Human-driven speciation: A peek into how we may alter the morphology of African elephants
Anthropogenic activities such as global warming, poaching, mining, deforestation and noise pollution will form a more wrinkly, hairier, tuskless, …
Children’s education at extreme risk in 7 African countries: Report
Besides sub-Saharan Africa, children were at the sharp end of the learning crisis in Yemen and Pakistan, according to a new report
Conflict, COVID-19 fuelled 6.5 million displacements in eastern Africa in 2020
Extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones, droughts also a major factor behind such displacements
These countries need urgent action to beat famine, deaths in the next 4 months: FAO
Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, northern Nigeria and Yemen are in need of urgent targeted humanitarian action
Major new study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa’s genetic variation
More than three million new genetic variants discovered, details of migration and expansion of groups across the continent found
Areas in Africa with more Chinese-backed projects were more likely to experience protests
Areas with a larger number of Chinese projects do see lowered trust in local government; protests can also occur when citizens feel that economic …
Researchers re-animate 70-year-old coffee killer fungus in Africa: Study
Coffee wilt disease, caused by a fungus Fusarium xylarioides, has led to devastating outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa since the 1920s
Humanity’s birthplace: why everyone alive today can call northern Botswana home
Earliest population of modern humans arose 200,000 years ago in an area that covers parts of modern-day Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe
Ebola survivors can pass on the virus: We’re trying to understand what role sex plays
Understanding how Ebola outbreaks are exacerbated by sexual transmission is important to stop new chains of transmission and to prevent it from …
Mount Nyiragongo’s volcano: why it’s unique and treacherous
The local and national governments in the area around the volcano need to be more aware of the risks from tectonic rifting and from the volcano
Africa Mining Vision finds support of governments, private companies
The Africa Mining Vision (AMV) has been designed to ensure that mining activities contribute to economic transformation and benefit all African …
Why low-fee private schools are struggling to take root in rural Nigeria
It's unusual for children in Nigeria's rural areas to have any access to private schooling, even if it's of the low-cost variety. They must rely …
Growth in sub-Saharan Africa to slow down in 2016
The fall in commodity prices caused a significant shock for a region for which commodities make up a large share of exports, the report said
Climate change expanding geographical range of Rift Valley fever disease in eastern Africa
Disease found to be on the rise in highlands of Uganda and Kenya, which are becoming hotter and wetter
Sudan food emergency: local researcher unpacks scale of the disaster and what action is needed
Displacement and food insecurity in Sudan are worse than ever before. The disruption of livelihoods and markets has left millions in desperate …
DTE Coverage: Cyclone Hidaya
Down To Earth tracked the cyclone as it formed in the sea and finally made landfall in Tanzania
Down To Earth Coverage: What is the solution to Africa’s energy poverty?
The continent must leapfrog to renewables to become energy-secure
Kenya’s first skyscraper closes — and leaves a complicated legacy
The Hilton Hotel is a landmark from a different era of urban life
Papers show what lay behind Condé regime’s Ebola denialism in Guinea
While the outbreak worsened during March-October 2014, Guinea downplayed the epidemic
It’s been a year since Africa was declared polio free. But a threat remains
Nigeria’s breadmakers have been on strike: The head of their association explains why
There is no public electricity in Nigeria and most of the bread factories are running on 24 hours generators using diesel
African digital innovators are turning plastic waste into value – but there are gaps
By 2030, plastic waste is expected to double to 165 million tonnes in African countries.
Unequal power relations driven by poverty fuel sexual violence in Lake Chad region
In many parts of Africa, acts of sexual violence have been carried out by government security forces, aid workers and members of the local population
How migrants who move between Zimbabwe and South Africa access healthcare in border towns
The main reasons they gave for leaving their countries of origin were to search for jobs and for better living conditions
How safe is it to drink rainwater?
It can be contaminated by dust and ash in the surroundings or by heavy metal from roofing material