Science and research news from Africa. Covers Congo Basin wildlife, maternity care, malaria resurgence, and drug-resistant parasites.
Research ethics committees in Africa struggle with inadequate funding, staffing, and training, hindering their effectiveness. Despite these challenges, many RECs have shown promise by prioritizing ethics and having predictable funding.
A deadly, highly-contagious and drug-resistant mutant strain of tuberculosis is spreading rapidly in South Africa. The World Health Organization warns that the situation poses a potentially explosive international health crisis due to its contagious nature and the presence of millions of migrant laborers.
Research ethics committees in Africa often lack adequate funding, staffing and training, leading to a focus on scientific aspects over ethical considerations. The study's findings highlight the need for national policies and international support to establish and monitor research ethics committees across the continent.
The Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and Kenya are home to over 1000 endemic species, many with ancient lineages. Effective conservation requires addressing human needs and securing protected areas to preserve biodiversity.
A 35,000-year-old European skull found in Romania has been analyzed, revealing that it exhibits both modern and archaic features. The discovery supports the idea of human evolution and suggests that early modern humans interbred with Neanderthals.
A 36,000-year-old human skull from South Africa confirms the 'Out of Africa' theory of modern human origins. The fossil provides critical evidence that modern humans migrated out of sub-Saharan Africa around this time.
A new study reveals that modern humans first arrived in Europe around 45,000 years ago, with evidence of stone, bone and ivory tools found in Russia. The discovery includes a carved piece of mammoth ivory believed to be the oldest figurative art ever discovered.
Researchers reevaluate human migration, proposing a new timeline for the spread of modern humans out of Africa. According to studies involving fossil analysis and genetic research, this migration likely took place between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago.
The CATALIST Project will help maintain biodiversity, improve environmental management, and develop markets for agricultural inputs and crops in the Great Lakes region. Local people will be employed in labor-intensive public works to plant trees and build terraces and roads.
A new study by Yanhong Zhang reveals that almost 45 million students in sub-Saharan Africa were not enrolled in school in 2001, with rural students facing significant learning disadvantages. The study finds that family socio-economic status and school quality play a crucial role in the learning gaps between urban and rural students.
Researchers uncover evidence of advanced rituals performed by modern humans in Africa for 70,000 years, featuring a python rock with man-made indentations and no signs of normal habitation. The discovery suggests that humans had the capacity for abstract thinking at an earlier point in history than previously assumed.
A study comparing trained mid-level providers (MLPs) to doctors for first-trimester manual vacuum aspiration abortions found that MLPs are equally safe as doctors. In South Africa and Vietnam, rates of complications were low and comparable between the two groups, with women reporting equal satisfaction.
Climate change may cause large infrequent disturbances in Africa, leading to devastating environmental and societal impacts. Historical data suggests that such events can have a lasting effect, with examples like the Maasai 'Emutai' period showing catastrophic consequences.
The World Health Organization's African Regional Health Report is criticized for its lack of facts and reliance on rhetoric. To achieve sustainable health improvements in Africa, effective cooperation between the UN's agencies and multilateral institutions is required.
A Rutgers-based team found a connection between the 1783 Icelandic volcanic eruption and a famine in Egypt, which reduced the Nile valley population by a sixth. The study used computer models to trace atmospheric changes from the eruption to their impact on North Africa.
A recent study found that Iceland's Laki volcanic event significantly changed atmospheric circulations, causing unusual temperature and precipitation patterns that peaked in the summer of 1783. This resulted in record low river levels on the Nile River for up to a year due to reduced evaporation and increased temperatures.
A study found a significant increase in condom use among young women in sub-Saharan Africa, with 60% using condoms for pregnancy prevention. The authors suggest that promoting condoms as a method for pregnancy prevention may be more effective than focusing on HIV transmission prevention.
A study by Yale researchers found that extensively drug resistant TB is prevalent among HIV co-infected patients in South Africa, with high mortality rates reported. The study suggests urgent intervention is necessary to address this global health issue, which threatens the success of TB and HIV treatment programs.
Every year, 68,000 women die from unsafe induced abortions. Accessing safe, legal abortion improves women's health and can reduce these fatalities. Legalizing abortion is necessary but insufficient; making it safe and accessible is also crucial.
