Alseno Kagiso Mosai, University of Pretoria and Hlanganani Tutu, University of the Witwatersrand Highly toxic metals are leaking out of nine abandoned mines in Krugersdorp, 32km west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The metals include uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury. This acid mine drainage – when water mixes with heavy metals in mines
ph. Ants foraging for nectar on a Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). Jacob S. Suissa, CC BY-ND Jacob S. Suissa, University of Tennessee Look closely at a plant in your local park, your garden or even your kitchen, and you’re likely to see some damage. Whether a caterpillar has chewed away part of a
Andrew R. Leitch, Queen Mary University of London There are eight species of baobab in the world, and they have a surprising distribution. Six are found in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean; one is found on the continent of Africa; and the last is far away in Australia. The origin of
Sharon Fonn, University of the Witwatersrand and Marta Vicente-Crespo The challenge for universities is to produce graduates who can work with others to produce knowledge and research that can change institutions and societies for the better. That is the basis on which the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (Carta) began developing
ph. Jolanda Aalbers / Shutterstock Anniek Kortleve, Leiden University; Helen Harwatt, Harvard University; José Manuel Mogollón, Leiden University, and Paul Behrens, Leiden University The vast majority of the EU’s agricultural subsidies are supporting meat and dairy farming rather than sustainable plant alternatives. That’s the key finding of our new research, published in Nature
Alewo Idoko-Akoh, University of Bristol Recent advances in gene editing technology could potentially be used to create disease-resistant animals. This could curtail the spread of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. In a recent gene editing study, my colleagues and I showcased the potential of gene editing to protect chickens from the
by Naseem S. Mi ller, The Journalist’s Resource American voters who have low or moderate levels of trust in university researchers are less likely to believe that climate change is an important problem and that it’s driven by human activities, according to a study published this month in PLOS Climate. The study, which
As the Thai school lunch program (Thai SLP) is crucial for Thai children’s health, there should be another way to improve the quality of school lunches. This study aimed to address problems arising from the Thai SLP operation, prioritize problems, and devise strategies to help resolve those issues under the SLP. Method: School
Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock Lindsay Broadbent, University of Surrey One aspect of the COVID pandemic that has fascinated both scientists and the public alike is how the infection affects people differently. I’ve previously discussed the potential reasons some people have managed to avoid infection completely. But for those who have been infected, symptoms can range
New research highlights an opportunity colleges have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — starting with the gleaming silver serving trays in their buffet-style dining halls. The project, spearheaded by Food for Climate League in collaboration with Better Food Foundation, Sodexo and three different university dining halls, found that swapping out meat entrees for