“To produce an mRNA vaccine, scientists produce a synthetic version of the mRNA that a virus uses to build its infectious proteins. This mRNA is delivered into the human body, whose cells read it as instructions to build that viral protein, and therefore create some of the virus’s molecules themselves. These proteins are solitary, so […]
ANC instructs provinces to stop planned housing projects
Emma Louise Powell, DA Shadow Deputy Minister for Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements – 17 November 2020 The Department of Human Settlements (DHS) has sent an alarming letter to provinces, instructing them to put measures in place to immediately downscale the delivery of top structures (government houses). According to the letter sent to Provincial Heads of Department by the […]
Moderna follows Pfizer with vaccine news – interpreting these developments
There are many who do not buy into this ‘good news’ – MORE Simon Kolstoe, Senior Lecturer in Evidence-Based Healthcare and University Ethics Advisor, University of Portsmouth – 16 November 2020 It is very exciting to hear another positive story about vaccine trial results – a good vaccine is the most likely way of […]
90% efficacy for Pfizer’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is striking, but wait for the full data
Harry Al-Wassiti, Bioengineer and Research Fellow, Monash University; Colin Pouton, Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology, Monash University, and Kylie Quinn, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University – 10 November 2020 German biotech company BioNTech and US pharmaceutical Pfizer announced on Monday promising early results from their phase 3 clinical trial for […]
News, Politics & Opinion
Pig Wrestling and the DA
stop being so bloody reasonable and get a bit of mongrel into you Analysis of a chilling … [Read More...]
To Prosecute Independently or Not – That is the Question
By Adv Jacques du Preez, CEO of the FW de Klerk Foundation 28 October 2020 Prosecutors play a … [Read More...]
Failure of the ‘transformation agenda’ in SA
The Western Cape DA-led provincial government must be more than just administratively efficient, it … [Read More...]
Cuban automated shooting training for Military Skills Development volunteers
It takes a whole Cuban army to train the SANDF and only one retired Israeli soldier to train the … [Read More...]
Finance
A settlement with trade unions remains the best way forward for South Africa
Seán Mfundza Muller, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Research Associate at the … [Read More...]
Mboweni’s budget update builds castles in the sky
Right now, government is borrowing at a rate of R2.1 billion per day. Mike … [Read More...]
An individual cannot save SA – Moeletsi Mbeki
27 October 2020 You know a country is in deep trouble when you think an … [Read More...]
Science & Technology
HIV study shows new injection is more effective than daily HIV pill for women
Early unblinding of the of long-acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) is a milestone for … [Read More...]
New fossil tracks belonging to human ancestors found in South Africa
Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, … [Read More...]
Interesting
Dust in the atmosphere is a sign of trouble in South Africa’s maize fields
The University of Pretoria is currently examining whether dust sources carry a … [Read More...]
Brain scientists still not able to find major differences between male and female brains
Ari Berkowitz, Presidential Professor of Biology; Director, Cellular & … [Read More...]
Is it rational to trust your gut feelings? A neuroscientist explains
Valerie van Mulukom, Research Associate in Psychology, Coventry … [Read More...]
Nature & Animal Chat
Three new penguin species discovered in the Southern Ocean
Jane Younger, Research Fellow, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, … [Read More...]
The lovable Cape white-eye
The Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens) is a monogamous small passerine bird in … [Read More...]
How to stroke a cat, according to science
Lauren Finka, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Nottingham Trent University Many … [Read More...]
Lifestyle and The Arts
Tick Bite Fever in South Africa
Tick bite fever (rickettsia) is a bacterial infection transmitted in the saliva … [Read More...]
Millions of people are on treatment for HIV: why are so many still dying?
Gilles van Cutsem, Honorary Research Associate, Centre for Infectious Disease … [Read More...]
History and Biographies
Glencairn, the early years
Glencairn and the Else (also referred to as Els) river valley are … [Read More...]
Simon’s Town, looking back
CLICK on the photographs above to view our different slideshows The history … [Read More...]
Sun Tzu and the ‘Art of War’
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting During … [Read More...]
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