recent study published in Nature Medicine has provided crucial insights for the development of a protective HIV vaccine. Researchers identified how changing viral swarms can drive the generation of antibodies able to neutralize diverse HIV strains worldwide.
The discovery of Homo naledi reveals a unique combination of anatomy in its hand and foot, indicating adaptation for both tree climbing and walking. The hand shows powerful grasping abilities and use of stone tools, while the foot shares features with modern humans but has more curved toe bones.
A 260-million-year-old fossil species, Eunotosaurus africanus, provides crucial information into the origins of turtles. The study reveals that early turtles had a quicker bite than modern ones, with the skull of Eunotosaurus showing diapsid characteristics, challenging the long-held notion of turtles being an ancient reptile lineage.
A fossil monkey specimen representing the earliest baboon ever found has been discovered in South Africa, dated between 2-2.36 million years ago. The partial skull confirms earlier suggestions that the fossil baboon species is closely related to modern baboons and may be the earliest known members of the Papio hamadryas species.
Researchers describe skull, skeleton, and dental replacement of Tiarajudens eccentricus, a Brazilian species with remarkable features. The discovery reveals that head-butting and canine display during male-male combat were already present in mammals 270 million years ago.
Researchers Dr Leandro Gaetano and Professor Fernando Abdala found significant differences in the shape of the stapes bone among Triassic cynodonts, even within the same species. The study sheds light on the evolution of the middle ear structure in basal cynodonts.
A study of Middle Stone Age stone tool technologies at Sibudu and Blombos revealed that similar types of tools were used by groups more than 1,000 km apart. However, differences in tool making were found between the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort assemblages, suggesting distinct cultural traditions.
Researchers found that stunting affects children under three, with disparities by province and age. They recommend a multi-sectoral approach to address stunting and improve maternal nutrition.
A new dinosaur, Sefapanosaurus, has been discovered in South Africa with distinctive features such as a cross-shaped ankle bone. The fossil, found in the late 1930s, provides insight into transitional early sauropodomorph dinosaurs roaming southern Africa.
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have demonstrated the first observation of angular acceleration in laser light, which can be controlled with a single parameter. This breakthrough could lead to new applications using structured light fields.
Researchers have dated the Little Foot skeleton to 3.67 million years old, while Oldowan artefacts are approximately 2 million years old. This new evidence sheds light on the age of key hominid and palaeontological discoveries at Sterkfontein Caves.
An interdisciplinary team has developed a new method to analyze the structure of long bones, providing insights into human evolution and functional morphology. The study focused on the big toe's impact on gait and locomotion, revealing structural differences between humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas.
The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) has detected three powerful gamma-ray sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud, including a pulsar wind nebula and a supernova remnant. These discoveries provide new insights into the formation of cosmic structures and the evolution of galaxies.
Researchers Jan Boeyens and Francis Thackeray found a connection between the Golden Ratio, space-time, and a biological species constant. The study suggests that concepts associated with relativity and quantum mechanics can be integrated through the number 1.618.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows a significant decline in invasive pneumococcal disease cases caused by bacteria resistant to one or more antibiotics. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in South Africa has led to substantial reductions in antibiotic-resistant invasive pneumococ...
Researchers discovered that tortoises' modern breathing apparatus was already in place in the earliest fossil tortoise, Eunotosaurus africanus. The study suggests a gradual increase in body wall rigidity led to the evolution of both the tortoise shell and unique breathing mechanism.
Researchers cast doubt on theories that Australopithecus africanus exhibits key cranial adaptations found in modern human infants and toddlers. The study used high-resolution CT scans of the Taung Child's skull and brain, revealing no evidence for infant brain development similar to that of modern humans.
South African and French scientists have dated the nearly complete skeleton of Little Foot to around 3 million years old, refuting previous claims of a younger age. The study analyzed stratigraphy, micro-stratigraphy, and geochemistry to determine the age of the fossil.
Researchers have discovered potent antibodies in a KwaZulu-Natal woman's blood that can kill multiple strains of HIV. The study, published in Nature, could lead to new HIV vaccine strategies and improve treatment options.
A new study by Dr Pierre Durand and colleagues found that programmed cell death in single-celled algae benefits the organism's relatives, releasing nutrients that inhibit growth of non-relatives.
Scientists have disproven the assumption that tropical cyclone numbers are increasing due to global warming, and instead found they are shifting southward. Late-season frost is also not receding as quickly as flowering, threatening food security.
A recent study suggests that plant speciation may not be influenced by environmental factors, instead emphasizing the importance of seed dispersal and similar habitats. This finding has significant implications for agriculture and climate change, as many crop species are polyploids and may not adapt well to changing climates.
The productivity of many lands has been dramatically reduced due to soil erosion, salinity accumulation, and nutrient depletion. A sustainable approach to agriculture is needed to maintain soil fertility and address climate change and biodiversity loss.
A new study reveals that lightning strikes significantly control the evolution of mountain landscapes, especially summit areas, by blasting rocks and creating angular debris. This finding has vast implications for food security and water supply, particularly in southern Africa.
