Africa in space: continent has a lot to gain, but proper plans must be put in place
African countries need to be more deliberate in developing space capabilities; quite a lot of strategic foresight is needed in Africa
India and Pakistan can future-proof their threatened rivers
Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters is planning to visit Pakistan in March to attend the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission
How many ants live on earth? At least 20,000,000,000,000,000
Total biomass of this species is about 12 million tonnes, while the combined biomass of wild mammals and birds is two million tonnes and seven …
Moderna strikes with a new lawsuit
Moderna is trying to be gatekeeper for the mRNA platform for future drug development, raising monopolistic fears
Waste pickers in Lagos tell their stories about a dangerous existence
Waste pickers often work without protective gear, unassisted and without access to primary care or first aid and employment regulations
New energy conundrum
As countries reconcile their energy supply options with climate change, will they reinvent the fossil fuel-based system or reinvest in it?
Lockdowns brought down poaching rates in Africa, but rhinos still under threat
Poaching numbers went down in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown; they went up again in 2021
Lockdowns pull down poaching rates in Africa but rhinos still threatened
Rhinoceros poaching rates in Africa have declined from a peak of 5.3 per cent of the total population in 2015 to 2.3 per cent in 2021
A COVID-19 encore with monkeypox
A familiar pattern is emerging in the battle against monkeypox with the US and Europe grabbing scarce vaccine supplies
Limited access to medication in Sub-Saharan Africa likely to stall hypertension treatment
Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading global cause of death
One in every 3 southern African children are stunted: Report
Major drivers of malnutrition include lack of diversity and sub-optimal infant feeding practices prevailing in the region
Win-win strategy: These countries’ conservation practices have helped their economy too
Countries across the world have identified and adopted measures to conserve wild species that can help develop sustainable livelihood opportunities
NASA releases first pieces of the multispectral maps of Mars
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been mapping minerals on the red Planet for the last 16 years with the help of CRISM
Africa’s free trade area offers promise for cities – but only if there’s investment
Rapid urbanisation, with an estimated 900 million people set to enter African cities in the next 30 years, creates a large upcoming consumer pool
Gene transfer enhances insect survival, says study
Gene transfer might have helped in the development of better traits in mating, nutrition, growth and adaptation
Europe burns: National Emergency declared in UK; wildfires in France, Spain, Portugal
Many parts of the continent including Spain, Greece and France experienced wildfires July 17, 2022, after an unusually dry, hot spring
India’s first monkeypox case reported from Kerala
The patient had returned to Kerala from the United Arab Emirates July 12 and was symptomatic at the time
The African Union at 20: some reason to cheer, but lots of work ahead
There is some reason to cheer as the continental body celebrates its 20th anniversary on 9 July. Yet a lot remains to be achieved.
Monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries cross 1,000 mark in a month. What this means
Global public health risk has been classified as ‘moderate’ but the WHO refrained from stating it has pandemic potential
75 years of Kon-Tiki: ‘Thor Heyerdahl’s theory of Polynesian-indigenous American contact still relevant today’
Two years ago, a study in Nature had said that about 2-5% of Polynesian DNA is from present-day Colombia, vindicating Heyerdahl
World Heritage Day: ‘Himalayan geo-heritage sites under threat to road construction activities’
DTE talks to ON Bhargava, geology professor at Panjab University, Chandigarh about why roads must be constructed in the Himalayas on the basis of …
Long COVID affects 1 in 5 people following infection. Vaccination, masks and better indoor air are our best protections
Most studies show a general pattern of higher prevalence of long COVID for people with more severe illness
Agriculture is linked with malaria in complex ways: evidence from 16 African countries
This is worrying because, currently, three branches of development are trying to achieve their goals in isolation
Black pepper: Healthy or not?
Modern science suggests that black pepper does indeed confer health benefits, mainly as a result of an alkaloid called piperine
‘Development will eventually lead to environmental conflicts’
With sustainable development goals in place, increasing democratisation and connectivity of the world, ecologisation of politics and vice-versa …