Articles tagged with Africa
A new snake species, Matilda's horned viper, has been discovered in a remote area of Tanzania with unique horn-like scales above its eyes. The species is estimated to have only a few square miles of habitat and is expected to be classified as critically endangered due to severe degradation from logging and charcoal manufacture.
Climate change and global trade are expected to increase demand for drought-tolerant plants from Africa and the Middle East, increasing the risk of new invasive species. Ecologists recommend proactive management practices, including pre-emptive screening of nursery stock before imports.
A comprehensive supply chain map reveals challenges in accessing anti-malarial drugs in Africa due to economic, political and infrastructural barriers. Local transport options like donkey carts and bicycles should be considered for rural areas.
A new study published in Journal of Arid Environments found that climate change is causing widespread tree mortality and species loss in the Sahel region of Africa, with one in six trees dying between 1954 and 2002.
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.
The EUROTAST project brings together young researchers to study the transatlantic slave trade's history and impact. The four-year project will explore captives' origins in Africa and physical quality of life, with a focus on interdisciplinary research and public dissemination.
Archaeologists have discovered Nubian Middle Stone Age tools in Oman, challenging long-held assumptions about the timing and route of early human expansion. The findings suggest that humans entered Arabia by 106,000 years ago, contradicting genetic estimates of 70,000 to 40,000 years ago.
The scale-up of voluntary medical male circumcision is a cost-effective way to prevent HIV in eastern and southern Africa. The initiative aims to achieve 80% coverage of VMMC services in 14 priority countries, resulting in net savings of $16.5 billion between 2011 and 2025.
Climate change is expected to alter water flows in major river basins in Africa, posing a new challenge to food production and cross-border water conflicts. The Limpopo Basin, Nile Basin, and Volta Basin are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns.
Shanchol, a new oral cholera vaccine developed by IVI, has been prequalified by the World Health Organization for use in developing countries. The vaccine is ready to be used in large-scale immunization programs and has been shown to be safe and protective against cholera for three years.
Studies explore Ligurian accretionary complex evolution and Andean thrusting, shedding light on continental margin dynamics. Cosmogenic isotope analysis reveals insights into the geological history of Wonderwerk Cave and Redoubt Volcano.
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) poses a significant threat globally, with over half a million cases of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and 25,000 to 50,000 XDR-TB cases. Sanatoria were used to isolate patients, but their dismantling led to the current crisis. The Lancet calls for new-age sanatoria to provide state-of-...
Six young investigators from the Middle East received prestigious grants for their top-ranking research abstracts presented at the IOF Regionals – 1st Middle-East & Africa Osteoporosis Meeting. The awards aim to encourage bone research among young researchers worldwide.
A new audit report reveals a growing problem of osteoporosis in the Middle East and Africa, with predicted major increases in fractures and significant socioeconomic impact. Widespread vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intake contribute to the issue.
A new insurance program is providing compensation to poor herders in northern Kenya's Marsabit District, who have lost up to a third of their animals due to drought. The program uses satellite images to track forage conditions and payouts are triggered when grazing lands deteriorate beyond 15 percent loss.
William M. Tierney, Regenstrief Institute president and Indiana University School of Medicine associate dean, will receive the AMIA Morris F. Collen Award for his efforts to advance biomedical and health informatics. He has implemented and studied electronic health record systems globally, including in Africa.
Fertilizer trees have been adopted by hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in Southern Africa, resulting in doubling of maize yields and significant increases in incomes and food security. The trees' natural ability to draw nitrogen from the air improves water efficiency and reduces soil erosion.
A study in The Gambia found that vaccinating young children reduced carriage of pneumococcus not only in vaccinated children but also in older children and adults. The vaccine also showed no increase in non-vaccine serotype pneumococci carriage after two years.
A predictive model of polio outbreaks in Africa was developed using outbreak data from 2003-2010. The model indicates that continued transmission in Nigeria and other countries, as well as poor immunization status, are the main causes of polio outbreaks in Africa.
A review of studies published in The Lancet reveals that investing in mental health interventions can improve economic status. The research highlights the need for integrated mental health services as a key strategy for addressing poverty and promoting human development.
