Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning missions to study them up close

| Insights & Views

NASA/ESA/STScI In late 2017, a mysterious object tore through our solar system at breakneck speed. Astronomers scrambled to observe the fast moving body using the worlds most powerful telescopes. It was found to be one...

Animal abuse often signals human abuse — should therapists be allowed to report it?

| Insights & Views

Imagine being a therapist and sitting across from a client who casually admits to kicking their dog. They kick until the dog stops barking. As a therapist, you are bound by a sacred code of confidentiality, a cornerstone...

Omega-3 can help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease

| Insights & Views

Omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained through diet, as the body cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities. (Shutterstock) In 2021, roughly six per cent of the worlds population, or 529 million people, were living with...

South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers

| Insights & Views

The shortage of blood for medical use is a global challenge. South Africa is not exempt. Blood collection organisations such as the South African National Blood Service struggle to meet the demand for blood products,...

Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why

| Insights & Views

Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices...

Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

| Insights & Views

Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair? Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently...

I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

| Insights & Views

The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world. According to the United Nations, over the years, thousands of children, some as young as six years old, have been...