Science Today

01/12/2017

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

The wait is over! 2017 goes live today.
Find South Africa's best postgrad science writing here: www.sciencetoday.co.za

25/07/2017

Science Today 2017 candidates announced – Wild On Science

Aaaaaaaand the Science Today candidates for 2017 are ....

Science Today 2017 candidates announced 25th July 2017 Sarah Leave a comment Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the Science Today 2017 candidates are: Amsha Viraragavan University of Zululand Blair Cowie Wits University Charity Tseka University of Pretoria Clarissa van der Loo University of Johannesburg Diego Cas...

15/07/2017

Science Today

It's D-Day. Get in your entry today!

Aaaaaand we're into the final week. Science Today call to entries close on 15 July. Don't miss out. Get your entry in today! www.sciencetoday.co.za

10/07/2017

Aaaaaand we're into the final week. Science Today call to entries close on 15 July. Don't miss out. Get your entry in today! www.sciencetoday.co.za

26/06/2017

Less than a month to get your Science Today entries in!
Join the community of South Africa's best postgrad science writers www.sciencetoday.co.za

12/06/2017

Entries are rolling in for Science Today. Make sure yours is one of them! Enter at www.sciencetoday.co.za

06/06/2017

Get your entry in!

05/06/2017

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

Check out www.sciencetoday.co.za to see last year's Science Today writers. You could also be telling South Africa about your science. Enter today.

James Burns Stellenbosch University More than a billion people live along the world’s coastlines. But this coastal environment is under threat, endangering lives and livelihoods.

02/06/2017

SPONSORS – Science Today

Want to advertise in or sponsor Science Today, SA's best postgrad science writing? Here are all the details you need to know. http://sciencetoday.co.za/sponsors/

Science Today showcases science writing drawn from the country’s postgraduate students. Science graduates often lack the confidence and ability to communicate their research to a popular audience, and they very seldom have the opportunity to publish their work outside of scientific journals.

01/06/2017

ABOUT – Science Today

It's the day we've all been waiting for. Science Today entries open TODAY!

Are you a postgrad science student at a South African university who wants to tell the world about your science?
Then Science Today is for you.

http://sciencetoday.co.za/about-2/

Passionate about your science and want to write about it for a popular audience? Wish that you were able to explain to your mom what your research is about? Want to show the world the view of South Africa from your lab?

30/03/2017

Science Today 2016 was made possible through a contribution by the National Research Foundation's agency for science and technology advancement, SAASTA.

21/11/2016

Time marches on, but in which direction? – Science Today

Two theoretical physicists walk into an airport. The first complains that gravity is a real problem at the microscopic level, where things are too small to see. The second responds that there is no problem: “Here is an equation for the whole Universe and all we must give up is time.” And so, having eliminated the ticking of the clock, they spend eternity in the airport regretting their decision. http://sciencetoday.co.za/2016/11/14/55/

Time marches on, but in which direction? 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Kate Bryan Rhodes University Two theoretical physicists walk into an airport. The first complains that gravity is a real problem at the microscopic level, where things are too small to see. The second responds that there is no…

17/11/2016

Ancient SA bacteria hold secret to early life – Science Today

It all started 3.5-billion years ago. Tiny, microscopic bacteria hustled an existence on the coastal seafloor in a world devoid of other life. Over time, these ancient organisms multiplied and diversified, developing into extensive colonies that coated and stabilised the bottom of the ocean. By tapping into chalk-like inorganic calcium carbonate reserves – which were abundant when the Earth was young – within the water, they built extensive reef-like habitats.

This formed the basis for life on our planet, and they still exist in South Africa.

Ancient SA bacteria hold secret to early life 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Exif_JPEG_PICTUREGavin Rishworth Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University It all started 3.5-billion years ago. Tiny, microscopic bacteria hustled an existence on the coastal seafloor in a world devoid of other life. Over ti...

17/11/2016

The dream of electric cars – Science Today

Twenty years ago, it looked like the dream of the electric car was dead. Even though the first practical electric car was invented in 1884, these vehicles never survived long in the market. High costs and the lack of good batteries killed the production of cars such as the Henney Kilowatt – between 1959 and 1960 – and General Motors EV1 – which lasted a bit longer from 1996 to 1999.

