By Michael Marshall Swarm of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria) near Isalo National Park, Madagascar, in August 2013Nature Picture Library / Alamy A chemical released by locusts turns out to encourage them to swarm. The discovery could help us control the insects, which can destroy swathes of crops. Locusts normally live solitary lives, but sometimes they…
Why an apple a day could keep multiple sclerosis away: Compound that gives the fruit's skin its sheen could help reverse devastating damage caused by the diseaseChemical found in apple peel could transform multiple sclerosis treatment Compound could be turned into the first drug that reverses disease's damage Testing on mice, paralysed animals given ursolic acid were…
Kataza the baboon. Facebook / Baboon Matters The City of Cape Town has asked the public not to feed a baboon that has relocated to Tokai. The baboon, known as Kataza or SK11, is slowly being integrated into the Tokai troop. Video footage, however, shows humans feeding Kataza. The City of Cape Town has requested that Kataza…
As SA Rugby moves to determine which franchises will go to Europe in future, Rassie Erasmus has noted several potential benefits for the local game should that route be followed.The national director of rugby believes the high world rankings of Wales, Ireland and Scotland mean PRO Rugby is competitive and that fans will eventually identify…
(John Finney Photography/Moment/Getty Images) An abnormally bad season of weather may have had a significant impact on the death toll from both World War I and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, according to new research, with many more lives being lost due to torrential rain and plummeting temperatures. Through a detailed analysis of an ice…