A combination of scientists’ intuition, fossils from the Karoo, and cutting-edge technology have the answer: endothermy developed in mammalian ancestors about 233 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. 20 July 2022 Mammals and birds produce their own body heat and control their body temperatures. This process is known as endothermy, or warm-bloodedness, and […]
Africa is a treasure trove of medicinal plants, these are some of the best
12 July 2022 Plants have directly contributed to the development of important drugs. The antimalarial treatment artemisinin, pain medication morphine, and cancer chemotherapy taxol are just three examples of drugs derived from plants. Africa is endowed with up to 45,000 plant species – about 25% of the world’s plant genetic resources. More than 5,000 plant […]
Marine life in Cape Town’s False Bay is full of chemical pollutants
The City of Cape Town has published a report showing extensive faecal contamination of the Peninsula coastline. These results, which echo findings of our studies in Camps Bay and Sea Point, point to major flaws in the city’s wastewater treatment plants, and urgent action is needed! Leslie Petrik, Professor / Leader of the Environmental and Nanoscience Research Group, […]
Forever FYNBOS, the Cape South Peninsula
by Martin (aka Joe) Frylinck Once upon a time (some 10 years ago) I wandered along the path between Lewis Gay & Kleinplaas Dams above Simon’s Town, when I came upon my first sighting of the Atlantic. I sat down on the side of the path to survey yonder hills and dale when I was […]
Discovering the forest wonders of Africa – and the threats
Robert Nasi, Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research – March 2022 Africa’s forests are some of the natural wonders of the world. As someone who has spent decades studying the ecology and management of tropical forests, I’m constantly amazed by the unique forest ecosystems on the continent. Some of them are most likely unknown […]
What GPS trackers revealed about Cape Town’s baboon troop movements
Baboons demonstrated collective behaviour in natural spaces, but in urban spaces these patterns break down: individuals were further apart, the group was poorly coordinated and often split into subgroups in the urban space. Anna Bracken, PhD student, Swansea University – 10 March 2022 Many animals form groups. Living in a group can protect individuals from predators, […]
Gregarious and charming, the Pin-tailed Whydah
The Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura, is a small resident songbird that lives in most of Africa south of the Sahara. The adult male has a black upper plumage and crown and a long black tail. The head (except for the crown) and plumage below are white, and his wings are dark brown with white patches. The female […]
Snowfall in the Sahara desert: an unusual weather phenomenon
Jasper Knight, Professor of Physical Geography, University of the Witwatersrand 31 January 2022 Snowfall in a hot desert may seem a contradiction but snow has been recorded several times in the Sahara Desert over the last decades, most recently in January 2022. Thus, snowfall may be unusual but is not unprecedented in the region. In […]
Fascinating insights into the lives of plants
Sven Batke, Lecturer in Biology, Edge Hill University – 12 January 2022 Approximately 4.5 billion years ago, Earth’s land surface was barren and devoid of life. It would take another 2 billion years for the first single-celled organisms to appear in the ocean, including the first algae Grypania spiralis, which was about the size of […]
Fleas and Ticks on your Dogs and Cats
ASPCA Fleas and ticks are two of the most frequent pet care concerns. While prevention is the best defense against these parasites, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of fleas and ticks so you can help your pets if necessary. Fleas Fleas are the most common external parasite to plague […]