Science and research news from Africa. Covers Congo Basin wildlife, maternity care, malaria resurgence, and drug-resistant parasites.
Researchers used phylogenetic analysis to classify tropical forests into two major regions: an American-African combined region and an Indo-Pacific region. The study also identified a dry region encompassing areas in America, Africa, India, and Madagascar, as well as a subtropical region with parts of America and Asia.
A widely used parental guidance program has been shown to reduce domestic conflict and boost economic resilience in South Africa's poorest communities. The Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme for Parents and Teens transformed family relationships in severely at risk communities, improving teenagers' safety and family relationships.
A study published by NYU Steinhardt School finds that all children with disabilities experience violence from birth in West Africa. Violence begins as soon as children are born, and varies depending on the type of impairment.
A Montana State University ecologist has received a prestigious Swedish professorship to further his research on predator-prey relationships and conservation of Africa's top carnivores. The award allows him to collaborate with experts in molecular ecology and explore how human activities isolate ecosystems.
The discovery of Mansourasaurus shahinae, a long-necked plant-eater with bony plates, fills gaps in Africa's Late Cretaceous fossil record. The species helps answer questions about Africa's connections to Europe and the degree to which its animals evolved independently.
The African Leaders Malaria Alliance added neglected tropical diseases to its annual scorecard, revealing progress and gaps across five diseases that affect countries' poorest communities. Most data points to progress, but areas of concern include nearly two-thirds of countries having a NTD coverage index of less than 50%.
A 177,000-194,000-year-old fossil found in Israel shifts the estimated departure time of humans from Africa by 40,000-50,000 years. The discovery includes sophisticated stone tools with Levallois technique features, linking technology emergence to Homo sapiens appearance
The discovery of the Misliya fossil suggests that Homo sapiens left Africa at least 50,000 years earlier than previously thought. The fossil, found in Israel, is between 175,000-200,000 years old and provides evidence of modern humans meeting and interacting with other archaic human groups.
A jawbone dating to 177,000-194,000 years ago has revealed that modern humans were present in the Levant at least 50,000 years earlier than previously thought. The discovery suggests an earlier demographic replacement or genetic admixture with local populations.
Researchers adapt HIV/AIDS treatment-cascade model to combat rheumatic heart disease in sub-Saharan Africa, finding that patients facing distance barriers have lower continuation rates. The study shows that decentralizing care and providing more staff, funding, and resources per capita at regional sites can increase patient retention.
Research reveals human smugglers operate in a highly segmented market, with each stage a competitive marketplace for 'independent and autonomous' smugglers. Successful smugglers rely on reputation among migrants to maintain their business, and removing one smuggler can lead to rivals seizing their market share.
Researchers have genotyped M. bovis samples from cattle in Mozambique, revealing a deeply geographically structured diversity of the disease. The results suggest that the diversity of M. bovis is maintained within regions through constant reinfection of animals.
Researchers have made it possible to 3-D print and study a 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur skull, the Massospondylus. The digital reconstruction was created using CT scans, allowing for detailed analysis of its inner ear and brain structure.
A recent study found that conflict in Africa's protected areas has led to a consistent decline in large mammal populations. Despite severe impacts, these populations rarely collapse and can recover with the right policies and resources. The research suggests that avoiding even low-level conflicts is crucial for conservation efforts.
District hospitals with family physicians in South Africa exhibit better availability of essential services and improved child and neonatal health. In contrast, community health centers with family physicians have lower scores for health system performance and continuity of care.
A comprehensive review of available evidence suggests that replacing the DMPA contraceptive shot with alternative methods could help protect women from becoming infected with HIV. The study found that some other forms of contraception do not show the same deleterious effect on immune function as DMPA.
A new DNA-based system is successfully linking seized rhino horns to specific crime scenes where rhinoceros carcasses were left behind. The Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS) has been used in over 5,800 forensic cases and has led to convictions in more than 120 cases.
The Goethe University Frankfurt's Nok research project has been awarded €1.5 million in funding to continue its 12-year study of the 2,500-year-old Nigerian Nok Culture. The project has uncovered significant insights into chronology, settlement, land use, and environment.
Despite being younger with fewer complications, African surgery patients face a higher risk of death compared to the global average. The study calls for improved monitoring of patients during and after surgery to improve outcomes.
