News
Wasp's this? Ancient wasp species named after F1's Piastri
11+ hour, 37+ min ago (140+ words) A newly discovered species of wasp dating from the time of the dinosaurs and found preserved in Burmese amber has been named after Mc Laren Formula One driver Oscar Piastri. A research article in the June issue of academic journal…...
Roundworms under Free State soil could help scientists track climate change
1+ hour, 22+ min ago (643+ words) Microscopic organisms hidden beneath the soil in Free State nature reserves could provide scientists with critical clues about how ecosystems are responding to climate change. Researchers at the University of the Free State (UFS) are studying free-living nematodes " tiny roundworms…...
Pick n Pay customer data "being offered for sale on dark web
9+ hour, 58+ min ago (409+ words) Customers of an older version of Pick n Pay's delivery app are advised of a cybersecurity risk. "We have had a data breach involving customer information from 2022 linked to an older version of our on-demand platform, first known as Bottles…...
Marion Island scientists safely in SA after halt to supplies
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (443+ words) The 2025/26 Marion Island overwintering team has arrived home in South Africa after enduring shortages of food and polar diesel for heating, due to the Iran conflict affecting supplies. The annual relief voyage was meant to deliver fuel, food, equipment and…...
UCT secures SAHPRA licence to produce locally made devices
1+ day, 15+ hour ago (535+ words) Medical devices designed at the University of Cape Town could soon be used in South African public hospitals after the university's Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BMERC) secured a key manufacturing licence from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)....
Africa has been managing climate volatility for decades. Here's what the rest of the world can learn from it
3+ day, 15+ hour ago (850+ words) The United States" retreat from aspects of global climate and health leadership has exposed the risk Africa took in relying on external funding for these projects. When the US pulled back on aid, many African programmes and plans that relied…...
Fireballs and green orbs: US releases second batch of declassified UFO files
1+ week, 4+ hour ago (160+ words) The US defence department has released a second batch of previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings, including references to people reporting unexplained green orbs, discs and fireballs. At the order of President Donald Trump, the first batch was made…...
What AI taxis and robots can learn from bees
1+ week, 1+ day ago (685+ words) Even advanced technology can struggle when the real world becomes unpredictable. In April 2026, a Waymo robotaxi in San Antonio, Texas, drove into a flooded lane during severe weather, prompting the company to recall about 3, 800 vehicles for a software fix. No…...
Authorities rush to rescue hikers after volcano erupts in Indonesia
3+ week, 8+ hour ago (154+ words) Indonesian authorities are rushing to rescue 20 hikers after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Halmahera island on Friday, a local rescue agency official told Reuters. Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, erupted on Friday at 7. 41am, spewing volcanic ash as…...
What if CCTV cameras could think? SA company bets on AI to fight crime
3+ week, 6+ hour ago (1321+ words) A Cape Town company believes it may have found a way to help security teams stop crimes before they happen by teaching CCTV cameras how to think, adapted for local situations. Using artificial intelligence (AI), Safeza's Swiss-developed AVA-X surveillance software…...