insert_link Africa Ethiopia’s deadly landslides are caused by both nature and man – a geophysicist explains By Getnet Mewa, Addis Ababa University As many as 300 people were killed in landslides triggered by higher than normal rainfall in south-western Ethiopia in July 2024. More than 15,000 were also forced to leave their homes. Another less deadly landslide that occurred two weeks later killed a dozen. Getnet Mewa, a geophysicist who studies landslides and associated landmass movements, explains where and how landslides occur in […] todayAugust 12, 2024 23
insert_link Environment Oceans without sharks would be far less healthy – new research Gray reef sharks and blacktip reef sharks near Tahiti, French Polynesia. Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images By Michael Heithaus, Florida International University There are more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, from the 7-inch dwarf lantern shark to whale sharks that can grow to over 35 feet long. They’re found from polar waters to the equator, at the water’s surface and miles deep, in the open […] todayAugust 7, 2024 10
insert_link Entertainment Sunscreens can hurt the marine environment – here’s how to choose one that’s healthy for you and the sea Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock By Anneliese Hodge, Plymouth Marine Laboratory Choosing which sunscreen to use can be mind-boggling. Should you choose one with the highest sun protection factor (SPF) or another with “reef-safe” or “coral-friendly” credentials? Is it best to opt for a spray or a lotion? What’s the difference between a mineral or chemical-based formula? On my ventures to the beach to snorkel and surf, I am forever seeing a […] todayAugust 7, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Data protection is poor for African farmers who use digital services: Kenya and Ghana cases highlight gaps By Heike Baumüller, University of Bonn and Bezawit Beyene Chichaibelu, University of Bonn Across Africa, agricultural producers are turning to digital solutions to get information about farming methods, market access or financial services. By 2022, there were 666 of these solutions operating on the continent, the highest number among all low- and medium-income regions. Advances in digital devices, such as smartphones, sensors and satellites, connected through the internet […] todayAugust 7, 2024 46
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s first space traveller will be chosen by the public: how this will boost the country’s progress By Anne Uruegi Agi, University of Calabar The Blue Origin space craft owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is to take six individuals to space from nations historically underrepresented in space exploration. Nigeria is one of the selected countries. Though a date is yet to be fixed for this particular trip, the Blue Origin space flight usually lasts about 11 minutes, during which participants are expected to undertake […] todayAugust 6, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Astronomy ‘Olympics’ is being hosted in Africa for the first time: 4 big talking points The South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland, in the country’s Northern Cape province. IAU General Assembly 2024 By James Okwe Chibueze, University of South Africa Cutting-edge telescopes, gravitational waves, black holes and our solar system’s central star, the Sun, are just a few of the topics that will be on the table in Cape Town, South Africa, for an event that’s a scientific version of the Olympic Games – […] todayAugust 6, 2024 37
insert_link Environment Puma Energy launches “Go Africa” campaign Puma Energy is launching its "Go Africa" campaign, designed to reflect Africa's diversity and Puma Energy's mission to energise communities. The campaign is an effort to address the needs of African communities by leveraging technology and partnerships for reliable and affordable energy. Regional Head of Marketing at Puma Energy, D’Leon Burger. Adell Samuelson, the General Manager of Puma Energy Namibia, also expressed her excitement about the 'Go Africa!' […] todayAugust 6, 2024 78
insert_link Environment Pakistan’s second-largest city Lahore hit by record rain: weather agency Pakistan's second largest city of Lahore was deluged with record-breaking rainfall on Thursday, the national weather agency said, with hospitals flooded and power cuts reported. The eastern city of 13 million people was lashed by almost 360 millimetres of rain in three hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said, breaking a previous record of 332 millimetres over three hours in July 1980. kf-jts/mca AFP (NAMPA / AFP) todayAugust 1, 2024 37
insert_link Environment Hopes fade for more survivors in Indian landslide rescue Indian rescue crews scoured mud-caked tea plantations and villages Thursday with little hope of finding more survivors from successive landslides that killed around 200 people. Days of torrential monsoon rains have battered the southern coastal state of Kerala, with blocked roads into the Wayanad district disaster area complicating relief efforts since Tuesday. The number of fatal floods and landslides in India has increased in recent years and […] todayAugust 1, 2024 16