Only a small proportion of households in the former homelands are full-time farmers. This number is declining, as is the area of land being cultivated. Charlie Shackleton, Professor & Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods, Rhodes University Over half a million households in South Africa’s former homelands […]
Xi Jinping’s grip on power is absolute, but there are new threats to his ‘Chinese dream
This year, the People’s Republic of China turns 70. And Xi, its paramount leader, turned 66 last month. No other Chinese leader’s life so closely parallels the life of the PRC – and that explains a lot about Xi’s mindset and his ambitions for China. Bates Gill, Professor of Asia-Pacific Security Studies, Macquarie University Chinese […]
Would you eat meat grown from cells in a laboratory? Here’s how it works
Leigh Ackland, Professor in Molecular Biosciences, Deakin University For many of us, eating a meal containing meat is a normal part of daily life. But if we dig deeper, some sobering issues emerge. Every year, 66 billion terrestrial animals are slaughtered for food. Predictions are that meat consumption will rise, with increasing demand for meat […]
I’m a lucid dream researcher – here’s how to train your brain to do it
Achilleas Pavlou, PhD Researcher, University of Essex Dreams can often be confusing and blurry experiences. Reduced critical thinking, little to no access to our true memories and heightened impulsivity and emotions during normal dream states often make for head-scratching moments when our eyes first open in the morning. But dreams don’t always play out this […]
Pressure builds with more protests in Hong Kong, but what’s the end game?
Hong Kong protesters have been praised for working through the night to clear away rubbish left by millions of people and leaving streets spotless. After the protest – estimated to be attended by 2 million people – protesters returned in the middle of the night to clean up the streets. Caitlin Byrne, Director, Griffith Asia […]
High times in China 2,500 years ago
Chinese archaeologists have found signs of humans using cannabis as a drug – 2,500 years ago. Michelle Starr, Science Alert – 14 June 2019 We know humans have been using cannabis for various purposes for thousands of years, but its history as a drug has been a little harder to pin down. Now have a […]
Voortrekker preparing for final berthing at Simon’s Town Naval Museum
defenceWeb – 13 June 2019 Another component of South African naval history is en route to the SA Navy Museum in Simon’s Town. That component is the ocean yacht Voortrekker which in the capable hands of Bertie Reed made the maritime service of the then SA Defence Force a symbol of national pride. “Authority has […]
Studies at the frontier of HIV prevention
Glenda Gray, Research Professor, Perinatal HIV Research Unit and President, South African Medical Research Council There are an estimated 5000 new HIV transmissions every day. Around 70% of the 37 million people living with HIV globally are in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 1.8 million new HIV transmissions worldwide in 2017, 800 000 occurred in eastern […]
EVEREST: 11 climbers dead in 16 days – what about the bodies on the mountain?
Jonathan Westaway, Senior Research Fellow in History, University of Central Lancashire Climbing Mount Everest has long been a metaphor for extreme achievement – something that is both hard and hazardous. And, over the years, the bodies of those seasoned Sherpas who perished in accidents or climbers who succumbed to the cold and altitude have testified […]
The Essence of Emotional Intelligence
EI or EQ is as important as intellectual ability (IQ). Emotional intelligence is required to turn intent into action, to make balanced and informed decisions. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include three skills: 1. Emotional awareness, including the […]