Cicadas could hold the secret to self-cleaning surfaces – new study
Cicadas have a fascinating trick up their sleeves that keeps their wings spotless without any effort
Did our mammal ancestors live alongside dinosaurs? New research hopes to end long-running debate
Placental mammals co-existed with dinosaurs for several million years; they have soared since to become the most dominant animals on Earth
China’s population grew older and richer: Policy lessons for some African countries
China capitalised on its demographic profile through policies which captured the working-age population
Fairtrade: Study finds premium label does not always benefit workers on South African wine farms
Most of the 30 farmworkers interviewed were not even aware that the farm they worked on was Fairtrade certified
DTE explores the link between climate change and disease in Africa
As temperatures rise, leading to extreme weather events, it is time for Africa to come together
Climate’s clear connect: Africa is proof that extreme weather triggers and exacerbates disease; here’s how
Whether its is zoonoses or water-borne diseases, climate change has a clear role to play in their spread on the continent
Nigeria’s cities are growing fast: Family planning must be part of urban development plans
Urban poverty that already afflicts 42% of urban residents in Nigeria is set to rise
Why Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else globally
The root of the problem is a patent system that allows pharma companies to keep out competition and keep prices sky high
Surgery risks are disproportionately high for women in Africa: New study
There’s a need for country-specific and condition-specific research into women’s surgical care and ways to improve these outcomes on …
Earthquake footage shows Turkey’s buildings collapsing like pancakes. An expert explains why
Many of the collapsed buildings appear to have been built from concrete without adequate seismic reinforcement
Dhamaal: The incredible story of how East African culture shaped the music of a state in India
The story of Dhamaal performance traditions reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in a world shaped by human movement and history
Heat stress more dangerous to corals than ocean acidification. Here‘s why
A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that enable corals to tolerate heat can significantly improve coral reef conservation and …
Maluku earthquake: Why do some ocean earthquakes cause tsunamis while others don’t?
Shallow subduction zone earthquakes actually displace the seafloor and the ocean above it
2022 too short, too far: Five of 2022’s best books reviewed by DTE
Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from 2022
The history of chocolate: when money really did grow on trees
Chocolate consumption continues to grow; but current trends have deep roots in chocolate’s past
CITES COP19: Read DTE’s coverage of the 19th World Wildlife Conference
The event has been dubbed as a ‘watershed’ for its ‘historic’ decisions
Africa in space: continent has a lot to gain, but proper plans must be put in place
African countries need to be more deliberate in developing space capabilities; quite a lot of strategic foresight is needed in Africa
India and Pakistan can future-proof their threatened rivers
Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters is planning to visit Pakistan in March to attend the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission
How many ants live on earth? At least 20,000,000,000,000,000
Total biomass of this species is about 12 million tonnes, while the combined biomass of wild mammals and birds is two million tonnes and seven …
Moderna strikes with a new lawsuit
Moderna is trying to be gatekeeper for the mRNA platform for future drug development, raising monopolistic fears
Waste pickers in Lagos tell their stories about a dangerous existence
Waste pickers often work without protective gear, unassisted and without access to primary care or first aid and employment regulations
New energy conundrum
As countries reconcile their energy supply options with climate change, will they reinvent the fossil fuel-based system or reinvest in it?
Lockdowns brought down poaching rates in Africa, but rhinos still under threat
Poaching numbers went down in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown; they went up again in 2021
Lockdowns pull down poaching rates in Africa but rhinos still threatened
Rhinoceros poaching rates in Africa have declined from a peak of 5.3 per cent of the total population in 2015 to 2.3 per cent in 2021
A COVID-19 encore with monkeypox
A familiar pattern is emerging in the battle against monkeypox with the US and Europe grabbing scarce vaccine supplies