Tour de Science 2017

Special Edition | April 2017

TOUR DE SCIENCE

CONTENTS CONTENTS

FEATURES

8 1 1 1 2 2 2 3

most prominent times in science

2

scifest 2017 theme

5

PROFILE

8

8 GREAT SCIENCE DESTINATIONS

2

South africa's BOLDEST INNOVATIONS

3

the scientific revolution

6

astham life-saving system

1

8 wonders of the world

REGULARS

6 2 3 3 3 3 3

editor's note

8

TOP 10 discoveries

2 bursaries

4 PUZZLE

5

PUZZLE ANSWERS

6

SCIENCE NEWS

8 homo-naledi

FOREWORD

the

FOREWORD Celebrating Science

Welcome to the special edition of Scifest Africa 2017 edition of

embark on a journey that explores the milestones, accomplish-

Science Stars.

ments, mysteries, discoveries and the historic and exciting wonders of different fields of science.

Scifest Africa was established by the Grahamstown Foundation in 1996 to promote the public awareness, understanding and appre-

In this issue, you will find exciting articles about the development

ciation of science, technology and innovation in South Africa.

of Science in South Africa and the world, and how Science is cel-

Scifest develops and implements quality interactive events with

ebrated. You will also find inspiring profiles and articles on the

entertainment value and scientific integrity to provide role models

most prominent times in Science, as well as the bold innovations

and career guidance for the youth. The aim is to inspire the youth

South African scientists, have come up with.

to pursue careers in STI and to become leaders in these fields while nurturing informed, active citizens.

The festival promised an inspiring and educational experience for everyone and it delivered, so let us celebrate Science.

The theme for this year’s festival was “Tour de Science� with reference to the UN-declared International wear for Sustainable Tourism for Development. As part of celebrating its 21st anniversary, Scifest Africa provided a diverse programme that encouraged visitors to

Thandi Bombi Media Officer Scifest Africa

ED’S NOTE

team Science Stars

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Editor • Sihle Qekeleshe

A journey through Science This year’s theme is a bit vast; some might say “no the definition is in the title”. But what does Tour de Science really mean for Scifest 2017? At first, my playful side came to play, I thought “What now, are we going to cycle at the Scifest this year?” but I had to put my thinking hat back on, because in a way yes we are going to cycle through Science, but just not on bicycles.

This year we take a tour looking at the milestones Science has had over the years, more like a walk down memory lane. In this issue, we celebrate the work of the greatest minds in Science from all over the world. Some of these developments and inventions you may not have known about, but you will be surprised to see how much the Science field in our country has progressed.

Graphic Designers • Cinzia-Joey Swartz • Fulu Netshidzati

Project Manager • Renata Williams Contributing writers • Thandi Bombi • Prof Nokwanda Makunga

Chairman • Madambi Rambuda Ambassador • Prof. Azwindinni Muronga Subscriptions • info@sciencestars.co.za Copyright 2016 Roswika Media. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means, electronically or mechanically, without prior permission.

Science Stars is published by Roswika Media.

We have really come far, from inventing the Kreepy Krauly to having the only nuclear power station in Africa, Koeberg. And we are still going very far with the latest innovations South African Scientists have to offer. We also celebrate the most prominent times in Science, times where scientists made life-changing discoveries, you’ll be stunned to know where and how some of the things we use in our lives where discovered.

This theme couldn’t have come at a better time, this year Scifest Africa celebrates its 21st anniversary and what better way to take you on an adventure of a lifetime? Speaking of adventures, we have 8 great Science destinations you could visit, pretty cool places to visit.

In this issue, we give credit where it’s due. I prefer to see this issue as a throwback, a looking at the legendary work these scientists have done. Believe me when I say we will take you on a Science tour, in one issue! Like David Klein, you’ll explore a lot of discoveries from all over the world. The only nice thing about Scifest is that you will get to do it all in one place. I do hope we make the tour as fun and educational as possible.

Sihle Qekeleshe Ediitor

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Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

10th Floor, The Pinnacle 2 Burg Street Cape Town, 8000 021 839 2507 info@sciencestars.com www.sciencestars.co.za

FROM CLASSROOM TO BOARDROOM From building schools to supporting black entrepreneurs, from making university study possible for disadvantaged students to providing work experience for young graduates, Shanduka Foundation strives to develop South Africa’s human potential.

Through a set of complementary programmes, Shanduka Foundation creates opportunities for educational development, career growth and the acquisition of entrepreneurial capabilities.

•

Adopt-a-School Foundation mobilises companies and individuals to adopt disadvantaged schools with the aim of improving the academic, infrastructural, social and security environment in schools.

•

The Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust provides bursaries to disadvantaged students and organises vacation work in companies in the Shanduka Group.

•

The Shanduka internship programme provides experiential training for selected learners and job seekers within Shanduka Group and across its partner network.

•

Shanduka Black Umbrellas nurtures qualifying 100% black owned businesses by providing meaningful access to markets, networks and finance through its small enterprise incubators and online procurement portal.

Thanks to the ongoing support of many partners in business, government and civil society, Shanduka Foundation is making a significant impact in the lives of young South Africans.

To find out more about the work of the foundation and its programmes, visit

www.shanduka.co.za/shanduka-foundation

COVER STORY

MOST PROMINENT TIMES IN SCIENCE

Life-changing discoveries

geocentric or centred on Earth. It correctly described the Sun

What would life be like without the biggest life-changing

as having a central position relative to Earth and other planets,

Science discoveries like antibiotics? My guess is, we would not

interesting!

live as long as we do without them.

Gravity

The world today inhabits the dwelling of scientific discover-

Isaac Newton, an English mathematician and physicist, he is con-

ies in different sectors of Medical Science, Engineering and

sidered the greatest scientist of all time. Among his many discov-

Technology, because of scientists such as Michael Faraday.

eries, the most important is probably his law of universal gravi-

Here’s a list of some discoveries that have changed the world

tation. In 1664, Newton figured out that gravity is the force that

from the Fact Monster.

draws objects toward each other. It explained why things fall down and why the planets orbit around the Sun. Did you know

These most prominent times and discoveries are listed in the

that humans only recently (like in the last 300 years) realised

order they were discovered.

what gravity is all about? Whatever really happened, Newton realised that some force must be acting on falling objects like

The Copernicum System In 1543, while on his deathbed, Polish astronomer Nicholas

apples because otherwise, they would not start moving from rest.

