Science For Everyone
Herman Wasserman, University of Cape Town and Dani Madrid-Morales, University of Houston The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread disinformation circulating on social media globally. This includes false information about the virus, its origins and possible cures for the disease it causes. Much of the inaccurate information was related to China, the country where the […]
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Hundreds of trees have been felled along Nairobi’s Uhuru and Waiyaki highways to make space for a new expressway. CELINE CLERY/AFP via Getty Images Eric Fèvre, University of Liverpool and James Hassell, Yale University There’s been widespread concern in Kenya over the shrinking of green spaces in Nairobi, the capital city. Most recently, there was […]
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites resist the actions of the antimicrobials (drugs) that are designed to kill them, making infections harder to treat hence increasing the risk of the infection. AMR is caused primarily by the inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals hence reducing unnecessary use […]
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For the longest time, I thought I wanted to work the rest of my life behind a microscope or be that lady in a white coat which seemed cool. However, as I go through my lab-based degree, I realize that all the lab stuff doesn’t match my personality and it isn’t as exciting as much. […]
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Global temperatures have increased by about 1ºC in the past century and is continuing to rise. Currently, countries around the world are working towards the targets set out in the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise below 2ºC. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as fast as possible. Rising levels of […]
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I (Sarah Nyakeri) am not the best communicator around but passionate about it, especially science communication. I am learning everday. I created this space to share news, articles, explainers, summaries of publications and communicate anything to do with science to the general audience and scientists too. Science Media Africa specialises in science relating to Africa. […]
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The WHO Guidelines for malaria, launched today, bring together the Organization’s most up-to-date recommendations for malaria in one user-friendly and easy-to-navigate online platform. They are designed to support malaria-affected countries in their efforts to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate a disease that continues to claim more than 400 000 lives each year. Users can access the evidence that […]
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The signs and symptoms of malaria are non-specific. Malaria is suspected clinically primarily on the basis of fever or a history of fever. There is no combination of signs or symptoms that reliably distinguishes malaria from other causes of fever; diagnosis based only on clinical features has very low specificity and results in overtreatment. Other […]
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Mary Abukutsa is a dynamic result-oriented, strategic thinker and transformational leader with a personal mission statement that guides her in touching lives through the provision of excellent service with humility and integrity. She is an internationally recognized scholar, scientist, educator, mentor, leader, and a prolific researcher. She is globally recognized for her pioneering research work […]
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The invention of a secondary school student named Simon Petrus got Namibia’s social media abuzz for the right reasons. Simon Petrus created a mobile phone that works with radio frequencies, no sim card nor airtime credit required. Calls can be made to anyone, anywhere, without interruptions, as long as they are done in an area with radiofrequency. The invention, […]
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Almost everything is electronic these days, from banking to treatment that we receive. Yet as the world moves in a fast pace forward technologically, a lot of people are left behind. See, if you are not financially privileged, educated or lack access, then you are left behind, and that means in terms of opportunities such […]
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When I joined campus to study industrial microbiology and biotechnology, I had no idea of where that would lead me. I knew I would end up in a lab somewhere but doing what exactly? I asked. Most of my free time as a freshman I kept browsing with the query: “jobs for industrial microbiologists and […]
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Development of treatments and interventions is not a walk in the park as it requires intense research, tests, trials, financing and time. It is very possible for an approved treatment to be withdrawn from the market – if the users experience adverse effects or if the manufacturer detects irregularities in the vaccine vials. Research and […]
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For more than 30 years, monoclonal antibodies have transformed the way we treat many diseases. Researchers think they are also one of the most promising treatments for Covid-19. Here’s why. 1. What are monoclonal antibodies? Monoclonal antibodies are a class of medicines that have transformed the way we prevent and treat diseases, from cancer and […]
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Is your information about cloning accurate? If you enjoy science fiction movies there is a high possibility that you have encountered the ‘cloning’ severally. Cloning is a fascinating technology and I remember the first time that I saw it I always imagined myself making a copy of myself. And I thought that since am the original I […]
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1. The human body has more microbes than there are human cells. In fact, microbes are ten times more than the number of human cells in a living human being. 2. The human mouth has approximately 500 bacteria species. 3. The largest bacteria can be viewed with the naked eye, (Thiomargarit namibiensis and Epulopiscium fischelsoni) This bacterium is also known […]
Continue ReadingResearchers regularly review the literature that’s generated by others in their field. This is an integral part of day-to-day research: finding relevant research, reading and digesting the main findings, summarising across papers, and making conclusions about the evidence base as a whole. However, there is a fundamental difference between brief, narrative approaches to summarising a […]
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Women will soon have access to a more effective HIV preventive drug that would be given in six injections a year instead of 365 daily pills. This is after a new HIV drug study showed that long-acting injection is more effective than current daily HIV pills to prevent the disease in women. Researchers announced this […]
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In sci-fi movies, Biochemistry seems to be Lucrative and fun but a nightmare in an African setting. Bright individuals end up telling anyone who wants to do the course to run away from it. Why? Other biology and medicine related course graduates would complain about the unit but biochemistry students would survive through the whole […]
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Original Author: Peter Macharia, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme The value and potential of geographic information system – or GIS, “the science of where” – has become even more obvious this year as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been used to map the spread of […]
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South Africa has passed the peak of the infection curve, but the danger of a resurgence remains real. At the same time new tests are becoming available. Ina Skosana asked Glenda Mary Davison to provide a guide about who should go for testing, and what’s available. When should I consider being tested? South Africa’s National Institute for […]
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