South African molecular scientist Palesa Madupe expected proteins preserved in fossil enamel to clarify why Homo naledi remains look so alike. Instead, teeth from at least 20 individuals yielded no ma...

The first protein analysis of the fossil teeth of Homo naledi showed that all individuals in the cave system are female. This may provide further evidence that these extinct human relatives had some f...

Jan Smuts, evolution, and the dynamics of organisation

Genetic analysis of a grassland fungus suggests key evolutionary splits in the Psilocybe lineage began on the continent.

The discovery that small stone arrow tips were treated with plant poison 60,000 years ago means that ancient African hunters were capable of complex thinking.

The moral purpose of civilized society is to prevent the stronger from attacking the weaker. The US was founded on that principle

Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.

Her studies in Tanzania reshaped primatology and how we view ourselves, while her advocacy connected animal behaviour, culture, and conservation.

Africa’s most feared snake can be used to identify pollution hotspots

Genetic risk factors may account for up to 30% of all cases in African women.

Stone tools from different sites suggest people long ago were connected over a huge region and shared ideas.

Same-species skeletons in colony of burrows found in South Africa pushes origins of community

Researchers have extracted 2 million-year-old protein remains from ancient pre-human teeth to reveal biological sex and genetic variability.

Hip, shin and thigh bones provide clues to life and death of young female Paranthropus robustus

Series of events mark 165th anniversary of birth of forgotten pacifist who exposed conditions in British concentration camps

After two years of intense reviews and revision, the work on burial evidence from this ancient hominin finds acceptance.

Podcast Episode · History Extra podcast · 03/11/2025 · 36m

Gareth Cliff is a controversial South African podcast host, with nearly 2 million followers on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter). On 28 Ja...

There are many people you can lend your ears to, but here’s a suggestion as to whom you should not necessarily believe or take advice from in your efforts to ‘save’ your favourite class of people.

We celebrate the centenary of Nature’s announcement of the discovery of the Taung child, Australopithecus africanus, a discovery that confirmed Africa as ...

After being blind for years, two patients recently each received an artificial cornea, and Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape hopes to continue providing this service to those who need it in futur...

Discover the story behind the making of the cutting-edge, five-minute virtual reality film in the War Rooms at The Story of Emily.

First study of skeletal fossils of a large carnivore from South Africa reveals formidable predator

Namibian fossil is oldest and largest tetrapod to have been found south of the equator.