Copernicus published his theory that the Sun is a motionless

Electricity

body at the centre of the solar system, with the planets revolv-

Electricity makes life easier for us, and we have Michael Faraday

ing around it, so tell the little ones that the sun does not move

to thank for that. Faraday made two big life-changing discover-

from east to west, the planet moves around the Sun. Before the

ies. In 1821, he discovered that when a wire carrying an electric

Copernicum system was introduced, astronomers believed the

current is placed next to a single magnetic pole, the wire will

Earth was at the centre of the universe. The Copernican system

rotate. This discovery led to him developing the electric motor.

gave a truer picture than the older Ptolemaic system, which was

Ten years later, he was the first person to produce an electric

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COVER STORY

killed by heat and disinfectant. This idea made doctors make sure that they wash their hands and sterilise their instruments, which has saved millions of lives.

Theory of Relativity Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which he published in 1905, explains the relationships between speed, time and distance. This complicated theory states that the speed of light always remains the same—300,000 km per second regardless of how fast someone or something is moving toward or away from it. This theory became the foundation for much of modern science. Einstein then spent 10 years trying to include acceleration in his theory and published the theory of general relativity in 1915. In that published theory, he determined that massive objects cause a distortion in space-time, which is felt as gravity.

The Big Bang Theory This is an interesting theory, and no it is not the American television sitcom! Even though the show has a theme song about the big bang and it has scientists, it does not exactly depict what Georges Lemaître explains in his big bang theory.

Nobody knows exactly how the universe came into existence, but many scientists believe that it happened about 13.7 billion years ago with a massive explosion, called the Big Bang. In 1927, current by moving a wire through a magnetic field. This experi-

Georges Lemaître proposed the Big Bang theory of the universe.

ment created the first generator, which was the forerunner of

The theory suggests that all the matter in the universe was orig-

the huge generators that produce our electricity and then there

inally compressed into a tiny dot. In a fraction of a second, the

was light, thank you, sir!

dot expanded, and all the matter instantly filled what we now know as our universe. The event marked the beginning of time.

Evolution

Scientific observations seem to confirm the theory.

When Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, came up with the theory of evolution in 1859, he changed our idea of how life on

Penicillin

earth developed, which by the way is still a debatable topic, but

Antibiotics are powerful drugs that destroy dangerous bacteria

that is a story for another day.

in our bodies that make us sick. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, which he grew in his lab

Darwin argued that all organisms evolve, or change, very slowly

using mould and fungi. Without antibiotics, infections like strep

over time. These changes are adaptations that allow a spe-

throat could be deadly.

cies to survive in its environment. Apparently, these adaptations happen by chance. If a species fails to adapt, sadly it may

If you lived back then, approximately a century ago, chances of

become extinct. He called this process natural selection, but it

you dying from mere a scratch were high, if it got infected, imag-

is often called the survival of the fittest.

ine! You could also die from a deep cut or any of the many, many things that can happen, whether you’re working in the backyard

Louis Pasteur

or making dinner.

Before French chemist Louis Pasteur began experimenting with bacteria in the 1860s, people did not know what caused

DNA

disease. Pasteur not only discovered that disease came from

In 1953, James Watson of the United States and Francis Crick of

microorganisms, but he also realised that bacteria could be

England made one of the greatest scientific discoveries in histoScience Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

9

COVER STORY

ry. The two scientists found the double-helix structure of DNA.

Prize in Physics for his research on the structure of an atom

It’s made up of two strands that twist around each other and

and for his work in the development of the quantum theory.

have an almost endless variety of chemical patterns that create

Although he helps develop the atomic bomb, he frequently pro-

instructions for the human body to follow.

moted the use of atomic power for peaceful purposes.

Our genes are made of DNA and determine how things like

Quantum theory is also used in a huge variety of applications in

what colour hair and eyes we’ll have. In 1962, they were award-

everyday life, including lasers, CDs, DVDs, solar cells, fibre optics,

ed the Nobel Prize for this work. The discovery has helped

digital cameras, photocopiers, bar-code readers, fluorescent

doctors understand diseases and may someday prevent some

lights, LED lights, computer screens, transistors, semi-conductors,

illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

super-conductors, spectroscopy, MRI scanners, etc, etc

Periodic Table

Atomic Bomb

The Periodic Table is based on the 1869 Periodic Law proposed

The legacy of the atomic bomb is mixed: it successfully put an

by Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev. He had noticed that,

end to World War II but ushered in the nuclear arms race. Some

when arranged by atomic weight, the chemical elements lined

of the greatest scientists of the time gathered in the early 1940s

up to form groups with similar properties.

to figure out how to refine uranium and build an atomic bomb.

He was able to use this to predict the existence of undiscov-

Their work was called the Manhattan Project. In 1945, the U.S.

ered elements and note errors in atomic weights. In 1913,

dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and

Henry Moseley of England confirmed that the table could be

Nagasaki. Tens of thousands of civilians were instantly killed,

made more accurate by arranging the elements by atomic num-

and Japan surrendered. These remain the only two nuclear

ber, which is the number of protons in an atom of the element.

bombs ever used in battle. Several of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project later urged the government to use

X-Rays

nuclear power for peaceful purposes only. Nevertheless, many

Wilhelm Roentgen, a German physicist, discovered X-rays in

countries continue to stockpile nuclear weapons.

1895. X-rays go right through some substances, like flesh and wood, but are stopped by others, such as bones and lead. This

HIV/AIDS

allows them to be used to see broken bones or explosives

In 1983 and 1984, Luc Montagnier of France and Robert Gallo of

inside suitcases, which makes them useful for doctors and

the United States discovered the HIV virus and determined that

security officers. For this discovery, Roentgen was awarded the

it was the cause of AIDS. Scientists have since developed tests

first-ever Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. Then South African

to determine if a person has HIV. People who test positive are

company Lodox Systems produced the only system in the world

urged to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

that provides an excellent quality X-ray image up to 1.83m in

Drugs are available to keep HIV and AIDS under control. The

length in just 13 seconds.

hope is that further research will lead to the development of a cure.

