insert_link Health / Medical Artificial wombs could someday be a reality – here’s how they may change our notions of parenthood Artificial womb technology could eventually make it possible to grow a foetus from conception to “birth” wholly outside the human body. Marko Aliaksandr/ Shutterstock Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University; Nicola J. Williams, Lancaster University, and Sara Fovargue, University of Sheffield Our reproductive lives are considerably different from those of our ancestors, thanks in part to health innovations that have taken place over the past few decades. Practices such as IVF, donor […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 9
insert_link Lifestyle Does having children make you happier? Here’s what the research suggests The happiness and fulfilment you feel with the decision will depend on many different factors. CeltStudio/ Shutterstock Trudy Meehan, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Jolanta Burke, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences The prevailing belief in many parts of the world is that having children is key to happiness – and that people who don’t have children are unfulfilled in their lives. But is this really […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 18
insert_link Opinion Pieces 3D scanning: we recreated a sacred South African site in a way that captures its spirit A 3D rendering of Ga-Mohana Hill in South Africa, a sacred and important heritage site. Stephen Wessels, CC BY-NC-ND Stephen Wessels, University of Cape Town; Benjamin Schoville, The University of Queensland; Jayne Wilkins, Griffith University, and Sechaba Maape, University of the Witwatersrand These days, if you want to visit remarkable archaeological sites such as Great Zimbabwe or Petra in Jordan you don’t even need to leave your house. 3D scanning […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 14
insert_link Business / Economics Showmax steps up streaming battle with Premier League on mobile plan By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency After taking over Africa’s market mantle from US streaming giant, Netflix, in 2023, South Africa’s Showmax is turning to smartphones to tap into a wider pool of football fanatics. The MultiChoice-owned streamer has introduced mobile-only subscriptions for Premier League content as part of a new package for its second iteration- Showmax 2.0, launching in mid-February. “Showmax Premier League is a game-changing product that […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 28
insert_link Uncategorized Africa’s 10 ‘most open’ countries for travel By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency In the past eight years, 35 countries have improved their visa policies and, since 2016, five countries have abolished all visa requirements for African travellers. As a result, citizens of at least five countries can now enjoy visa-free travel in 42 different countries, compared to just three in 2020. According to the Africa Development Bank's Africa Visa Openness Report 2023, most countries […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Cabo Verde’s malaria victory is a blueprint for Africa By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency Cabo Verde has achieved a significant milestone in the battle against malaria, securing malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). In news released on Friday, January 12, WHO explained that indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes across the archipelago of 10 islands has been halted nationwide for the past three consecutive years. The country's certification is the fourth on the continent, […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 35
insert_link Africa Culinary passion ignites Botswana’s spice industry: the flavorful journey of chef Cathy By Mmapula Molapong, bird story agency "My memories of food are very powerful. My earliest memory dates back to when I was about eight years old. I absolutely adored going to the farm with my grandmother, we used to get up really early in the morning on weekends to harvest vegetables, sorghum and maize,” said Ompelege Moreosele, who is better known both in Botswana and South Africa as food […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 41
insert_link Environment An ancient system that could bring water to dry areas By Gaathier Mahed, Nelson Mandela University Some of Africa’s dry areas face serious water shortages due to minimal rainfall. An ancient system of drawing water from aquifers, the “qanat system”, could help. Gaathier Mahed, an environmental scientist and expert on the management of groundwater, has studied the feasibility of these systems. He tells us more. How does the qanat system work? There are bodies of water underground known as […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 13
insert_link Health / Medical Dangerous chemicals found in recycled plastics, making them unsafe for use – experts explain the hazards By Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg and Eric Carmona Martinez, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ Plastic pollution is a menace worldwide. Plastics are now found in every environment on the planet, from the deepest seas to the atmosphere and human bodies. Scientific evidence describing harm to the environment and humans is growing. Hence, the United Nations has resolved to negotiate a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 11