A new study documents the rapid adoption of fertilizer trees by smallholder farmers in southern Africa, leading to significant increases in maize yields and incomes. The approach has improved water efficiency and reduced soil erosion, offering a potential solution to food crises on the continent.
Researchers found that meerkats can distinguish between individual calls in their species, contrary to previous assumptions. Meerkat colonies are highly organized and divide work into three roles, with this vocal recognition ability linked to auditory cues.
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.
A US Department of Agriculture scientist has developed a partnership with South African colleagues to improve cattle breeding, benefiting breeders worldwide. The research focuses on the Nguni breed, which is popular among poor farmers due to its fertility and tolerance to harsh conditions.
Research from the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme found that average wellbeing levels among older people in South Africa and Brazil improved between 2002 and 2008 due to economic growth and social policies. Economic performance, labour market conditions, and pension income were key factors influencing improvement in wellbeing.
The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) is now offering free subscriptions to developing countries through the HINARI initiative. This move aims to address information inequality by providing access to visual content, including over 1,300 video-protocols on experimental approaches in various fields.
By 2018, an estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide will experience at least one lower urinary tract symptom, with increases expected in Africa, Asia, and South America. The study highlights the urgent need for public awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and management of these conditions to tackle the growing burden.
Scientists have found a new family of wasps in North American amber, which are closely related to families found in South America and southern Africa. The discovery sheds light on the origins of stinging wasps and their distribution patterns.
A new combination therapy for kala azar has been developed, reducing treatment time from 30 days to 17 days and decreasing costs. However, without international funding, too few patients will benefit from this new treatment.
The African Orphan Crops consortium will work with African scientists to identify and breed nutrient-rich food crops, addressing malnutrition and food shortages. The $40 million initiative will also establish the African Plant Breeding Academy in Ghana, training local plant breeders to adopt advanced breeding approaches.
Researchers analyzed genomes from East Asian, European, and African populations to discover the San people diverged from other humans 130,000 years ago. This finding contradicts previous estimates, providing a richer understanding of human evolution.
Researchers analyzed CT scans of fossil skull fragments from five Australopithecus species and found distinct internal structures in the anterior pillars. This suggests different evolutionary pathways for different species, contradicting previous theories on shared ancestry.
Breast and cervical cancer cases are rising globally, with more women dying at younger ages in developing countries. The study reveals stark differences in trends between high- and low-income countries, highlighting the need for increased cancer screening and treatment programs in poor nations.
Australopithecus sediba fossils display both primitive and human-like traits, challenging long-standing theories about human evolution. The discovery of well-preserved hand and foot bones provides insights into the species' tool-making abilities.
The Einstein College of Medicine consortium aims to collect and analyze data on nearly 40,000 patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda. The project will help improve the care and lives of residents by providing a robust database for researchers to examine the real-world practice and results of ART.
The essays argue that 9/11 did not bring about a new world order but rather built upon existing structures and power dynamics. The real significance lies in the connections between people and places, past and present.
Researchers describe the earliest complete fossil hominin hand post-dating stone tools, Australopithecus sediba's hand. The study reveals that it used its hand for arboreal locomotion but also showed human-like precision grips, a prerequisite for tool-making.
Researchers discovered genetic material from extinct archaic humans, including Denisovans, contributing to present-day African populations. The study suggests that contemporary Africans contain about 2 percent of archaic DNA, which may hold beneficial genes for human physiology and disease resistance.
A new grant-funded project from the University of Copenhagen aims to investigate how Kenya's handling of natural resources contributes to instability in the country. The researchers will focus on the Mau Forest, a region affected by violent conflicts over resource access.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center will develop two cassava varieties resistant to CBSD and CMD, aiming to improve crop yield in Sub Saharan Africa. The project has received $11.9 million in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Monsanto Fund, Howard Buffett Foundation, and USAID.
A new study reveals Homo erectus used advanced Acheulian tools in East Africa at 1.8 million years ago, 300,000 years earlier than previously thought. The discovery sheds light on the origins of sophisticated tool-making technology and raises questions about human migration and climate change.
A study by ILRI found that investments aimed at increasing the mobility of livestock herders can help avert future food crises in arid lands. Herding makes better economic sense than crop agriculture in many regions, and supporting mobile communities can help people cope with droughts.
