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*2003 World Summit Award recognition
*2003 Winner of the Highway Africa New Media award
* 2002 Winner of the
NSTF Award for Science
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Controlling caracals, eating bullfrogs, new drugs
to the market, bioethics, software, conservation, health
and more in this month's edition. Visit Jobs
for science jobs and research posts from the continent. Over 7 million hits is good reason to Subscribe
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Africa. Guidelines for authors here.
This Month's Features
On eating poisonous frogs
 Scientists
examine the Namibian tradition of eating whole Giant Bullfrogs and the
science behind their effective poison prevention remedies.
Controlling the caracal
 Domesticated
and wild caracal are worlds apart. In the wild, caracal are becoming a
stock farmer's nightmare. Can the caracal be controlled?
 New
antipsychotic drugs for SA patients?
Despite the proven effectiveness of new antipsychotic
drugs, they are not readily available. Can SA afford them and can we
afford not to?
Can honeybees detect landmines?
 A
leading expert explores the status of this alternative for landmine
detection, its strengths, limitations and future.
Biotechnology
Bioprospecting
 Bioprospecting
is a bit like searching for gold, only the rewards may be greater.
Discovery of valuable, novel enzymes in nature.
Elite marula trees
 A
biotechnologist explores the science behind the art of growing elite
marula trees for improved commercial farming.
Opinion
 Patenting
our human heritage. Whose DNA is it? As research in the
life sciences become increasingly commercialised, an expert on ethics
in science explores the threats posed by the patenting of DNA.
AIDS
Quick-Fix won't work
Scientist argues that throwing billions on access to AIDS drugs may
not solve the problem and that it may be counter productive.
Bid for an alcohol injury fund
Medical doctor proposes an increase in SA excise taxes on alcohol to
set up an alcohol injury fund to compensate victims of alcohol related
injury.
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In this Issue
World Summit Award. Science in Africa judged one of the top 21
continental best practise examples in e-science at WSIS.
Scientists in Tanzania have successfully trained rats to detect
tuberculosis (TB) in human saliva by smell
Health
Anthrax research hope as small molecules that inhibit a deadly toxin
associated with inhalational anthrax is discovered.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe struggles to contain an anthrax outbreak that has
killed humans and animals.
Swaziland battles with a flood of bogus "miracle AIDS cures."
Are southern African countries spending enough on HIV/AIDS?
Technology
Faced with the choice of open source or closed source software? A
scientist gives the ins and outs.
The square kilometre array radio telescope to probe the "Dark
Ages" of the universe.
The African Laser Centre just launched in South Africa has a particular
kind of damage control high on its to-do list for 2004.
Conservation
Tracking the illegal ivory trade. Genetic test of ivory source could help
thwart elephant poachers.
Hyacinths: pretty to look at but harmful to the environment. New fungal
war on these weeds.
Cyberkids: this month join Granny and the
rest treasure hunting at the "Wild Coast"
Education/Funding
TWOWS:
Helping young women scientists in the south fulfill their potential. Meet
the first graduate.
TWAS and TWOWS grants and funding
Call for proposals: taking biotechnology to
rural communities
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