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Mail & Guardian
skalatest news & developments
The auditorium at the world’s largest astronomy meeting, the 32nd General Assembly of the International Astronomy Union (IAU) at Cape Town International Convention Centre on August 06, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Misha Jordaan/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
AFRICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

World’s largest astronomy meeting debuts in Cape Town

South Africa’s groundbreaking astronomical advances, the Southern African Large Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array, will be featured at the IAU General Assembly

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett and Bob Marley perform in London,in 1980. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)
I SHOT THE SHERIFF

Reggae’s resistance roots struck a chord in SA

South Africa and Jamaica share a history marked by colonisation and slavery

  • Carsten Rasch
18 min read
A new identity: Hakeem Muata Oluseyi wanted his name to reflect his African roots so that it could inspire others, something his birth name could not achieve. (Freddie Claire)
ASTROPHYSICS

‘Gangsta’ astrophysicist journeys from the ghetto to the stars

The sole black astrophysicist at Nasa’s science mission directorate traces his roots and his work with black South African astro-science students

  • Hakeem Oluseyi
8 min read
Professor Justin Jonas, the chief technologist at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao), said the first 1 000 of 20 000 machines will be rolled out on July 16.
CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE CPAP AND HIGH FLOW NASAL OXYGEN HFNO

Locally built ventilators ready in two weeks as Covid cases rise

The companies making the non-invasive devices, which will create jobs and are cheaper than other types, include car and diving manufacturers

  • Athandiwe Saba
4 min read
COVID 19

Observatory’s starring role in pandemic

The astronomical centre will oversee the production of cheaper and less invasive devices than ventilators to treat Covid-19 patients

  • Athandiwe Saba
6 min read
The SALT, like the SKA, is in the Northern Cape. New rules mean aircraft may have to avoid the area. (Mujahid Safodien/AFP)
AVIATION

SKA could add time to flight path

The aviation sector is worried that rules about the radio spectrum in the skies above the project could affect the Jo’burg to Cape Town route

  • Tshegofatso Mathe
5 min read
Executive officer of the National Skills Authority Thabo Mashongoane, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor at the NSA conference.
NALEDI PANDOR

Rethinking demand-led skills development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

South Africa is on track to meet the NDP goal in terms of doctoral graduates

  • Youlendree Appasamy
5 min read