A study published in PLOS One found that lions in the same conservation area as giraffes reduces calf populations by up to 82 percent. This has significant implications for giraffe population sustainability and conservation efforts. Giraffe populations have declined by 40 percent over the last 30 years.
A new study found that black-backed jackals have a preference for eating livestock, including sheep and goats, over similarly sized wild prey. This has significant consequences for farmers and the management of predators in South Africa, highlighting the need to protect livestock from these animals.
A 95-million-year-old African tortoise migrated to Europe via the ancient supercontinent of Laurasia. Its remains, including a skull and carapaces, were found in Spain and Portugal.
A new study found that fewer than 3,600 adult cheetahs remain in southern Africa, with most cats living within just two habitats. Conservation efforts are needed to protect the species, particularly those who live on or travel through livestock farms.
A comprehensive study published in PeerJ reveals the cheetah's precarious situation in southern Africa, with only 3,577 adult cheetahs estimated to exist. The research identifies two habitats that support a majority of individuals and highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect these majestic predators.
Researchers at Yale University have reestimated African deforestation, finding a 21.7% loss of closed-canopy forests since 1900. The study highlights the importance of focusing conservation efforts in areas with actual deforestation rather than incorrectly labelled savannas.
Recent studies reveal that humans left Africa multiple times prior to 60,000 years ago, interbred with other hominins in Eurasia, and left genetic traces in modern human populations. The analysis confirms the traditional 'Out of Africa' model can no longer be seen as the full story.
A comprehensive study found that inflammatory bowel disease has become a global disease with accelerating incidence in newly industrialized countries. The research highlights the need for prevention and preparedness measures as these countries struggle to manage this complex and costly disease.
Large populations of deadly Cryptococcus fungi have been found in two public areas in Cape Town and the Northern Cape, threatening HIV/AIDS patients. The research aims to understand the ecology of these pathogens to curb their spread.
The study found that the number of women using modern methods increased by 28.8 million between 2012 and 2017, but progress varies widely across countries. Countries like Kenya, Mozambique, and Malawi made rapid strides in increasing modern contraceptive use, exceeding pre-FP2020 expectations.
Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique has lost 108 square kilometers of forest due to agriculture and human settlement since 2001.
A novel drug delivery system using a microarray patch has been developed for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which could increase adherence among at-risk women and others. The patch contains tiny projections that painlessly deliver a drug, providing weeks or months of protection against infection.
Researchers studied African populations, finding a high degree of variability in skin pigmentation that cannot be explained by just a few genes. The study suggests that multiple genes contribute to the process, with variations increasing near the equator.
African populations show a higher degree of genetic complexity in skin pigmentation as latitude decreases, with an increasing number of unknown genes contributing to variation. The study found that stabilizing selection takes over at lower latitudes, leading to more diverse skin colors.
The NIH has launched a Phase 2b proof-of-concept study called Imbokodo to assess the safety and efficacy of an experimental HIV vaccine regimen. The study aims to enroll 2,600 HIV-negative women in sub-Saharan Africa and will test the quadrivalent mosaic vaccine against placebo.
Researchers identify barriers to applying international guidelines, citing unique challenges such as younger age at presentation and lack of national breast screening programmes. The need for specific regional guidelines was agreed upon by 90.6% of survey responders.
The largest genetic study of mosquitoes reveals that insecticide resistance is spreading rapidly across Africa, posing a significant threat to malaria control. The study found that wild mosquitoes are genetically diverse and can evolve resistance quickly, making it challenging to control the disease.
Business schools in Africa must develop students' pragmatic political skills to counter bribery and corruption. The onus is on African business schools to empower future business leaders to strengthen State institutions and eradicate corruption.
A new study suggests that understanding rainfall patterns is key to effectively addressing food insecurity among smallholder farms in Africa and Asia. Financial supports, such as cash or loans, were more frequently correlated with improved food security for drier farms, while agricultural inputs and practices were more effective for we...
Researchers linked major cholera outbreaks to Asian origin, highlighting need for targeted control strategies. Genomic analysis identified antibiotic-resistant strains originating from South Asia.
A simple colour-changing test developed by researchers at the University of Bath can detect high levels of fluoride in drinking water, which can cause crippling skeletal fluorosis. The test aims to be low cost, rapid, and robust, allowing anyone to perform a test without scientific training.