Quantum Theory

Their names are engraved in the sands of time for their tremen-

Danish physicist Niels Bohr is considered one of the most

dous work in the welfare of mankind with different inventions

important figures in modern physics. He won a 1922 Nobel

that have made our modern lives easy.

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DST

SCIFEST AFRICA 2017 Tour de Science

S

cifest Africa has invited you to come and celebrate its 21st anniversary in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape from 8-14 March 2017.

In 2016, Scifest Africa offered more than 56,000 visitors from Southern Africa a festival programme consisting of 65 exhibitions and 706 events, presented by 328 contributors from 76 organisations in South Africa and six other countries. It received media coverage to the value of ZAR 5,6 million from 1 January - 31 March 2016.

The theme for Scifest 2017 is “Tour de Science” with reference to the UN-declared International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The theme encourages contributors to embark on a journey that explores the milestones, accomplishments, mysteries, discoveries, and the historic and exciting wonders of their field of science.

So what is Tour de Science? Think of

12

David Klein’s Tour de Science cycle.

He cycles from town-to-town visiting museums, schools, libraries and many other places where he learns about the universe. Now, the Scifest theme brought all that knowledge under one roof, awesome right?

This means, further focus also includes scientific facilities across the continent, the aspects of “edutourism”, which is travel for the purpose of learning, or “scientific tourism” including focus on Space tourism and other hot topics.

In a nutshell, the theme means taking a walk down memory lane and celebrating all, if not most, of the prominent times in Science. This theme serves as a reminder of milestones that may have been forgotten or some most did not know about.

This proves that Science is an adventure everyone should like to be part of, now or in future.

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

DST

SCIFEST 2017 What to expect

S

cifest Africa has invited you to come and celebrate our 21st anniversary in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape from 8-14 March. Here are some activities you can expect to see throughout the week.

Exploring the Science of life Visitors can explore the wonders of Science in the workshop Nna le bokamoso, which takes Science, and introduces it to the arts to advance young people’s interest in the discipline.

Also, experience the thrill of dance and movements as Science meets the Arts in a new workshop at this year’s National Science Festival. Explore how Science concepts may be disseminated using Art, dance and movement.

Riding into the sky with SANSA! If you have ever wondered how many

times you rely on a satellite in day to day living, then an expedition piloted

by SANSA Remote Sensing Researcher, Phila Sibandze, is the perfect start to this journey into space. Join him as he navigates this part of the educational Tour de Science that will take visitors on a journey through the life of a satellite.

Young scientists leading the way for science Scifest Africa is proud to host three talented inventors at this year’s National Science Festival that will take place in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape from 8-14 March.

Visitors to the festival have a chance to meet the 2016 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists winners, Bianka Reyneke, Andrea Blignaut and Charles Murray Hofmeyr, who will be giving lectures about their fantastic work.

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

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IDENTITY IS IN THE

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER “Dare to be different, but at the same time, stay true to yourself.” GUGULETHU MABUZA-HOCQUET These are very appropriate words indeed from the woman who has committed her research to identity protection.

The way Gugu sees it, your identity is all you really have – and the answer to protecting it, lies in iris biometrics.

She is exploring the unique iris properties of the South African population that may just hold the key to a uniquely South African security encryption system.

“Your iris does not only hold information such as your age, gender and race, it also says you are part of a demographic mix that is not found elsewhere in the world. Now imagine a future where those unique features in your eyes will protect the most valuble thing you have – your identity.”

Gugu describes the way she ended up in science as a “beautiful accident”. It’s certainly one to be thankful for.

BRIGHT YOUNG SCIENTISTS BEHIND IDEAS THAT WORK. www.csirideasthatwork.co.za

PROFILE

MEDICINAL PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY EXPERT Professor Nokwanda Makunga

P

rof. Nokwanda (Nox) Makunga is a plant scientist that uses biotechnology as a means to study medicinal

plants. After having grown up in Alice, schooled in Grahamstown, she moved to Pietermaritzburg to study for her tertiary education and ended up doing plant molecular biology. Her work is published in international journals and she serves on the editorial boards of several international journals. She served as the President of the Association of Botanists for three years.

Prof Makunga joined Stellenbosch University in 2005. Her research focuses on the application of biotechnology to Cape medicinal flora. This work stems from her PhD study where she studied a plant with anticancer activity - Thapsia garganica.

Here she paints us a picture of what she does.

Q

Who is Professor Makunga and where did you grow up?

I come from a small university town, Alice, where Fort Hare is. This is a place of great history as last year it celebrated its centenary, but I spent the first years of my life inside the campus. I think, this partly influenced my choice of going into academia.

Fort Hare is obviously well known for its contributions to South African Black society to my friends. I am genuinely fascinated by ing of our world can contribute socially. nature and the visual arts and deciding not Science allows one to be able to answer and the education of many African leaders. I am gregarious in my personality and enjoy interactions with persons that have had different life experiences to mine. I like simplicity in life and enjoy culture and art, and apparently, I have an incredibly huge amount of patience with people, according

to do art at school was a difficult decision.

some of those questions and provides the opportunity to discover new information

Q

Why did you choose Science?

and be able to solve problems. My area of specialty has the potential to contrib-

I am curious about how the world we live

ute both socially and economically to the

in works and how a better understand-

upliftment of others in South Africa.

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

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PROFILE

Q

Tell us about your job at Stellenbosch

composed of eight students at MSc and

because I was also inspired by my father

University?

PhD levels.

who also was a scientist. So, it is crucial to

I am an academic and my job involves

The work we are currently busy with has

inspire young people about Science. If I’m

teaching, research and community engage-

the potential to allow for the discovery of

not able to reach them, and not able to use

ment. At Stellenbosch University, I lecture

new chemical entities that may supply vari-

all the available means to do that, I feel

all the different years in various aspects of

ous industries such as the pharmaceutical

that I have failed in my role as a communi-

plant biology from first year to Honours. I

sectors. I have an interest in how people

cating scientist.

also manage a team of postgraduate stu-

interact with nature, and so, some of my

dents whose projects are mainly involved

research is targeted at understanding the

I enjoy my work. I enjoy the interaction

with medicinal plants.

cultural significance of plants to humans

with students. I enjoy being able to assist

and opportunities presented by their use

others and facilitate their process of

for socio-economic development.