A team of scientists has discovered the first-ever evidence of a comet striking Earth, with implications for understanding the solar system's formation. The discovery involves a mysterious black pebble containing the first known hand specimen of a comet nucleus.
Dr Robert Gess discovered a 350 million year old fossilized scorpion in the Eastern Cape, named Gondwanascorpio emzantsiensis. This find confirms that land-living invertebrates existed in Gondwana during the Devonian period.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that up to 83% of birds, 66% of amphibians, and 70% of corals are highly vulnerable to climate change but not currently listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. This means they may not be receiving focused conservation attention, putting their survival at risk.
A 250-million-year-old burrow in South Africa's Karoo Basin has yielded a remarkable discovery: an injured amphibian, Broomistega, and its aestivating therapsid companion, Thrinaxodon. The fossilized remains suggest that short periods of dormancy and burrowing behavior helped mammal ancestors survive the Permo-Triassic extinction event.
A new species of theropod dinosaur, Aorun zhaoi, has been discovered in Western China, dating back over 161 million years. The young dinosaur is estimated to be around 1 meter long and weighed 1.5 kilograms.
Researchers publish six papers detailing the anatomy of Au. Sediba, a 2-million-year-old early human ancestral remains. The study provides detailed insights into its movement patterns, dental morphology, and phylogenetic position, offering new perspectives on hominin evolution.
A new membrane developed by researchers at Wits University can effectively separate waste from water, making it suitable for treating pollutants in various processes. The technology has the potential to filter pure water from wastewater produced during mining, oil and gas exploration, and nuclear activities.
A team of researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand analyzed the movement patterns of bipedal kangaroos and wallabies, comparing them to quadrupedal marsupials. They found that bipedal marsupials experience greater joint forces in their hind limbs, which provides insight into the structural uniqueness of these joints.
Scientists have discovered that dung beetles use the Milky Way's gradient of light to ensure they keep rolling their balls in a straight line. The beetles' ability to orient themselves using this method has been proven, giving them an advantage in navigating their environment.
Researchers at the University of Witwatersrand and University of Johannesburg have discovered a new species of ancient fox, Vulpes Skinneri, from the Malapa site. The fossils, which date back two million years, show distinct differences from existing fox species and provide insight into the evolution of modern African mammals.
Researchers have discovered that African Homo sapiens developed significant technologies, including abstract art, jewellery, and bone tools, around 75,000 years ago. This breakthrough supports the idea that Africa was the birthplace of modern human behaviour and cognition.
Researchers discovered that beetles roll their dung balls to avoid overheating, and climb on top of them to regulate body temperature. This behavior is especially prevalent during the midday sun, with beetles climbing their balls seven times as often as those on cooler ground.
Researchers at Wits University and Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa have discovered a unique feature of HIV that enables infected people to create potent antibodies. These broadly neutralizing antibodies can kill up to 88% of HIV types, providing an important new approach for developing an AIDS vaccine.
Researchers suggest governments should prioritize adaption policies to address the negative impact of global warming, rather than focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights the importance of monitoring and modeling the impacts of climate change on Earth surface systems.
The largest genomic study ever conducted among Khoe and San groups reveals that these groups from southern Africa are descendants of the earliest diversification event in human history. The research found evidence of local adaptation in different Khoe and San groups, as well as surprising stratification among the groups.
A special journal edition published by the University of Witwatersrand and the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) reveals groundbreaking findings on Homo habilis and its ecological pressures. The research, conducted over two decades at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, sheds new light on human evolution and technological development.
Researchers analyzed fossil teeth to determine the dietary preferences of three groups of hominins in South Africa. The study found that Australopithecus had a more varied diet than early Homo, while Paranthropus had a primarily herbivorous-like diet
A team of international researchers has dated and directly analyzed organic artifacts from Border Cave in South Africa, revealing evidence of San material culture dating back 44,000 years. This finding pushes the timeline for the emergence of modern human culture earlier than previously thought.
South African scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a large rock containing significant parts of a skeleton of an early human ancestor, believed to be the remains of 'Karabo', the type skeleton of Australopithecus sediba. The fossil will be unveiled live online and in a laboratory studio for the first time in history, allo...
A team of researchers has discovered a 190-million-year-old dinosaur nesting site in South Africa, revealing the oldest evidence of complex reproductive behavior in early dinosaurs. The site yielded multiple nests with eggs and embryos, as well as tiny footprints, suggesting that hatchlings remained at the site to double in size.
A team of archaeologists has discovered 77,000-year-old evidence of preserved plant bedding and the use of insect-repelling plants at Sibudu rock shelter in South Africa. The oldest plant remains date back to 77,000 years ago and include species with medicinal properties.
A 14mm ridged lesion in the Maba cranium, a 126,000-year-old East Asian human fossil from China, suggests evidence of interhuman aggression and human-induced trauma. The wound's remodelled and healed condition indicates survival of a serious brain injury.
Archaeologists have discovered a 100,000-year-old ochre toolkit and workshop at Blombos Cave in South Africa. The findings suggest that early humans had the conceptual ability to source, combine, and store substances for social practices, demonstrating an elementary knowledge of chemistry.