February Highlights
Each month we feature some of the research highlights that have appeared on Nature Africa. We also delve into our archives and come up with some fun 'Did you Know' facts and figures.
If you are interested in knowing about the science landscape in Africa, and what is happening, this is a podcast for you.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d44148-023-00061-y
Chinyere: 0:15
Welcome to Science in Africa. This is a Nature Africa podcast for African scientists and Africans interested in science. If you are interested in knowing about the science landscape in Africa, and what is happening, this is a podcast for you. I am Chinyere Opia. On our podcast today, we'll have a review of stories on our website. We'll also have our Did You Know in Science segment.
Chinyere: 0:42
Domestic cats are a great source of comfort to millions. But according to an article by Moses Michael-Phiri, researchers have found that they are the largest carriers of toxoplasmosis that cause zoonosis. Zoonosis is found in about 30 percent of the human population and is dangerous for people with weak immune defences. Researchers working on this discovery are hoping that studying the genes could be relevant targets in the perspective of developing a vaccine against toxoplasmosis in cats.
Chinyere: 1:16
According to an article by Elsabe Brits, researchers at the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand, and international colleagues have found that people living with HIV have a significantly delayed internal body clock. This they say is consistent with the symptoms of jetlag. The researchers studied people living in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa where nearly one in four people is living with HIV. They found that physiological daily rhythms, as measured by the hormone melatonin, were delayed by more than an hour on average in HIV positive participants. They also found that their sleep cycle was also shorter, as their sleep started later and finished earlier.
Chinyere: 1:58
In an article by Francis Kokutse, research has revealed how combining coal waste and sewage sludge is a viable way to reduce energy consumption and pollution. Sewage sludge was collected from wastewater and put through high thermal treatment. Heat was used to convert coal waste and sewage sludge into hydro char with improved properties for energy use. This is significant as many cities and local governments across the African continent face numerous challenges with waste management, endangering health and environment.
Chinyere: 2:35
For more on these articles and other articles, visit nature.com/natafrica. Next on the show is the Did You Know in science.
Chinyere: 2:54
Did you know that there are more trees on earth than stars in our Milky Way galaxy? According to a 2015 paper published in Nature, it is estimated that there are roughly 3 trillion trees on earth.
Chinyere: 3:07
Did you know bananas are radioactive? But do not be alarmed. According to a paper by McGill University, the dose of radioactivity they deliver does not pose a risk.
Chinyere: 3:20
Did you know the idea that hot water freezes faster than cold water is named the Mpemba effect? It is named after a Tanzanian schoolboy Erasto Mpemba whose experiment on ice cream gave the concept its name. Although some controversy exists about this theory, there is an ongoing fascination with the Mpemba effect. Now you know!
Chinyere: 3:46
That is all for today's podcast. If you're interested in more stories like this and other science-based articles, as well as the articles we have discussed today, check out our Nature Africa website at nature.com/natafrica. I am Chinyere Opia. Thank you for listening.