obtaining higher degrees. I enjoy discover-

I obtained a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology from the University of KwaZuluNatal in 2004. While I was doing the PhD, I was employed as a junior member of staff at the Research Centre for Plant Growth

Q

ing new things and learning as this is part

Take us on “a day with Professor

of my work. I am fascinated by plant bio-

Makunga”, what does a normal mean

chemistry and how complex plants can be.

to you?

and Development. During my tenure at

Scientists do not really have ‘typical days’

Believe it or not, plants are really clever in

Stellenbosch University, I’ve supervised

as each day can be very different from the

the ways in which they have colonized so

over 20 Honours, 10 Masters and three PhD other. There is often a lot of variability from students. My research team is currently

many diverse environments in the world

day to day and this also makes life interest-

and how they have uniquely adapted to

ing. When I am lecturing then I am often

these.

preparing for those classes and focusing on the delivery and making the class interesting and exciting for my students. I often try to ‘read’ my students so that I have a better

Q

Lastly, given a chance to research on something else besides your research

that focuses on the application of biotech-

understanding of the concepts which they

nology to Cape medicinal flora, what would

may be struggling with.

you choose and why?

One of the highlights of my univer-

I like to mix it up a little bit and present

sity career was being recognized by

some interesting historical facts of the

Stellenbosch University as an Outstanding

developments in a specific study area but

Teacher. I have also enjoyed being awarded

also provide new information that is at the

the national research award for a young

forefront of a particular plant-based topic.

person and several others. So, I am quite happy with my topic, especially when

During my teaching stint, I will then spend

acknowledgement from others reinforces

time interacting with students in a practi-

one’s effort.

cal session (if that is part of that day’s schedule). When I am not lecturing, I am

Now, I have to think really hard where else

involved with my research.

I would be happy. I think bolstering my

Q

What keeps you motivated?

Inspiring other people motivates me,

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bioinformatics skills and computational modeling is where I may be keen to beef up. These are skills that are becoming more and more important even for biologists.

TOUR DE SCIENCE

8 GREAT SCIENCE DESTINATIONS A tour for geeks

Do you ever wonder where science geeks go to have fun? Well, Science geeks visit a place that stimulates their brain. Even when on holiday, away from the labs and offices they crave stimulation and new discoveries. While some feel that being on a rollercoaster or Africa’s longest water slide is stimulation enough for them, most Science geeks feel that those places are crowded and make it difficult to relax. Compiled from Inverse here are the 8 great Science destinations.

1. The Long Now 10,000 Year Clock

3. Hobby-Eberly Telescope

The Long Now, in San Francisco’s Fort

The HET, Located at the McDonald

Mason. The clock does more than just

Observatory in West Texas designed to use

keep time. Inventors and developers pri-

spectroscopy to study distances between

oritised using sustainable materials that

stars, planets, and galaxies, offers some of

were also not, to our current evaluation,

the clearest and strongest views of outer

expensive, in the event that an apoca-

space available to Earth-bound eyes.

Large Hardron Collider

lypse occurs and scrapping for rare metals becomes a stock-in-trade.

4. Large Hadron Collider The Large Hadron Collider is the biggest, fastest particle accelerator in existence.

Credited with bringing mankind one step closer to proving theoretical physics principles like the existence of the God particle, located in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe

5. The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe An IndieGoGo campaign launched to save Tesla’s last laboratory in Shoreham, New York recently reached its goal.

The Long Now 10,000 Year Clock

6. Blood Falls

Blood Falls

Blood Falls is a waterfall of brine mixed

2. The Solar System in Black Rock, Nevada

with iron that bubbles up to and over the surface of Taylor Glacier.

Two filmmakers, Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh, recently built a to-scale model of

7. Dry Valleys, Antarctica

the solar system to impress upon viewers

With an average yearly snowfall of 0 mm

the immensity of the Solar System

— that’s right, nothing. Dry Valleys is considered the driest place on Earth.

Dry Valleys, Antarctica

8. SpaceX Research Facility Currently, the hottest company in a competitive and intense market, SpaceX operates a research facility in Hawthorne, CA and welcomes tourists who know someone (or someone who knows someone). The tour, which is very well-reviewed on Yelp, is The Solar System in Black Rock, Navada

not the sort of factory tour that requires a simple ticket.

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SpaceX Research Facility

PERIODIC TABLE

THE DISCOVERY OF THE 4 ELEMENTS Additions to the periodic table

A

ccording to Bart Jansen, the peri-

or literally “the Land of Rising Sun,” in

odic table is getting a little bigger

Japanese. The element is the first discov-

after scientists added the names

ered in and named after an Asian country.

of four new elements, completing the seventh row of the chart.

super-heavy elements.

“The names of the new elements reflect the realities of our present time,” said

• 115 Moscovium (Mc), chosen to honour

Natalia Tarasova, president of the scientific

the Russian region and the Joint Institute

group, listing places from three continents

The options could have included mytho-

for Nuclear Research, where experiments

and the pivotal role of researchers such as

logical characters or minerals, but the

were conducted.

Oganessian.

Chemistry settled on names based on the

• 117 Tennessine (Ts), which recognised

The endings – “ium” and “ine” and “on” –

locations where elements were discovered

the state for contributions from Oak Ridge

relate to where the elements are seated

or researchers who helped find them.

National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University

around the table.

and the University of Tennessee at

The scientific group proposed the names

Knoxville.

in May and sought public comment for five

International Union of Pure and Applied

The elements are: • 113 Nihonium (Nh), named by the RIKEN

months. No other requests for names are

Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based

• 118 Oganesson (Og), which honoured

pending, so the period table is complete –

Science in Japan. Nihon means Japan

Yuri Oganessian for pioneering research on

for now.

113

Nh

115

Mc

117

Ts

118

Og

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

19

INNOVATIONS

SOUTH AFRICA’S BOLDEST INNOVATIONS Ground-breaking innovations

A

lot of significant “world firsts” came from South Africans, if you do not believe me, research on the world’s

The CAT scan

first complex, computerised ticketing system, Computicket and Appletiser. These are

CoSev

just a few of the many inventions to spring

CoSev allows you to report service deliv-

from South Africa over the years, have a

Worl’s first digital laser

look at these.

