Matthew Du Plessis

Matthew du Plessis is the Mail & Guardian's former managing editor and chair of the Adamela Trust. He writes on the environment, dinosaurs, particle accelerators, evolutionary anthropology, genomics and super-continental fields of molten lava.

Inside Facebook’s big bet on Africa

Africa Matthew Du Plessis - 25 May 2020

New undersea cables will massively increase bandwidth to the continent

Easter eggs from the most South African dinosaur

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 9 Apr 2020

After years of data processing at the Wits laboratory, one evolutionary scientist has constructed a 3D model of a baby Massospondylus

The vax revolution will be filmed

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 6 Mar 2020

New tech is poised to help vaccines last longer and reach many more people with far less fuss

Grass roots of Ice-Age extinctions

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 14 Feb 2020

Mammoths and sabre-tooth cats once roamed the continent, but were our ancient ancestors responsible for their disappearance?

Jurassic parkour in SA lava fields

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 31 Jan 2020

After stumbling on mention of tracks in a dissertation from the 1960s, scientists are shedding new light on the dinosaurs that hotfooted it through SA’s prehistoric past

Bionic mushrooms are a thing now

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 9 Nov 2018

Scientists have the technology (and apparently the inclination) to make fungus better, stronger, faster

New light on old civilisations

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 28 Sep 2018

Scientists are remapping the stories of ancient civilisations by shooting them with lasers

Bug evolution thrown into Chaos

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 7 Sep 2018

Super-strains of bacteria need a new nemesis, and scientists reckon they’ve found one

Laziness: Lifeline or death knell?

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 31 Aug 2018

Sluggish snails prevailed, but Homo erectus may have died out because, honestly, why bother?

Set course for the heart of the Sun

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 17 Aug 2018

They promise the earth and never deliver, but sometimes the world’s leaders give us the sun, the moon and the stars

Uh oh, there’s a disorderly Deadpool in the gene pool

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 3 Aug 2018

CRISPR-Cas9’s responsible use has been welcomed as an important stride in medical research and molecular biology

Oh great, even more water on Mars

Article Matthew Du Plessis - 27 Jul 2018

We used to laugh at the idea that Mars had canals — now it turns out there’s a whole fricking lake

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Press Releases

Special Reports

Itec serves up high-tech integrated surveillance system for family food company

special reports - 27 Oct 2020

The system includes facial recognition software and a thermal screening solution that will provide instant temperature screening of all employees

Special Reports

Transport Month

[email protected] - 23 Oct 2020

An infrastructure-led recovery will help to stimulate demand in the South African economy, which is vital post the Covid-19 pandemic

Special Reports

Limpopo’s Economic Recovery Plan to fight Covid-19 impact

special reports - 23 Oct 2020

Billions have been set aside to help farmers and industries get back on their feet as part of the Limpopo Socio-Economic Recovery Plan

Special Reports

Disrupt the corrupt

special reports - 22 Oct 2020

Whistle-blowers should be seen as real heroes in the fight against corruption and we need a change in culture for this to happen

Special Reports

Corporates: A force for good for a sustainable future

special reports - 20 Oct 2020

In order to see people and nature thrive what is required is a strong focus on partnerships – we cannot act alone anymore

Special Reports

Combatting wildlife crime in Southern Africa activity annual programme statement (APS) No. 04

special reports - 20 Oct 2020

Concept papers are sought for implementating activities, for a multi-faceted programme that aims to reduce poaching and illegal trade in wildlife

Special Reports

The financial decisions made during your life journey, and their impact on your retirement outcome

special reports - 19 Oct 2020

The longer you save towards retirement the larger your retirement savings are expected to be due to the effect of compounding interest

Special Reports

In conversation with SA Reserve Bank Governer, Lesetja Kganyago

special reports - 16 Oct 2020

'Make interest rates zero and inflation goes up and then people save less – we need savings to fund investment in this country'