TRANSCRIPT
Chinyere Opia 0:06Welcome to Nature Africa Highlights. In this episode of our podcast, we'll review stories on our website and Did You Know. I am Chinyere Opia.The rowdiness of humans is drowning out Insect mating calls. Human noise is increasingly encroaching on insect habitats, behaviours and reproduction.In an article by Morgan Morris, various creatures like frogs, bats, birds, and even dolphins venturing too close to human habitats are adapting their behavior amidst increasing human caused loudness. Everything is being impacted; from their cognitive abilities - like city birds’ ability to recall their food sources, to their ability to keep track of predators. More troublingly, is the effect on their reproductive habits. Even noisy creatures can’t keep up.Researchers conducting this study have raised an alarm that because insects play such an important role in ecosystems as food and pollinators, this human destruction will lead to biodiversity loss and the extinction of species.So next time you’re considering being rowdy, remember the insect seeking a potential mate.
Chinyere Opia 1:20A new Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) has officially opened at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. This is currently the largest biomedical research complex in the southern hemisphere. In an article by Engela Duvenage, the research institute will aim to be an incubator for solutions to prevent and treat health challenges in Africa — from tuberculosis, and HIV, to rare genetic disorders, heart diseases, neurological, and fertility problems.
According to Nico Gey van Pittius, the vice-dean of research and internationalisation at Stellenbosch University 's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), the BMRI is dedicated to understanding the genetic and bio-molecular basis of disease, with an African focus.BMRI provides workspace for more than 500 biomedical researchers and students in the fields such as tuberculosis (both in humans and animals), neuroscience, epidemic response and innovation, cardio-metabolics, rare disease genomics, clinical mycobacteriology and epidemiology, Parkinson's disease, and reproductive health research.
Chinyere Opia 2:35A study in Population and Research Review projects that if contraceptive coverage in low to middle income countries (LMICs) is unchanged, some 218 million women may not have access modern contraceptives. This could lead to 97 million unintended pregnancies by 2030. The article written by Gilbert Nakweya, referencing the study, advises Africa’s governments to take collective action to address the continent’s maternal death numbers, which account for about half the global toll.While Isaac Adewole, a professor of gynecology and obstetrics from Nigeria, is advocating for more efforts to ensure youths avoid early marriages and remain in school; Mphu Ramatlapeng, a consultant for Shaping Equitable Market Access for Reproductive Health (SEMA) is calling for the breaking of obstacles to access of contraceptives.The article sheds more light on this issue.
Chinyere Opia 3:32In an article written by Dann Okoth, A new study published in Science Advances has revealed traces of ancient African empires in the DNA of people living on the continent, that help identify early migration patterns.According to Nancy Bird, genetics, evolution and environment researcher at University College London, the study is the most diverse ever undertaken. It analysed DNA from people representing 150 ethnic groups from five different African countries. The multinational research team was also diverse, including geneticists, archeologists, and linguists.Researchers found evidence for migration in vast empires such as Kanem-Bornu, the kingdoms of Aksum and Makuria, and the spread of the Bantu language group. The researchers also demonstrate the large genetic impact of events ranging from the spread of agriculture more than 3000 years ago, to the Arabic expansion into Sudan and Cameroon within the last 800 years.The study reiterated the importance of redressing the underrepresentation of African genome data as compared with other world regions.
Chinyere Opia 4:45If you're interested in these stories and other science-based articles, check out our Nature Africa website at nature.com/natafrica. Next on the show is Did You Know.
Chinyere Opia 4:56Did you know not all stars are the same color? Most people imagine stars as yellow or white, but stars come in various colors, depending on their temperature. For example, hotter stars tend to appear blue or blue-white, while cooler stars can be red or even orange.
Did you know a single teaspoon of honey represents the life's work of around 12 bees? Bees are incredibly industrious creatures. They visit hundreds of flowers to collect nectar and then use their amazing honey-making abilities to create that sweet and golden substance we all love.
Did you know the average person produces enough saliva in their lifetime to fill two swimming pools? Saliva is an essential component of our digestive system and helps us break down food. So next time you go for a swim, think about the incredible amount of saliva your body has produced!
Did you know a thunderstorm can produce so much energy that it equals the power of an atomic bomb? The energy released by a typical thunderstorm can reach up to 10 trillion watts, making it an awe-inspiring display of nature's might.
Now you know!
Chinyere Opia 6:14And that’s our show for today. To learn more about the work of many African researchers, visit our website at nature.com/natafrica.
I am Chinyere Opia. Thank you for listening.