World’s first digital laser The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) announced the development of the world’s first digital laser.

ery problems from potholes in Sandton to water shortages in the Eastern Cape using

Biomedical stem cell technology

a smartphone app or USSM. Its creator

The CSIR’s Gene Expression and Biophysics

Tshepo Thlaku won second prize for the

group generated the first induced pluripo-

app at the SA Innovation Summit in 2013.

tent stem cells (iPSCs) in Africa.

The CAT Scan Dolosse

The Computed Axial Tomography Scan, or

These large concrete blocks, known as

CAT, was developed by Cape Town physicist

dolosse, were invented by South African

Allan Cormack and his associate Godfrey

Eric Mowbray Merrifield in 1963. They are

Hounsfield.

used around the world to protect harbour walls from the erosive force of ocean

3D Underwater imaging system

waves.

The world’s first low element-count 3D underwater imaging system was developed

The Full-body X-ray scanner

Cheaper solar power: University of Johannesburg

at the CSIR.

An innovation in solar power, which uses

The Full-body X-ray scanner

Fingerprint identification classifier

a micro-thin metallic film, was created by

In 2011 the CSIR developed a world-first

The South African company Lodox Systems

Professor Vivian Alberts at the University of

fingerprint identification technique. The

produced the only system in the world that

Johannesburg.

structural fingerprint classifier is able to

provides an excellent quality X-ray image

correctly classify a fingerprint with only

up to 1.83m in length in just 13 seconds.

partial information.

Speed gun for sports

Digital Drum

South African engineer Henri Johnson was

The drum is a computer system that gives

credited with the invention of the speed

people access to information on issues

gun and other technologies used to mea-

such as health and education. The design is

sure the speed and direction of sports balls.

based on the CSIR’s digital doorway.

The bollard

First ever aero-optic made from flame

The bollard, an implantable expanding

Professor Andrew Forbes from the CSIR led

rivet, was developed by a group of CSIR sci-

the development of the world’s first flame

entists in 1982, comprising Peter Mundell,

Cheaper solar power

Dr Michael Hunt and Dr Angus Strover.

22

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

lens. The optic lens uses air to focus and can handle almost unlimited power.

REVOLUTION

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

How it all started

A

ccording to The Gale Group and

and Geography, or with separate tradi-

however, requires consideration not only

various other sources, the scientific

tions, such as those of natural magic and

of what happened but also of why it hap-

revolution took place from the

alchemy. The traditional natural philosophy,

pened. Before looking at this, it is neces-

sixteenth century through the seventeenth

institutionalised in the universities since

sary to consider the status of the scientific

century and saw the formation of con-

their foundation in the thirteenth century,

revolution as a historiographical category.

ceptual, methodological, and institutional

was almost entirely based upon the doc-

approaches to the natural world that are

trines of Aristotle and followed rationalist

The scientific revolution is the historians’

recognisably like those of modern Science.

procedures.

term and should be seen as a shorthand

It should not be seen as a revolution

way of referring to a multitude of historical

in Science but a revolution in thought

When those trained in natural philosophy

phenomena and processes, not all of which

and practice that brought about modern

began to recognise the power of alter-

were directly related to one another.

Science.

native traditions for revealing truths about the physical world, they increas-

Although potentially misleading in so far

Although highly complex and multi-

ingly incorporated them into their natural

as there were not, for example, defining

faceted, it can essentially be seen as

philosophies. In so doing, these natural

moments when the revolution can be said

the combination of what was called

philosophers inevitably introduced differ-

to have begun or to have ended nor a

‘natural philosophy’ with various so-

ent methods and procedures to comple-

recognisable body of revolutionaries who

called ‘subordinate Sciences,’ such as the

ment and refine the earlier rationalism. To

were all self-consciously affiliated with

Mathematical Sciences, Astronomy, Optics

fully understand the scientific revolution,

one another, it continues to be recognised

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

23

BATTERY COOLER

DEVELOPMENT OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY Overheating batteries, a thing of the past

I

magine walking around with a mini fire extinguisher to help cool your phone down when the battery gets too hot. Well, you can stop imagining because a team of researchers from

Stanford University has developed a lithium-ion battery that will do just that in an event where your battery heats up.

Triphenyl phosphate (TPP), which is a flame retardant, sits in a shell within the electrolyte fluid. The TPP is released once the shell melts at temperatures of 150°C. According to the BBC, the battery fires were extinguished in 0.4 seconds in tests

If thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery happens, the shell will melt as temperature increases above 150 Celsius

carried out by the Stanford team, whose peer-reviewed paper was published by the Science Advances journal. This probably makes Samsung wish this development was made before the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle.

Battery lifespan has been a critical area of focus for electronics manufacturers looking for a cutting edge over their rivals.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in many devices - but it is also a fire hazard.

Previous attempts to incorporate TPP inside batteries without the shell have hampered their performance. If a lithium-ion battery cell charges too quickly or a tiny manufacturing error slips through the net it can result in a short circuit - which can

Lithium-ion batteries power many popular devices

lead to a fire.

Comparison between the old and new battery 24

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

DST

MOSES KEBALEPILE DEVELOPS A LIFE-SAVING SYSTEM A hero to asthmatics affecting people between the ages of 5 to 35 years-old. More than 4 million South Africans suffering from this ailment; a form of bronchitis caused by allergic inflammation, 1,5% die from this condition annually.

The pitchfest took place under the SwissSouth African Venture leaders Programme (SSAVP). The programme is a framework providing motivation, entrepreneurial know-how and support to scientists from both countries while contributing to Moses Kebalepile, a South African innovator,walked away with top prize at international pitchfest held in Switzerland

A

strengthening the co-operation between industries of South Africa and Switzerland.

young South African doctoral

asthma attacks. This way, asthma sufferers

Swiss-South African Venture Leaders

student earned him first place at

and their primary caregivers will not be

Programme is administered by the

an international competition by

caught by surprise (which by the way is

Innovation Skills Development of the

developing an innovative, life-saving,

the worst surprise anyone could ever get)

Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); an

early warning system for asthma sufferers.

when an episode of asthma happens and

entity of the Department of Science and

Moses Kebalepile, a South African innova-

therefore unnecessary asthma deaths can

Technology (DST). This is the third succes-

tor, has walked away with this year’s top

be prevented.

sive year, that South Africans have been

prize at the international pitchfest held in

dominating the Pitchfest.

Zurich, Switzerland.