Researchers found highly resistant strains of TB in a rural area of South Africa, associated with high death rates in HIV-infected patients. The study highlights the need for action to tackle the problem of resistant strains that could jeopardize tuberculosis control and mortality prevention.
Researchers traced the migration of honey bees from Africa to Europe, revealing two distinct European populations that are more related to African honey bees than each other. The study used genetic analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism markers, increasing the level of detail possible in genetic analysis.
Researchers have found a remarkably well-preserved fossil lamprey from the Devonian period that reveals today's lampreys as 'living fossils.' The discovery pushes back the lamprey fossil record by 35 million years and adds essential new detail to the emerging picture of early vertebrate evolution.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $15 million to the Earth Institute at Columbia University to advance scientific research and efforts to end poverty, disease, and hunger in Africa. The grant supports a dynamic strategy for achieving sustainable development in some of the world's poorest countries.
A new approach to treating malaria in pregnant women in West Africa has been found to be both safe and effective. The study, published in The Lancet, used the drug amodiaquine, either alone or in combination with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, to almost completely eliminate the malaria parasite without serious side effects.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison found a link between dust storms and hurricane frequency in Atlantic, suggesting that dust may help suppress brewing hurricanes. The study suggests that long-term changes in hurricanes may be related to multiple factors.
Australian and South African sites selected as top contenders to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, with low man-made signals a key requirement. Both countries' sites offer stable ionospheric conditions and a good view of the southern sky, ideal for detecting cosmic radio waves.
Research by Andreas Hemp reveals a host of rare plants in Kilimanjaro's forests, contrary to previous thought, and explains the mountain's unique bamboo zone absence due to elephant lack. The complex links between plants and animals are showcased, highlighting human impact on forest diversity.
New research suggests that international fishing trade can benefit developing African countries by generating foreign exchange revenue and improving local food security. The trade in high-value fish species, such as tuna and squid, helps underpin domestic fisheries and supports the livelihoods of thousands of people.
Researchers launch large balloons with instrument packages over Africa and the Atlantic to gather data on hurricane conditions. The data will help predict which systems develop into hurricanes, providing critical insights for improving weather forecasting.
A global health expert argues that up to seven neglected tropical diseases, including river blindness and trachoma, can be brought under control with increased coverage of existing programs. This could lead to the elimination of infections in some cases and improved health outcomes for millions of people in Africa.
Northwestern University has received a four-year, $4.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop and produce affordable diagnostic devices for infectious diseases. The team will focus on two targeted products and work with commercial collaborators Abbott and Inverness Medical Innovations to improve test systems.
University of Utah meteorologist Ed Zipser leads a NASA mission to study African weather disturbances that intensify into hurricanes. The study aims to improve hurricane prediction and understanding of extreme events like category 5 storms.
A Kenyan study confirms that routine Hib vaccination significantly reduced invasive Hib disease to 88% below baseline. This finding suggests that virtual elimination of the devastating disease is possible if more countries adopt the vaccine as part of their national immunization programs.
Research reveals that African HIV-infected patients have significantly higher rates of adherence to antiretroviral regimens, with 77% taking their medications as directed compared to 59% in North America. This contradicts historical assumptions about poor adherence among Africans.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found higher ART adherence rates in sub-Saharan Africa compared to North America. The study suggests that factors beyond poverty, such as poor patient-clinician relationships and untreated depression, contribute to low adherence rates in North America.
In sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS deaths are disproportionately affecting health professionals, particularly nurses and clinical officers. The study found that over a decade, death would claim more of these healthcare workers than resignation or normal retirement due to the disease.
The Heineken Workplace Programme, which provides antiretroviral treatment to employees, shows that offering HAART is feasible. By restricting treatment options, companies can manage HIV patients while prioritizing the health of their workforce.
Scientists study how African winds, dust conditions influence hurricane birth; use satellite data, weather stations, aircraft to improve hurricane forecasting. Researchers seek answers on hurricane development, air currents, Saharan Air Layer's effect on clouds.
Researchers at Tufts University's Feinstein International Center aim to improve animal health, trade, and human livelihoods in Africa. They propose independent certification bodies to ensure safe export trade and fair standards for livestock commodities.
A large trial suggests that male circumcision reduces HIV infection risk by 60%. If all men were circumcised, 2 million new infections and 300,000 deaths could be avoided. Long-term benefits would include saving 1.6-5.8 million lives after 20 years.
