Articles tagged with Africa
A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.
A study of cross-cultural differences in COVID-19 knowledge and attitudes found that people in Europe and the US had the lowest knowledge and adherence to safety measures. In contrast, people in the Middle East and Asia were more aware of COVID-19 and took greater precautions.
A new study reveals that road development in sub-Saharan Africa has negative impacts on biodiversity, both inside and outside protected areas. The researchers found that roads act as barriers to movement, facilitate access to previously inaccessible land, and contribute to urbanization, logging, and cropland expansion.
Brookhaven Lab particle physicist Kétévi Assamagan has been elected as an APS Fellow for his significant contributions to the Standard Model Higgs boson research. He is also recognized for leading physics outreach programs, including founding the African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications.
Researchers have assessed climate factors affecting tea growth and quality at nine locations in Kenya and Malawi, predicting substantial increases in heatwave days but declines in cold nights. The study suggests tailored interventions and plant breeding programs can help producers adapt to future climates.
A Tanzanian study found that laser treatment (SLT) successfully reduced eye pressure to normal levels in 61% of patients after one year, compared to 31% with daily eye drops. SLT may be an affordable alternative for glaucoma care in Africa.
A high-resolution map of Arab and Middle Eastern population genetics has been unveiled, providing new insights into human history in the region. The study revealed that ancient populations in the Arabian Peninsula played a central role in early human migration out of Africa.
African mammals suffered huge losses around the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, similar to those experienced by European and Asian species. The study used fossil data from multiple sites in Africa to build evolutionary trees for five mammal groups, revealing a drastic extinction event followed by recovery with new adaptations.
A new study finds that air pollution is responsible for 1.1 million deaths across Africa in 2019, with household air pollution accounting for 700,000 fatalities. The study also reveals that air pollution is costing African countries billions in gross domestic product and hindering the intellectual development of children.
The MOMENTUM Study reveals high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in East Africa, particularly on Mfangano Island. The study highlights the need for streamlined hand-off systems, community-based care coordinators, and policy-level interventions to address recurrent health worker strikes and facility closures.
A new OSU study on African buffalo offers insights into the persistence of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease pathogens. Researchers found that carrier transmission among certain strains can allow them to persist in populations, highlighting the need for public health interventions to limit transmission and endemicity.
A satirical opinion article by Iruka Okeke critiques the extractive and exploitive aspects of health research partnerships between high-income and low-income countries. The author highlights twenty problematic practices that maintain and exacerbate inequities in global health biomedical research.
Researchers have identified a new prophage-mediated defence system in Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 called BstA, which efficiently suppresses phage attacks. This discovery opens up a new avenue of research and could potentially lead to the development of new biotechnologies.
Researchers studying blood samples from over 12,000 individuals in Ethiopia found that malaria parasites can evade detection by rapid diagnostic tests due to genetic mutations. The study highlights the need for alternative diagnostic approaches and surveillance across the Horn of Africa.
Research shows that people with disabilities were disproportionately excluded from pandemic planning and relief efforts, but representative disability groups provided life-saving support. Disability organisations worked tirelessly without funding to plug gaps, highlighting the need for inclusive disaster responses.
Researchers at WashU Medicine and University of Pittsburgh discover that Rift Valley fever virus uses a protein linked to cholesterol metabolism to infect cells. The finding could lead to therapies preventing or reducing the virus's impact by interfering with its entry into cells.
Researchers found shell beads in Morocco dating back 142,000-150,000 years, shedding light on early human communication and cognitive evolution. The discovery suggests that humans have been using nonverbal cues to express identity and affiliation for hundreds of thousands of years.
Researchers identified climate-resilient root, tuber and banana crop varieties with flexible planting dates to adapt to warmer and wetter conditions. Cassava, banana, and sweet potato are most adaptable, while potato growing areas are vulnerable.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered a worked bone assemblage found near the Atlantic Coast of Morocco dating back to 120,000 years ago, suggesting the manufacture of clothing during this period. The find provides strong evidence for the emergence of complex culture and specialized tool manufacture in early humans.
The discovery of bone tools in Contrebandiers Cave, Morocco, dating back to 120,000-90,000 years ago, provides strong evidence for the manufacture of clothing during this period. The tools, which showed signs of skinning for furs and pelts, are similar to leather working tools found in other archaeological records.