The competition is the highlight of the

Moses is a PhD student at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, who through his doctoral studies has invented a medical diagnostic instrument

The Asthma Grid is an early warning system that predicts threats of imminent asthma attacks.

called the Asthma Grid.

year’s Swiss-South African venture leaders programme.

The selection of the winning team takes place after entrepreneurs are put through a training programme in Switzerland for

Asthma is a respiratory ailment and while

young, ambitious South African and Swiss

The Asthma Grid is an early warning sys-

common, South Africa has one of the high-

entrepreneurs, which is organised by ven-

tem that predicts threats of imminent

est asthma-related deaths in the world,

turelab.

26

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

A journey of hard work and perseverance: How a CSIR researcher is impacting lives through science

C

an you imagine being unable to drink a glass of water because the water is too dirty to be considered safe?

Or having no access to water simply because there is no water infrastructure? Unfortunately, this is a sad reality for millions of South Africans, especially those living in rural communities, but people like Dr Phumelele Kleyi are working hard to find ways to help these very communities have access to clean water by using modified nanomaterials to develop water purification technologies.

Nanotechnology is the science of building all kinds of fantastic materials, everything from brand new medicines to ultra-fast computer chips.

Kleyi is a research chemist and works for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). For most chemists, chemistry is not only about exploring and developing new material products, but it is about improving the quality of life for all people, making a positive contribution to society and transforming life-changing ideas into society-orientated and impact-focused solutions.

Kleyi is part of a CSIR water research group that develops nanomaterials for the removal of contaminants from water. These contaminants include organic substances such as dyes, inorganics such as ions and harmful microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses.

“We want people to have a device that helps them to purify their own water, so that they don’t drink water that makes them sick. Such a device could be connected to a tap, or be a portable pot that filters water through modified nanomaterials. We use nanoclays, a very fine type of soil and often a by-product of mining, which are modified to remove contaminants and to add disinfection properties,” says Kleyi.

Some of Kleyi’s research results have been published in a peerreviewed journal, while an application for invention disclosure for another nanomaterial has been submitted.

“We are currently negotiating to partner with a key water treatment industry player, hoping to eventually commercialise this product.”

Kleyi joined the organisation in 2014 and research centres on the development of nanostructured materials for water disinfection. Even though Kleyi has found himself working for such a great organisation, his journey to this point has not always been easy.

After finishing matric in 1994, Kleyi enrolled at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (University of Port Elizabeth at the time) to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.

“I passed mathematics and physics, but failed the other pharmacyrelated subjects. I did not have money to return the following year

and spent a year at home. It was painful, to realise your peers are progressing, but you are not.”

In 1997 Kleyi enrolled for a BSc, but after his second year, he once again ran into financial difficulty and suspended his studies for four years.

“The irony is that I qualified for funding from the university, but due to outstanding debt, I was not allowed to register for the following academic year.”

“To get where I am today, was not plain sailing,” says Kleyi, who has a PhD in chemistry. “I want to encourage students studying chemistry who face financial and academic challenges, to not give up finding their niche.”

Kleyi worked several jobs, including a stint on an assembly line at Volkswagen to save money, but then qualified for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“This time, I pushed through and completed my BSc, BSc Hons, MSc and PhD with no further interruptions. When I ran into financial difficulty, the first time, I should have asked for help to find funding opportunities within the institution. Because I was young and the first from my family to go to university, I had no one to give me that advice.

I only heard later, from my peers who had similar difficulties, about the NSFAS. My advice to young people in a similar situation would be not to wait, but to communicate with the university as soon as problems arise. Information is now a lot more readily available than back then – there are always options.”

If you want to become a research chemist like Kleyi, you must have a passion for scientific research and an academic background in chemistry. You should also be able to work independently, be a problem solver and be able to pay special attention to detail. Research chemists work in laboratories to develop new chemical compounds that are typically needed in medicine and other scientific innovations.

Don’t want to become a research chemist, but still love chemistry?

Try other careers like material scientist, chemical engineer, forensic scientist and process chemist. These degrees are offered at most South African universities.

To find out more information on the remarkable career opportunities at the CSIR, please visit our website www.csir.co.za

TOP 10

TOP 10 SA ACHIEVEMENTS

Did you know?

That South African scientists have invented some of the things you use everday?

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Koeberg, the only nuclear power station in Africa, has a pressurised water reactor (PWR) design. It boasts the largest turbine generators in the Southern Hemisphere and is the most southerly situated nuclear

A fossil discovery

power station in the world.

A fossil discovery A fossil discovery by an 8-year-old South African boy has helped scientists redefine

Kreepy Krauly

why turtles have shells. The big breakthrough came with the discovery of several specimens Koeberg Nuclear Power Station

Sasol turns coal into oil Sasol produced almost 1,5 billion barrels of synthetic fuel from about 800 million tonnes of coal since the first sample of synthetic oil from coal was produced

Kreepy Krauly Invented by South African Ferdinand Chauvier in 1974, the kreepy krauly collects dirt from the bottom of the pool automatically as it creeps and crawls its way around.

Ferdinand’s got you covered on this one.

fifty years ago at its Sasolburg plant near

CT/CAT Scans

Johannesburg in South Africa on 23 August

This technology was invented by Godfrey

1955.

Hounsfield and Allan McLeod Cormack,

CAT Scan

South African physicists working at Tufts

The first heart transplant Heart transplants

University in the U.K., in the late 1970s.

Heart transplants were just a far-fetched Frankenstein idea until Dr Chris Barnard performed the first procedure on Dec. 3,

Our best shot at an HIV vaccine?

1967, in Cape Town, South Africa.

The largest and most advanced HIV vaccine trial to be undertaken in South Africa

APS therapy

kicked off in 2014. At its centre is a tiny jab

Gervan Lubbe was the first to develop the

likely to be the strongest experimental vac-

technology to electronically stimulate the

cine against the virus the world has ever seen.

The first heart transplant

body’s natural nerve impulses to relieve pain with quick pulses. He created Tech Pulse in 1993, and the devices are sold all

The world’s largest ARV programme got bigger

over the world.

In 2015, two large-scale clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that early antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was better for patients and cut people’s risk of serious illness or death

ARV programme

by at least 44%.

28

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

APS therapy

SCIENCE EVENTS 2017 Upcoming Science events you won’t want to miss out on.