Researchers have discovered that beads date back between 100,000 to 135,000 years ago, indicating a sophisticated level of symbolic thinking in early humans. This finding has major implications for understanding the origins of behaviorally modern humans and their ability to use symbols.
A fake malaria drug, artesunate, was found to be contaminated with only 20% of the active ingredient, leading to the death of a 23-year-old man in East Burma. The study highlights the risks of counterfeit antimalarial medicines in Africa, where genuine artesunate is scarce and expensive.
A study found that intercontinental migration from Africa can improve the welfare position of households with migrants by increasing their capital and allowing them to invest in productive activities. This not only benefits the migrant-sending countries but also provides a source of cheap labor for European countries, helping to allevi...
Researchers found faster subtropical warming of the troposphere, moving jet streams poleward, which could widen tropical regions and alter rainfall patterns. This shift may reduce winter precipitation in southern Europe and Australia, as well as impact regional climate patterns.
The latest Global Disease Burden study finds a 20% reduction in global disease burden, but HIV/AIDS and malaria increase death tolls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe experiences a 'striking reversal' in falling adult mortality rates without effective health monitoring.
A new study provides an explanation for continental plate breakups, showing that they often occur along preexisting lines of weakness created during earlier collisions. The research uses geochemical fingerprinting to demonstrate this principle, shedding light on the history of the Rheic Ocean.
The Rwenzori Mountains, home to one of four remaining tropical ice fields outside the Andes, are experiencing substantial reduction in glacial cover due to increasing air temperature over the last four decades. Glaciers are receding tens of meters each year, with less than one square kilometer of glacier ice remaining.
A study of 103 countries found an estimated 3.2 million stillbirths worldwide each year, with rates ranging from 5 per 1000 in rich countries to 32 per 1000 in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The true figure is likely higher due to under-reporting.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that seasonal childhood anaemia in West Africa is associated with the haptoglobin 2-2 genotype. The research suggests a link between this genetic variation and the development of anaemia during periods of high malaria prevalence.
A group of experts allege that the World Bank has neglected malaria treatment for years, concealing its expenditures and downscaling its staff. In response, the World Bank defends its efforts, citing research on the challenges of linking funding to health outcomes.
Scientists are using lead isotope analysis to study ancient copper artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa, providing insights into the spread of Islam and trade patterns across the Sahara Desert. The analysis reveals that merchants traded gold from regions like present-day Niger for copper from North Africa via camel caravans.
The L'ORÉAL-UNESCO awards recognize pioneering work in immunology, molecular pathology, and genetic disorders. The laureates will receive a $100K prize and international recognition for their contributions to human health.
The worldwide state of tuberculosis epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment is examined through research results published in 2005. TB remains a top cause of HIV-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, with high incidence rates among gold miners and those with recent M. tuberculosis infection.
Research in East Africa highlights the dual nature of land use, with positive impacts on local economies but negative consequences for native plants and wildlife. LUCID project explores links between social systems and environmental changes, aiming to understand why some communities maintain biodiversity despite agricultural expansion.
A new study finds that particles in cloudy water layers drift over long distances to be buried at depths of up to 1500 meters, affecting our understanding of carbon burial and climate relationships. This process may have been more vigorous in the past due to fluctuating sea levels.
A review of 12,000 Ugandan women found that male circumcision significantly reduced the likelihood of HIV infection among female partners. The study also found a reduction in other STDs, such as human papillomavirus and syphilis, but not gonorrhea or Chlamydia.
A study in South Africa found that implementing a blood safety program, including education and targeted outreach, significantly reduced the prevalence of HIV-1 in blood donations. The program resulted in a 50% decrease in HIV-1 positivity rates over two years.
African remains found in Campeche, Mexico, provide earliest physical link between the African Diaspora and the New World. The discovery, dating back to the late-16th century, sheds light on the early transatlantic slave trade.
Three promising young science reporters from Latin America were selected by the program's recruitment committee to attend and report on the 2006 AAAS Annual Meeting. Lorena Guzmán from Chile, Roberta Jansen from Brazil, and Rosalía Servín Magaña from Mexico will receive full support to cover the conference.
The ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) will collect atmospheric data on absorbing aerosols from desert dust in the dry season and deep convective clouds during the summer monsoon. This information will help improve model simulations of global climate and increase understanding of the influence of the West African Monsoon.