Category: Technology

I’ve always been intrigued by the ocean, drawn to its mystery and sheer immensity. So I was excited when, in 2019, I identified a topic for my postgraduate studies that gave me a chance to work aboard South Africa’s polar supply and research vessel, the SA Agulhas II. My research was about people’s well-being while […]

In the early hours of July 18, 1918, the Franco-American counter-offensive against German positions began at Aisne-Marne in northern France. The first division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) drove the German forces back, but not without significant losses. By the end of the assault, more than 1,000 US soldiers were unaccounted for – the […]

As with any desktop 3D printer, the Vulcan printer pipes layer by layer to build an object – except this printer is more than 45 feet (13.7 m) wide, weighs 4.75 tons, and prints residential homes. This summer, the robotic printer from ICON is finishing the last few of 100 3D-printed houses in Wolf Ranch, […]

Social networks have revolutionised the way we communicate, stay informed and share moments of our daily lives. We use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to keep in touch with our friends and family, share our experiences, keep informed, and express our opinions. But beyond these personal and often superficial uses, social networks play […]

The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement, where the world’s sporting elite showcase their prowess. Modern athletes benefit from top-notch coaching, optimised nutrition and recovery strategies. Yet, some are turning to more unique methods for the competitive edge – training the brain. One brain-based approach that purports to aid performance and […]

When I tell people that I study fossils, many assume I am talking about dinosaurs or some equally impressive extinct creatures. But there’s far more to be found in the global fossil record, like plants, fish and insects. Researchers who study fossil insects preserved in rock or amber deposits are called palaeoentomologists – and I’m […]

Elon Musk’s recent announcement on Twitter that “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year” suggests that robots that have physical human-like characteristics and provide “genuinely useful” function might be with us soon. However, despite decades of trying, useful humanoid robots have remained a fiction that never […]

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 – though the world’s leading astronomy researchers in attendance will be showcasing […]

There’s a perception that today’s youth are extremely narcissistic – fame-obsessed, selfish and vain. In fact, studies show this is a common view of young people, regardless of the times we live in. But are young people really more narcissistic? New research reveals that, as people age, they do tend to become less narcissistic. Narcissism […]

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 […]