Researchers analyzed genomic data to identify the source of the seventh cholera pandemic, linking it to human-related transmission factors. The study found that the pandemic strain was introduced into Africa at least 11 times since 1970, replacing drug-susceptible populations with multidrug-resistant bacterial sublineages.
Researchers developed a new 'rule-book' to estimate the risk of different cholera strains causing epidemics. The study found that 7PET strains from Asia repeatedly introduced into two main regions of Africa: West Africa and East/Southern Africa, leading to massive epidemics in some cases.
Research presented at the 18th Annual Congress of the South African Heart Association found significant financial stress associated with a 13-fold higher odds of having a heart attack. The study included 106 patients with acute myocardial infarction and found both work stress and financial stress to be risk factors.
A new study by Johns Hopkins University reveals that climate change will disproportionately affect people living in crowded urban settlements in Africa. The study found that temperatures in these areas can be up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the official weather station, leading to a significant increase in heat-related deaths.
The NEWgenerator generates nutrients, energy and water from wastewater, providing a sustainable solution for urban settlements. The system can generate up to 1,000 users' worth of clean water, energy and fertilizer, reducing strain on sewer systems.
A new study reveals that Madagascar's fruit is too low in protein for lemurs to sustain themselves, prompting them to adopt a leafy diet and develop unusual behaviors like hibernation. The research sheds light on the evolution of lemurs' dietary habits and highlights their unique characteristics.
Scientists have engineered cowpea to produce a Bacillus thuringiensis protein that protects against the Maruca pod borer. The resulting Bt cowpea variety can yield up to 25% more than traditional varieties, making it an attractive option for smallholder farmers in Africa.
A new species of mega-carnivore has been discovered in southern Africa with footprints measuring 57cm long and 50cm wide. The estimated body length of the dinosaur is around nine meters, four times that of a lion, making it one of the largest carnivores to roam the continent.
African teams join forces with UK experts to develop novel treatments for malaria and sleeping sickness, as part of the £7 million Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (Tiba) project. The initiative aims to strengthen health systems across the continent.
A team of scientists developed an innovative way to prevent sleeping sickness in cattle using the smell of antelopes. By mimicking the waterbuck's repellent scent, more than 80 percent of cows were spared from infection. The method is cheaper and more popular among Maasai herders than traditional treatments.
The University of Freiburg is launching a new centre to promote African knowledge production and sustainable governance. The MICAS Africa centre will bring together top researchers from Africa and the world to address global imbalances in knowledge.
A year-long trial suggests that hydroxyurea treatment is safe and effective for Ugandan children with sickle cell anemia, contrary to concerns about increased malaria risk. The study found no correlation between hydroxyurea treatment and the rate or severity of malaria infection.
Researchers have found that climatic changes related to the Permian-Triassic extinction event occurred 1 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery was made in the Karoo Basin in South Africa, where fossils revealed a 'faunal turnover' indicating early signs of the extinction event.
A new study assesses pandemic potential in Africa prior to outbreaks, mapping vulnerabilities to mitigate the spread of Ebola and other deadly viruses. Researchers identify high-risk locations, including parts of Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan, highlighting the need for targeted preparedness activities.
A team of scientists explored links between climate effects and two health outcome indicators: malnutrition and low birth weights. Their models indicate that vulnerable areas may see more malnourished children and lower birth weights due to warming and drying, but positive development trends can mitigate these effects.
Researchers found that climate in northeast Africa shifted from wet to very dry around 70,000 years ago, coinciding with human migration out of Africa. The team's analysis of sediment cores revealed a significant drop in sea surface temperature and rainfall patterns, making the environment less hospitable for human habitation.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that a significant proportion of South Africans with diabetes do not receive adequate care, with nearly twice the proportion of cases being undiagnosed. The research highlights gaps in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and control of the disease, particularly among adults aged 40-plus.
A new study has pushed back the emergence of modern humans by an estimated 50,000 years to between 350,000 and 260,000 years ago. The findings were made possible by a collaboration between geneticists and archaeologists who reconstructed the full genome of a 2,000-year-old boy found in South Africa.
A genomic analysis of ancient human remains from KwaZulu-Natal reveals that southern Africa played a significant role in the history of humankind. The study estimates the divergence among modern humans to have occurred between 350,000 and 260,000 years ago.
A new study estimates that nearly half of all abortions worldwide are unsafe, with the majority occurring in low-income countries. The study highlights the need for safe access to abortion and replacing unsafe methods with safe ones.