Tiangong: China may gain a monopoly on space stations - here's what to expect
May 16, 2021 11:30 am UTC| Science
China launched Tianhe-1, the first and main module of a permanent orbiting space station called Tiangong (Heavenly Palace 天 宫), on April 29. Two additional science modules (Wentian and Mengtian) will follow in 2022 in a...
Microfluidics: The tiny, beautiful tech hidden all around you
May 16, 2021 10:15 am UTC| Science
When you think of micro- or nanotechnology, you likely think of small electronics like your phone, a tiny robot or a microchip. But COVID-19 tests which have proven to be central to controlling the pandemic are also a...
Space tourism – 20 years in the making – is finally ready for launch
May 09, 2021 10:11 am UTC| Science
For most people, getting to the stars is nothing more than a dream. On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito achieved that lifelong goal but he wasnt a typical astronaut. Tito, a wealthy businessman, paid US$20 million for a seat...
How scientists make plant-based foods taste and look more like meat
May 09, 2021 08:53 am UTC| Science
In 2019, Burger King Sweden released a plant-based burger, the Rebel Whopper, and the reaction was underwhelming. So, the company challenged its customers to taste the difference. Burger King Sweden created menu item...
From making wine to managing mine waste, clay is important for many industries
May 03, 2021 02:47 am UTC| Science
The discovery and use of clays dates back to 30,000 years ago, making clays one of the oldest materials used in society. Clays are naturally occurring materials that were first used to make pottery and are now used...
One incredible ocean crossing may have made human evolution possible
Apr 30, 2021 07:51 am UTC| Science
Humans evolved in Africa, along with chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys. But primates themselves appear to have evolved elsewhere likely in Asia before colonising Africa. At the time, around 50 million years ago, Africa...
Inside the world of tiny phytoplankton – microscopic algae that provide most of our oxygen
Apr 30, 2021 07:50 am UTC| Science
Phytoplankton are microscopic algae living throughout the oceans surface waters. They cant swim and are at the mercy of the currents and tides. Despite their small size, phytoplankton enable life in the oceans and...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Biden administration tells employers to stop shackling workers with ‘noncompete agreements’
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects