To spur the construction of affordable, resilient homes, the future is concrete
P A modular, precast system of concrete rings can be connected in different ways to build a range of models of energy-efficient homes. Pablo Moyano Fernández, CC BY-SA Wood is, by far, the most common material used...
How the end of carbon capture could spark a new industrial revolution
Steelmaking uses a lot of energy, making it one of the highest greenhouse gas-emitting industries. David McNew/Getty Images The U.S. Department of Energys decision to claw back US$3.7 billion in grants from industrial...

Iran is considering closing the strait of Hormuz – why this would be a major escalation
Faced with the prospect of continuing Israeli airstrikes and further American involvement, Irans parliament has reportedly approved plans to close the strait of Hormuz. This is potentially a very dangerous moment. The...

South Africa’s big rooftops could power 6 million homes: how to make it happen
South Africa has many factories, warehouses, schools and hospitals big buildings with large rooftop spaces. In such a sunny country, these flat surfaces would be perfect for large photovoltaic solar systems that could...

Mpox in Sierra Leone: what’s behind the recent surge and why west Africa is at risk
As of 17 June 2025, there have been over 4,000 confirmed cases of mpox and 25 deaths in Sierra Leone, raising the possibility that the virus will spread to neighbouring countries and spark a larger outbreak throughout the...

Which African countries are flourishing? Scientists have a new way of measuring well-being
What does it mean to live a good life? Psychologists and social scientists have been focusing on a new idea called flourishing a sense of well-being that goes beyond just happiness or success. Its about your whole life...