Lithium-ion batteries threw the dream a lifeline and revolutionised the automobile industry. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the leading batteries in electric cars and are found in the best performing electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. They are pure-electric cars which drive like petrol cars, and are the best-selling electric cars globally. The Nissan Leaf is the first pure-electric car to be commercially available in South Africa, and interestingly, it is powered by a battery which contains a material called lithium manganese oxide, discovered in South Africa at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the 1980s. Research into this material could create a new industry for South Africa, as the country has some of the largest reserves of manganese in the world.

The dream of electric cars 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Funeka P. Nkosi Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Wits University Twenty years ago, it looked like the dream of the electric car was dead. Even though the first practical electric car was invented in 1884, these vehicles never…

16/11/2016

Namibia’s fairy footprints – Science Today

A lone Gemsbok guards the wire gate to the Namib-Naukluft national park. Beyond it, ocre sand stretches into the horizon, with scrubby grass trying to eke out an existence. But about five kilometers beyond the park entrance, apparently random barren circles, known as fairy circles, appear in the thirsty short grass.

These circles are a scientific mystery.

Namibia’s fairy footprints 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Andries van der Walt University of Pretoria A lone Gemsbok guards the wire gate to the Namib-Naukluft national park. Beyond it, ocre sand stretches into the horizon, with scrubby grass trying to eke out an existence. But about five kilometer...

16/11/2016

South Africa’s forgotten islands – Science Today

Little known fact: SA has two islands. This writer, Tegan Carpenter-Kling from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, spent a year on Marion Island and wrote about it for you.

"After five days of sailing across the vast Southern Ocean and seeing nothing but water, the odd bird and many seasick scientists, you see the islands rise up like mountains out of an angry roaring ocean. In some parts, they climb out of the sea gradually, beginning at a few pebble beaches. At others, sharp black cliffs loom where pieces of the island have been hacked away by uncountable storms over millennia."

South Africa’s forgotten islands 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Tegan Carpenter-Kling Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa’s research vessel, the SA Agulhas 2, is one of the few ways to reach the country’s only offshore territories. In the middle of the Southern Ocean, 2,000km away f...

15/11/2016

Every drop counts: watching water from space – Science Today

The water is green, a clear sign that it is polluted. Dense mats of algal blooms float on the surface of the dam, turning the water a dark green. Dead fish lie on the banks, their carcasses rotting in the hot sun. This is the state of many South African dams, as a result of eutrophication.

Eutrophication is a water pollution problem, caused by high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in the dam, lake or river. It is a natural process, but pollution exacerbates it and makes it a serious – sometimes life threatening – problem. Agricultural fertilizers and raw sewage, which have high nutrient concentrations, run into the water bodies.

Every drop counts: watching water from space 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 1 Cyanobacterial accumulation at Binder Lake, Iowa, dominated by the blue green algae Microcystis sp. with a dead fish.Keneilwe Hlahane University of Cape Town The water is green, a clear sign that it is polluted. Dense mats…

15/11/2016

The goggas in your wine – Science Today

Freshly pressed grapes, which become the wine in your glass, are crawling with micro-organisms. From bacteria and fungi to yeasts, these tiny creatures play a vital role in how your wine tastes. Certain bacteria and fungi, for example, can lead to wine tasting spoiled, similar to old milk. Yeast, on the other hand, is essential: it ferments the grapes’ sugars into alcohol and releases aromatic chemicals responsible for the taste and smell of a wine.

This in large part depends on where the wine comes from. Every wine producing region has a unique climate, soil and topography, collectively known as terroir, with its own specific microbial population. These factors, along with the grape variety and how the wine is made, shape the wine. But we cannot with certainty predict the effects of our indigenous yeasts on South African wine.

The goggas in your wine 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Judy Lombard Stellenbosch University Freshly pressed grapes, which become the wine in your glass, are crawling with micro-organisms. From bacteria and fungi to yeasts, these tiny creatures play a vital role in how your wine tastes. Certain bact...

14/11/2016

Local leafy greens to the rescue – Science Today

Imifino is still unpopular among young people, for whom it is seen as old-fashioned and backwards. But these green leafy vegetables that grow abundantly in forests and along roads and river banks could address the hidden hunger afflicting South Africa’s people. Although people may consume enough calories, they do not get sufficient nutrients such as vitamin A, iron and iodine. This can lead to chronic disease, as well as stunting in children.