Scifest Africa This year’s theme for Scifest 2017 is “Tour de Science” with reference to the UN-declared International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development. The theme encourages contributors to embark on a journey that explores the milestones, accomplishments, mysteries, discoveries, and the historic and exciting wonders of their field of science.

CSIR Science Forum

Where: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

The two-day programme brings together more than 1 500 partici-

When: 8-14 March 2017

pants for discussion and debate in plenary sessions, short seminars and individual lectures (labelled as “Science talks).” The SFSA

Science Unlimited at Vryheid

also includes an exhibition and public outreach activities.

In March 2017 Pionier High School in Vryheid will host the

Where: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South

exciting ScienceUnlimited programme of Maths, Science and

Africa.

Technology events. Check the website for dates.

When: 7-8 December 2016

Where: Pionier High School, Vryheid

Other events to look out for this year:

When: March 2017

• National Science Week

North Gauteng Senior Science Fair

• Women In Science Awards

North Gauteng Senior Science fair is the largest regional school

• South African Geophysical

Science expo in Gauteng, with over 500 participants from over 60

• Science Tube

schools participating annually.

• Cape Town Expo For Young Scientists

Where: UP Sports Center, Tshwane

• Eskom International Science Fair

When: 18-19 August 2017 For more information please visit their websites.

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

29

ANCIENT WONDERS

8 WONDERS OF THE WORLD The Ancient Wonders Here is a list of top 8 wonders of the world, which are the masterpiece of the skill and handwork of the people of that era.

Stonehenge Stonehenge is a mysterious circular compilation of upstanding rocks that date back to a prehistoric era approximately 5,000 years ago. Located in the Wiltshire countryside of England, these spectacular ruins draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

Stonehenge

Giza Pyramids Located just outside the city of Cairo along the west bank of the Nile River are the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza. The oldest of the ancient world wonders and the last to remain intact, these pyramids are speculated to have been constructed around

Easter Island

2500 B.C Easter Island

Easter Island is located in the South Pacific near the coast of Chile and is generally accepted to be one of the Polynesian islands.

It is considered to be a single massive volcano whose eruptions eventually formed the hilly terrain of the island as it is today.

Taj Mahal of Agra

Giza Pyramids

In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India sits the Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum with an origin that surrounds a legend of eternal love. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess who died in childbirth in 1630 A.D.

Mayan Ruins It is generally accepted that their abrupt and mysterious disappearance from their cities took place in 850 A.D. The Mayans are historically noted for their extreme intellect and advancement of studies, their grasp of Mathematics, Astronomy, Writing and Literacy thousands of years ahead of its time.

Cristo Redentor Statue Atop the Corcovado Mountain overlooking the glittering Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro stands the Christ the Redeemer statue. With arms wide open, the monument of Christ stands nearly 38 meters in height and houses a small chapel at the base where Catholic weddings and baptisms are often held.

Great Wall of China Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China was not constructed as one long continuous wall with a sole purpose in its design. The preservation of the Great Wall today is mandated by the Chinese Government.

Great Wall of China

Taj Mahal of Agra

Machu Picchu Isolated on top of a small mountain ridge within the Andes Mountains, sits a collection of ruins from Peru’s Incan civilisation.

The city of Machu Picchu was built around 1450 during the apex of the Incan Empire and subsequently abandoned just over 100 years later with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors.

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

31

BURSARIES

Bursaries The start to bigger things…

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

CSIR BURSARIES 2017 – 2018

• Bachelor of Computer Science (co-major-

Bursary South Africa 2017-2018

About the Bursary

ing in Applied Mathematics/ Mathematics)

About the Bursary

CSIR’s bursary program is applicable to

• Bachelor of Electronic & Electrical

Bursaries will be awarded within the fol-

both undergraduate, and honour levels

Engineering

lowing fields of study:

fields.

• Bachelor of Electronic Engineering • Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering

ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Candidates applying to the University of

• Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering

FIELD:

Technology can only apply for BTech bursa-

• Bachelor of Science (majoring in Applied

• Aeronautical Engineering

ries. All bursaries awarded will be for full-

Mathematics/ Mathematics AND Physical

• Aviation/ Aerospace Engineering

time study at an accredited South African

Science)

• Chemical Engineering

University towards a degree.

• Bachelor of Science (majoring in Physical Science AND Astronomy)

• Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering

HOW TO APPLY

• Environmental Engineering (Geo Science) Prospective candidates can either visit

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Astronomy/ Astrophysics/ Computer

• Mechanical Engineering

the CSIR website or email bursarypro-

Science/ Electronics/ Physics)

• Mining Engineering

gramme@csir.co.za . All applications must

Postgraduate:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD:

be submitted before the designated CSIR

• PhD qualification

• Computer Science

closing date of 19 June in order to be con-

• MSc qualification

• Information & Communications

sidered.

• MEng qualification

• Software Engineering

If any further support is needed, individuals

HOW TO APPLY

• System Engineering

can either send an email to bursarypro-

Apply online: https://skagrants.nrf.ac.za

gramme@csir.co.za

Applicants must “register” an account

Technology

before logging in and applying.

HOW TO APPLY The latest application form can be down-

SKA Bursaries 2017 – 2018

loaded from:

ABOUT THE BURSARY

CLOSING DATE

http://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/jobs/bursaries.

Bursaries will be awarded to students who

National Diploma: 30 October annually.

Alternatively, you can collect an applica-

are studying (or wish to study) one of the

Undergraduate and Honours: 19 August

tion form from a public utility closest to

following qualifications

annually.

Postgraduate: 31 August annually.

you – clinics/ civic centres/ public libraries National Diploma:

Doctoral and Masters: 29 July annually.

• Construction Management: National

For any bursary queries, please contact:

CLOSING DATE: 24 September annually

Diploma

National Diploma, Undergraduate and

For any bursary queries, please contact:

• Electronic Engineering: National Diploma

Honours: Annah Mashemola: amashemola@

Busi Sibiya, Tel: 011 999-6339,

• Mechanical Engineering: National

ska.ac.za

Email: Busi.Sibiya@ekurhuleni.gov.za or

Diploma

Postgraduate, Doctoral and Masters: Loyiso

Colin Ramogale, Tel: 011 999-7747,

• Undergraduate and Honours:

Gura: lgura@ska.ac.za

Email: Colin.Ramogale@ekurhuleni.gov.za

• Bachelor of Computer Engineering

(within Ekurhuleni).