Scientists discovered two distinct sardine populations in South Africa, one adapted to cool-temperate waters and the other to warmer subtropical conditions. The study suggests the Sardine Run may be a relic of spawning behavior dating back to the glacial period.
A recent study found that roads can extend the impact zone for western chimpanzees by an average of 17.2 km from major roads and 5.4 km from minor roads. This results in a significant decrease in population density, with the species facing mounting pressure from infrastructure expansion.
A new study has shown that a single dose of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) is safe and 84 percent effective in protecting against typhoid in Blantyre, Malawi. The findings are critical as typhoid is an increasing public health threat across sub-Saharan Africa.
A two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen has been found to be safe, well-tolerated, and produce a strong immune response in people over 1 year old. The study also supports the use of this regimen for Ebola virus disease prevention in children and adults.
A study of 541 survivors in Kenya found children were 1.6 times more likely to be attacked during the day and 1.7 times more likely to be attacked in private, compared to adults. The research highlights the need for policy-makers to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) risks in national crisis policies.
A new study predicts that climate change will lead to longer dry spells in tropical regions, causing important global crops like coffee and cocoa to suffer. This could result from hotter temperatures, increased number of dry days, and longer dry spell lengths, particularly during the dry season.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that fact-checking significantly reduces belief in misinformation globally. Fact-checking leaves a more enduring mental imprint than false claims, increasing accurate beliefs regardless of political affiliation.
A comprehensive review found that site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) increases yield by 12% and profitability by 15%, while saving 18 kg N/ha and reducing environmental risk. SSNM can detect and correct long-standing nutrient input inadequacies, improving outcomes.
A systematic review of 169 conservation projects worldwide reveals that Indigenous and local communities are crucial for successful nature conservation. The study found that equitable conservation approaches, empowering local communities, yield positive outcomes for both humans and the environment. However, complex factors such as comm...
A new study published in Nature reveals that African tropical mountain forests store an average of 149.4 tonnes of carbon per hectare, significantly higher than previously estimated by the IPCC. This finding highlights the importance of preserving these carbon-rich ecosystems for climate protection.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a combination of seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01 E and antimalarial drugs significantly reduces clinical episodes, hospital admissions, and deaths from malaria. The results show a 70% reduction in these outcomes compared to current interventions.
A new TB prevention regimen for HIV-positive individuals has shown promising results, with 90.4% completing the three-month course compared to 50.5% of those on a six-month daily treatment. The study suggests that this shorter approach is as safe and effective as the standard treatment.
A new study has identified 20 genetic regions linked to face shape in East Africans, highlighting the importance of diverse populations in understanding human facial features. The findings also reveal that shared genetic factors contribute to similarities across populations, while population-specific variants drive differences.
A new study reveals that deforestation and population growth have greatly increased landslide risk in the Kivu Rift, leading to thousands of fatalities each year. The research, conducted over six decades, shows that smallholder agriculture and mining activities also contribute to landslides.
A new study published in Nature Food found that long-running wars are the primary driver of rising hunger in Africa, displacing people, raising food prices, and blocking aid. Droughts have played a smaller role in exacerbating food insecurity, with their impact remaining steady or even decreasing over time.
A study of 1,349 Malawian women aged 16-26 found that nearly 13% reported difficulty conceiving, with 85.5% seeking help. Traditional healers were the most common source of support, used by 44.4% of women.
The article outlines five complementary actions to increase electrification rates and secure long-term access to affordable energy in Africa. Key findings include the need for an independent champion to transform the sector, international partnerships, and investment in clean energy.
Researchers from TUM discovered a toxin in the leafy vegetable Ebolo, which can cause liver damage. They successfully removed the toxin through breeding techniques, paving the way for safer consumption of this nutritious crop.
The poor are unlikely to obey strict lockdowns due to lack of nutrition, economic opportunities, and infrastructure. African policymakers need to prioritize social and economic measures over stringent lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19 and future pandemics.