Local leafy greens to the rescue 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Nolitha Nkobole-Mhlongo University of South Africa On a hot Eastern Cape day, my mother would stoop in the garden collecting imifuno for our midday meal. There are many types of imifino, which is an indigenous leafy vegetable, but the…

14/11/2016

How long until we lose the moon? – Science Today

The Moon, every year, moves away from Earth by about 3.8 cm. It seems very small, about the width of two fingers, but over time it could be a threat to life on our planet.

Without the Moon, the Earth’s system would go haywire. The planet would wobble itself off its axis. The oceans and rivers would rush towards the Earth’s poles, leaving a ring of waterless land at the equator. But at what point does the Moon’s wayward meandering begin to endanger life on Earth?

How long until we lose the moon? 14th November 2016 Sarah 2016 0 Sphumelele Ndlovu HartRAO, University of KwaZulu-Natal The Moon, every year, moves away from Earth by about 3.8 cm. It seems very small, about the width of two fingers, but over time it could be a threat to life on our planet. Without…

14/11/2016

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

And it is finally here! Science Today, filled with SA science articles written just for you.

South Africa’s forgotten islands 14th November 2016 Sarah 0 Tegan Carpenter-Kling Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa’s research vessel, the SA Agulhas 2, is one of the few ways to reach the country’s only […]

17/07/2016

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

Lazy Sundays are a good time for writing. Get your Science Today entry in. The submissions window closes on Wednesday. www.sciencetoday.co.za

PS. Enter a piece of writing, not a motivation.

Passionate about your science and want to write about it for a popular audience? Wish that you were able to explain to your mom what your research is about? Want to show the world the view of South Africa from your lab? Then Science Today is for you. Science Today, formerly Science Voices, is a scie...

13/07/2016

Two days left to get in your Science Today submissions. Stand a chance to get free science writing training and tell the country about your research. www.sciencetoday.co.za

11/07/2016

T-10 days to get your Science Today submission in. Don't miss out on this chance to tell the country about your research! www.sciencetoday.co.za

27/06/2016

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

The call's been open a week, and we already have dozens of Science Today entries. Is yours one of them? Enter now: www.sciencetoday.co.za

Passionate about your science and want to write about it for a popular audience? Wish that you were able to explain to your mom what your research is about? Want to show the world the view of South Africa from your lab? Then Science Today is for you. Science Today, formerly Science Voices, is a scie...

24/06/2016

How to write about your science

Confused about where to start your Science Today submission? Here's Marina Joubert with some tips.
(Note: your submission should be a piece of writing, not a motivation.)

Tips from Marina Joubert on how to switch from writing for science to writing about it and reach a much wider audience.

21/06/2016

Because Science Today is the brain-child of a capricious science journalist, we've decided to open the programme up to ANY science postgrad registered at a South African university.

If you're a foreign student, chances are high that you already have to jump through bureaucratic hoops and are made to feel unwelcome in a myriad small petty ways. Being excluded from Science Today will not be one of them. Please apply!

21/06/2016

The fine print – Science Today

Want to find out if you're eligible for Science Today? Here's the fine print.

Like all things in life, even Science Today has fine print: * Applicants must be registered at a South African university or university of technology for a master’s or doctoral degree. Honours or post-doc candidates will not be accepted. * Entrants must have a valid passport from an African country....

20/06/2016

Science Today – South Africa’s best postgrad science writing

Today is the DAY, people. Science Today entries are now open. You can find out more on our website www.sciencetoday.co.za

Please share far and wide, and encourage friends, family and colleagues to enter.

Passionate about your science and want to write about it for a popular audience? Wish that you were able to explain to your mom what your research is about? Want to show the world the view of South Africa from your lab? Then Science Today is for you. Science Today, formerly Science Voices, is a scie...

03/06/2016

Passionate about your science and want to write about it for a popular audience? Wish that you were able to explain to your mom what your research is about? Want to show the world the view of South Africa from your lab?

Then Science Today is for you.

Science Today, formerly Science Voices, is a science writing training project run by award-winning science journalist, Sarah Wild in partnership with Stuff Magazine.

We will select 20-30 postgraduate science students from South African universities across a range of fields, and work with them to produce articles for publication in popular media.

These stories will be collected into a supplement of “South Africa’s best postgrad science writing”.

CALL TO ENTRIES WILL OPEN ON 20 JUNE 2016.

03/06/2016

Science Today's cover photo

03/06/2016

Science Today