Sci-Tech
Leaving Earth to survive
“I’m not saying Mars will be a utopia. It’ll create an opportunity to rethink the fundamental principles defining our society."
By Mila de Villiers
Hackers hit Eastern Cape department of human settlements
Sensitive data belonging to Eastern Cape department of human settlements is believed to be in the hands of an international hacking group which gained access to IT systems.
By Mandilakhe Kwababana
South Korea delays decision on Google’s request to export map data
South Korea’s ministry of land, infrastructure and transport said on Tuesday it has delayed a decision again on Google’s request for permission to export map data, saying it will make a final ruling once the company submits additional documents.
WATCH | Innovate Africa: SA drone tech is positively impacting human lives
AutonoSky founder and CEO Amit Ramdath unpacks how drones are being used
By Kieno Kammies
Waymo launches freeway robotaxi service in San Francisco, LA and Phoenix
Alphabet’s Waymo said on Wednesday it will begin offering robotaxi rides that use freeways across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix as it steps up expansion amid competition in the self-driving industry.
Are you listening to bots? Survey shows AI music is virtually undetectable
A staggering 97% of listeners cannot distinguish between AI-generated and human-composed songs, a Deezer–Ipsos survey showed on Wednesday.
Clinical trials of locally made oral cholera vaccine to get under way
Clinical trials to test the efficacy of the first locally manufactured oral cholera vaccine, developed by Biovac, were launched on Tuesday.
By Yoliswa Sobuwa
Lebanon’s historic pines are dying, one cone at a time
In the heart of southern Lebanon, where pine trees once stood tall and abundant, a quiet crisis is unfolding. The cones are barren, the trees are drying, and a forest that was a lifeline for entire communities is under siege.
COP30 highlights growing threats of storms, floods and fires
With typhoons tearing across Southeast Asia this week while areas of Jamaica and Brazil are clearing debris after damaging storms, delegates at Brazil’s COP30 summit began grappling with how best to help the vulnerable withstand climate extremes.
Musk expects Tesla FSD to get full China approval in early 2026
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he expects the carmaker’s full self-driving software, a driver assistance system, will be fully approved in China early next year.
Two superbugs cause over half of the infections that kill newborns in Soweto. The germs are outsmarting treatment fast
Over the past 10 years, researchers analysed tissue samples of 1,586 children under five who died at health facilities in Soweto. Results show more than half of the deaths in newborns and about a third in infants were caused by just two types of bacteria
By Linda Pretorius and Jacques Verryn
WATCH | Crowds marvel at King Tutankhamun’s treasures in Egypt’s Grand Museum
Visitors gathered around the golden mask of King Tutankhamun at Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum, as the long-awaited Tutankhamun Gallery opens to the public for the first time.
Britain’s Prince William calls for optimism on environment at EarthShot Prize event
Britain’s Prince William expressed optimism on Wednesday about tackling global environmental challenges at a star-studded event in Rio de Janeiro for the fifth edition of his EarthShot Prize.
Are you saying these wrong? Google reveals SA’s most commonly mispronounced words
Thousands of South Africans turned to Google this year to avoid embarrassing mispronunciations — from French pastries and tricky English spellings to international names that leave even the most confident speakers stumped.
By Modiegi Mashamaite
SA’s SeaH4 wins global competition for its algae biofuel
SA start-up SeaH4 has won the Climate Launchpad Global Grand Final 2025 competition out of 2,700 entrants from 40 countries.
By Phuti Mpyane