The study suggests that green habitat corridors connected eastern Africa to the Levant across the present-day Judean Desert, facilitating the dispersal of crested rats and humans. This correlation dates back to a brief period during the Last Interglacial.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has partnered with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to conduct clinical trials of Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV vaccine in African populations. The ECOVA programme aims to generate data on vaccine efficacy and safety against variants of concern, enabling expanded access to va...
The discovery of 3.42 billion-year-old microfossils in a hydrothermal system expands our understanding of potentially habitable environments on early Earth and other planets like Mars. The findings suggest that these microbes could have played a crucial role in the emergence of life on our planet.
A global study found that certain countries perform significantly better than their neighbors in the effectiveness of their protected areas. The research estimated that overall, protected areas established between 2000-2012 prevented 86,062 square kilometers of forest loss.
Jessica Hurley, Assistant Professor at George Mason University, will research the impact of nuclearization on decolonization in India, South Africa, Oceania, and Native North America. Funding from the National Humanities Center will support her book project through September 2022.
A massive volcanic eruption in Indonesia about 74,000 years ago likely caused severe climate disruption globally, but early human populations were relatively unaffected. The study suggests that regional variation in climate impacts occurred, with the Northern Hemisphere experiencing cooling of at least 4°C.
A large-scale study from South Africa found that the Beta variant increased COVID-19 hospitalization and death risks compared to previous waves. The study suggested a higher case fatality risk of 26.9% during the second wave, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
A geologist's analysis of ancient sediments found in Kenya's Lake Magadi has revealed a progressive drying trend over the last million years. The study suggests that early humans may have been prompted to move and trade due to drought, with the region experiencing significant changes in climate.
Researchers at the University of Exeter discovered that ancient ostrich eggshells from Bundu Farm site reveal evidence of extreme climate change in Southern Africa 250,000 to 350,000 years ago. The findings support other fossil animal bones and suggest a shift from wetland and grassland to arid environments after 200,000 years.
Researchers will document species distribution, function of ecosystems and physical environment impact on biodiversity. The project aims to provide detailed biodiversity maps and improve monitoring from space globally.
A new fossil discovery has revealed that dinosaurs did not breathe in the same way, with Heterodontosaurus having unique paddle-shaped ribs and expanded belly to breathe. The study provides insight into the biology of ornithischian dinosaurs and fills gaps in knowledge about their evolution.
A 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed by expanding its chest and belly, unlike birds which use air sacs. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of how dinosaurs breathed and could help paleontologists understand what features allowed certain species to survive or go extinct.
African countries can better interpret complex data with a new data-driven framework, tracking and predicting country-level case incidence. The framework considers factors like testing capacity, social policy, landlocked status, temperature, and humidity.
A new study challenges the idea that early humans hunted prehistoric elephants, mammoths, and mastodonts to extinction. Instead, it suggests that climate change played a significant role in their decline over millions of years.
An international team has developed a predictive tool to help mitigate COVID-19 in Africa, utilizing current case data, population, economic status, and meteorological sensing from satellites. The tool provides weekly projections of expected cases and helps countries decide on mitigation policies.
During their marathon flights, great snipes change elevation depending on time of day, typically flying higher in daylight to escape heat and finding a behavior that's optimal for them. They reach astonishing altitudes, with one bird flying as high as 8,700 meters, nearly as high as Mount Everest.
A new study developed methods to help breeders create fast-maturing soybean lines specifically for African environments. The researchers analyzed cultivar time-to-maturity against environmental variables and found daily minimum temperature and change in day length were more important than genotypic differences.
Winter rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa limits painted lady butterfly migrations to Europe. The size of migrating populations varies greatly, increasing by a hundredfold in some years, likely driven by weather conditions in West Africa.
A comprehensive health-screening program in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has identified a high burden of undiagnosed or poorly controlled non-communicable diseases. The study found that four out of five women over the age of 30 were living with chronic health conditions, highlighting the need for urgent interventions.
Researchers reconstruct climate history in Ethiopia for the last 200,000 years, revealing a wet phase that supported human migration to Europe and Asia. The study provides evidence for significant impact on human evolution and mobility.
Africa's largest human genetic diversity makes it crucial for understanding neurological disorders, yet research output is heavily influenced by external funding sources. The study highlights the need for greater domestic funding to support sustainable African neuroscience research and combat brain drain.