32

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

QUIZ

QUIZ Master your mind by taking this science quiz

1

What kind of scientist might develop an acne medication that kills pimple-causing bacteria?

A. Microbiologist

3

A. Stimulate a roller coaster ride on a computer B. Design a laser to fix people’s vision problems

B. Acneologist

C. Develop fusion energy

C. Minibiologist

D. All of the above

D. Neurologist

2

4

Which of these things might a physicist do?

Which of these things would a plant scientist NOT do?

A. Data mining

5

Which of these things would an Astronomer NOT do?

A. Determine the composition of a planet, its atmosphere and its moons

B. Data Base

B. Be captain of a space shuttle

C. Data digging

C. Investigate how galaxies are formed

D. Customer data management

D. Use radio telescopes to spot comets and asteroids that might hit Earth

In which Science Career might you teach a child how to manage his or her asthma?

A. Pharmacist B. Optometrist

6

In which Science Career might you monitor the power grid to make sure that power generation matches power consumption?

C. Respiratory therapist

A. Power distributor and dispatcher

D. Asthmologist

B. Power plant operator C. Occupational health and safety specialist D. Electrician

7

Which of these things would a cardiovascular technologist NOT do?

A. Assist a surgeon in implanting a pacemaker B. Design an artificial heart C. Monitor a patient’s heart rate during surgery D. Assist with open heart surgery

8

In which science career might you analyse water samples for pollution?

A. Food scientist B. Forensic science technician C. Chemical technician D. Occupational Health and safety specialist

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

33

PUZZLE

SUDUKO Challenge yourself by trying this puzzle!

Goodluck

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1 2

WORDSEARCH Expand your knowledge and searching skills and have fun doing it with this addictive word search puzzle.

34

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Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

• Grahamstown

• Mystery

• Festival

• Discovery

• Tourism

• Science

• Development

• Edutourism

• Milestones

• Space

ANSWERS

ANSWERS Big Data Issue

SUDUKO

SCIENCESTARS Special Edition | November 2016

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SCIENCE MEETS BEAUTY

WORDSEARCH

QUIZ 1. B - Extract valuable insights

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from the data 2. A - Data mining 3. True 4. C.Focusing on business goals and how to use big data analytics technologies to meet them 5. True 6. B - The interrelatedness of data and the amount of development work that will be needed to link various data sources 7. False 8. B - MapReduce

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

35

SCIENCE NEWS

SCIENCE NEWS

Scientists have developed a brain computer interface that reads the brain’s blood oxygen levels and enables communication by deciphering the thoughts of patients who are totally paralysed and unable to talk.

Biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a brain hormone that appears to trigger fat burning in the gut.

Their findings in animal models could have implications for future pharmaceutical development.

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is running a telescope naming competition for its new 1 metre telescope.The new telescope is the first South African optical telescope that will be remotely operable and potentially robotic, since the establishment of the SAAO observing location near Sutherland.

36

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

Roads in Africa have often been challenging to travel on because of the different types of pavement failures. With the help of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) world-class bituminous binders laboratory, US-based science company,DuPont, is changing how roads are built in Africa with its DuPont™ Elvaloy® Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymers (RET) bitumen modifier technology.

Soccer players who head the ball a lot are three times more likely to have concussion symptoms than players who don’t head the ball often, according to a new study.

Researchers describe how human stem cells, made from human skin cells, can hunt down and kill human brain cancer, a critical and monumental step toward clinical trials and real treatment.

DST

THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW HOMININ SPECIES Hom naledi

I

n 2015, the government welcomed the

ful implementation of the Palaeosciences

covery was made in 2013 in a cave known

discovery of a new hominin species by

Strategy of the Department of Science and

as Rising Star.

the University of the Witwatersrand

Technology (DST) and South Africa’s stand-

(Wits) at the Cradle of Humankind World

ing in this research field.

The fossils, which have yet to be dated,

Heritage Site, 50 km north-west of

The Minister of Science and Technology,

lay in a chamber about 90 metres (some

Johannesburg.

Naledi Pandor, said the DST was pleased

100 yards) from the cave entrance, acces-

with the research results of the team, led

sible only through a chute so narrow that

The discovery of the new species in the

by Prof. Lee Berger of the Wits Evolutionary

a special team of very slender individuals

Homo lineage, which may have engaged in

Studies Institute and that it looked forward

needed to be recruited to retrieve them.

funerary practices, was unparalleled in the

to more output from the site.

history of South Africa’s palaeosciences.

“The palaeosciences are one of the sciConsisting of more than 1 550 numbered

entific areas earmarked in DST strategies

The Rising Star Expedition, which was

fossil elements, the discovery was the

for exploitation, owing to South Africa’s

responsible for the research, has made a

single largest fossil hominin find yet made

geographic advantage in this area,” said the

significant contribution to the success-

on the continent of Africa. The initial dis-

Minister.

A new hominin species, Homo Naledi

Science Stars Magazine Scifest Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za

37

COMMENTS

KIDS COMMENTS

Our younger generations thought on Science in South Africa‌ 1. Why do you think Science is such a critical subject?

It is important because it can help make a difference to the challenges our country is currently facing for example Water Shortage, HIV&AIDS etc...

Anelisa, Grade 12

2. What is your favourite Science subject and why? Biology, Physics, chemistry Biology. I like to study the human body I find it fascinating how the different aspects of the body is developed, transformed and functions.

Okuhle, Grade 11

3. How do you think Science will change the world in the next 100 years?

Hopefully there will have cures/treatments for diseases Xabiso, Grade 12

4. Do you think modern technology reduces/increases stress?

I think it increases stress Sisipho, Grade 12

5. How has technological advances affected our life?

It has made communication easier and information more accessible Nelisa, Grade 10

6. What are the advantages of improved technology?

Improved Medical Discoveries Improved communication Improved quality of education Faith, Grade 12

7. Do you want to pursue a career in the Science Field? Why or why not Yes. Science is very important to the society it will make positive changes Siphosethu, Grade 10

8. How do you think science can be made fun?

I would like to have science be taught/demonstrated more practically Lwazi, Grade 12

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