Research in Senegal found growing resistance to a common insecticide class among mosquitoes, coupled with increased susceptibility of older children and adults, resulting in malaria resurgence. The study suggests that new strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the devastating effects of insecticide resistance on malaria control.
Researchers found identical lead isotopes in ancient rocks from North America and Antarctica, suggesting a connection between the two continents 1.1 billion years ago. This discovery strengthens support for the SWEAT hypothesis and provides critical clues to the geographic relationships between major continents.
A study published in Science found that East Africa's climate has been under the spell of El Niño for thousands of years, with significant impacts on rainfall patterns. The research, led by Axel Timmermann and Gerald Haug, used sediment layers from Lake Challa to reconstruct the history of East African rainfall back to the Last Ice Age.
Researchers found that La Nina's cold phase leads to marginal rainfall and stronger winds in East Africa, while El Niño warm phase causes weak wind conditions with frequent rain. The study tracked climate variations to the last ice age using Lake Challa sediment cores.
A study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that sending text message reminders to healthcare workers in rural Africa improved the implementation of national guidelines for treating malaria. The intervention resulted in a 25% improvement in health workers' practices, leading to more patients receiving accurate antimalarial treatment.
A comprehensive review and data synthesis highlights the emergence of HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men in the region, with high rates of risky sexual behavior and concentrated epidemics in countries like Egypt and Sudan. The authors stress the need for expanded HIV surveillance and access to prevention and treatment services.
A new species of pearl-flowered legume, Psoralea margaretiflora, has been discovered in the Sneeuberg Centre of Floristic Endemism in South Africa. This discovery highlights the importance of exploring the poorly explored Great Escarpment in southern Africa.
A study published in PhytoKeys has sorted out the names of three Australian Cucurbitaceae species collected in 1856, which are distinct from each other and one is closest to the honeymelon. Molecular data link herbarium science with molecular results to resolve economically important group identities.
A new study suggests that adopting the World Health Organization's treatment initiation criteria for HIV-infected individuals would significantly reduce the country's HIV incidence, extend life-years, and ultimately save money. By starting ART earlier, South Africa could prevent more than 120,000 additional life-years by 2040.
A study by the University of Minnesota found that full moons increase lion attacks on humans in Tanzania, with most attacks occurring between dusk and 10pm. The research suggests that lions are hungrier after a full moon due to limited hunting success under daylight conditions.
A new breed of chicken, Kuroiler, has been found to significantly outperform native chickens in terms of survival rate, egg production, and body weight gain. This hybrid chicken is well-suited for resource-poor village environments and requires minimal feed, making it an attractive option for rural farmers.
A University of Minnesota study found that full moons signal increased lion attacks on humans in Tanzania, with over two-thirds of attacks fatal. The research analyzed nearly 500 lion attacks between 1988 and 2009, revealing a clear pattern of increased danger after the full moon.
A study found that transferring HIV patient care from doctors in hospitals to nurses in primary health clinics resulted in equivalent or better health outcomes for stable patients on antiretroviral therapy. The transfer strategy was also cost-effective, with a 11% lower cost than doctor-managed hospital-based outpatient treatment.
A study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution found that non-African populations carry a piece of DNA from Neanderthals, indicating interbreeding between the two species. The genetic variation is present on the X chromosome and has been confirmed through independent analysis.
The NASA Aura satellite measures pollution 'butterfly' formed by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from agricultural fires in central Africa. High concentrations of NO2 were detected over the Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola, posing a threat to air quality and health.
A new study published in The Lancet found that the number of sexual partners, rather than concurrent partnerships, is strongly predictive of HIV transmission in women. Researchers analyzed data from over 87,000 individuals in South Africa and found that men with multiple lifetime partners were more likely to transmit HIV.
A new study found that ivermectin dramatically reduces malaria transmission among people living in Senegalese villages. Ivermectin was administered as part of a campaign to fight onchocerciasis and appeared to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes, resulting in a 79% decline in mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum.
Researchers have discovered a human ancestor older than previously believed, contradicting the Out of Africa model and suggesting a different role for Homo erectus. The findings, published in PLoS One, indicate that Homo erectus went extinct before modern humans arrived in Indonesia.