So who would win in a fight between 100 men and 1 gorilla?
The internet’s latest absurd obsession is: who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? But, beyond the jokes and memes, this silly debate provides an opportunity to reflect on human evolution. What are the real strengths of our species? What have we sacrificed?
Valentin-Yves Mudimbe: the philosopher who reshaped how the world thinks about Africa
Christophe Premat, Associate Professor in French Studies (cultural studies), and head of the Centre for Canadian Studies, Stockholm University reflects on Mudimbe's intellectual legacy
A robot that you ride like a horse is being developed
Matías Mattamala, a Postdoctoral Researcher from the Oxford Robotics Institute at the University of Oxford, discuss what would be needed for Corleo to achieve a level of agility and balance, while safely carrying a human through natural environments.
80 years after Mussolini’s death, what can democracies learn from his fascist rise?
If the monarchy, military, other political parties and the church had attempted a principled, united opposition to fascism early enough, most of Mussolini’s crimes would likely have been avoided.
I was a child soldier - and here's how we can protect children
The problem persists because children’s presence on the battlefield throws the training and ethics of professional soldiers off balance. Children are widely considered innocent, harmless, and deserving of care and protection. Harming them can cause severe emotional and psychological distress that conventional soldiers are ill-equipped to handle.
How Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement
Originating from Argentina, Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, witnessed firsthand the destruction of the Amazon and the plight of South America’s poorest communities. His concern for justice for vulnerable communities and protection of the planet go hand in hand with his religious leadership.
Pope Francis' greatest reforms and controversies
There were many unusual aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas (and the southern hemisphere), the first to choose the name “Francis” and the first to give a TED talk. He was also the first pope in more than 600 years to be elected following the resignation, rather than death, of his predecessor.
The rich history of hot cross buns: From ancient traditions to modern delights
Early Christians started marking bread with a cross to show their devotion, and ate it throughout the year. They believed the cross kept away evil spirits and helped the dough rise.
South Africa’s coalition government is at risk of crumbling: collapse would carry a heavy cost
South Africa’s post-election government of national unity (GNU) was heralded as a revival of the spirit of compromise last seen in the 1990s. But less than a year into its term, tensions between the ANC and DA are threatening to derail the coalition. While the GNU has enabled some initial governance and policy gains — from fresh accountability efforts to the promise of public service reform — deep ideological divides and political brinkmanship are stalling progress. As budget disputes intensify, the future of this historic experiment in power-sharing hangs in the balance.
Do Inuit languages really have many words for snow? The results are surprising
Thought to be a hoax, a new study looking at 616 languages around the world discovered that Eastern Canadian Inuktitut had the highest number of words related to snow.
Ernest Cole: The South African photographer at the centre of a powerful and heartbreaking film
Kylie Thomas, Senior Researcher and Senior Lecturer at Radical Humanities Laboratory, University College Cork, NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, is intrigued by how the film would convey this complex life story.
AI is automating our jobs – but values need to change if we are to be liberated by it
Artificial intelligence may be the most significant disruptor in the history of mankin. . AI will undoubtedly help solve vast problems, while generating vast fortunes for technology companies and investors. However, the rapid spread of generative AI will also automate vast swathes of the global workforce, eviscerating white-collar and blue-collar jobs alike.
The dark side of superstition and the reality of ritual child murder
Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, a doctoral researcher and lecturer at Aberystwyth University in Wales, writes about superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings.
New study unravels the genetic history of Africa’s largest pastoralist community
The Fulani have long intrigued social anthropologists with their complex cultural heritage. They raise mainly cattle, goats and sheep in the vast, arid Sahel region.
South Africans flush toilets with drinkable water: why not use seawater instead?
As the planet gets hotter and freshwater sources dry up, cities and towns will not be able to continue the global norm of using millions of litres of clean, drinkable water to flush toilets. South Africa’s Water Research Commission recently commissioned a study into using seawater to flush toilets in Cape Town.
‘Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber’ - experts on viral TikTok trend
A series of viral videos by TikTok “cucumber guy” Logan Moffitt has raked in millions of views for his cucumber salad videos.
Consumers around the world are boycotting US goods
“Boycott USA” messages and searches have been trending on social media and search engines, with users sharing advice on brands and products to avoid.
South Africa's civil servants are missing skills especially when it comes to technology
The study found that most South African government officials were familiar with the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But they were not familiar with how these technologies could be used to improve the efficiency of the state.
And who will Trump's tariffs hit the hardest? The US, of course
The tariffs decrease US GDP by $438. 4 billion (1. 45%). Divided among the nation’s 126 million households, GDP per household decreases by $3 487 per year. That is larger than the corresponding decreases in any other country.
Why Nigerian mums go overseas to have their babies
In the UK, the phenomenon is labelled by some as the “Lagos Shuttle”, highlighting the high number of Nigerian women said to be so-called “birth tourists”.
Wealthy nations owe climate debt to Africa
Urban economist Astrid Haas reviews a new report by the non-governmental organisation Action Aid on climate debt. She discusses the climate debt owed to Africa and why South Africa’s presidency of the G20 is an opportunity to push for better access to finance and for existing debt to be restructured.
Zulu royal traditions are changing with the times
AmaZulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini has been in the headlines because he filed divorce papers against his first wife, Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela, in order to marry a fourth. South Africans are talking about the case because the king is the custodian of Zulu custom. His divorce bid calls into question the changing position of indigenous laws on marriage and divorce.
How superhero comics tell the story of Jewish America
This is the story of Superman: one of the most recognizable characters in history is, at its core, the ultimate story of an immigrant and the American Dream.
Dinosaur tracks, made 140 million years ago, have been found for the first time in South Africa’s Western Cape
Guy Plint, Professor Emeritus, Earth Sciences at Western University and Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience at the Nelson Mandela University, are familiar with dinosaur tracks from their research in Canada, so they decided to investigate the possibility of tracks in South Africa’s Western Cape.
US trade wars with China and how they play out in Africa
Since taking office, US president Donald Trump has implemented policies that have been notably hostile towards China. They include trade restrictions. Most recently, a 20% tariff was added to all imports from China and new technological restrictions were imposed. But this might add fresh opportunities for Africa.