Changing the World: Swaziland´s Kids
Two teenagers from the southern African country of Swaziland have won Scientific American's inaugural Science in Action Award, part of the Google Science Fair.
The prize is awarded to a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue to make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community.
This year's winners are both 14 years : Sakhiwe Shongwe of Siteki and Bonkhe Mahlalela of Simunye.
Their project explores an affordable way to provide hydroponics to poor subsistence farmers, enabling them to grow their crops and vegetables in very large quantities and within limited space without using soil.
Scientific American: CLicK to find how teens engineer a way to help farmers in Swaziland
The prize is awarded to a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue to make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community.
This year's winners are both 14 years : Sakhiwe Shongwe of Siteki and Bonkhe Mahlalela of Simunye.
Their project explores an affordable way to provide hydroponics to poor subsistence farmers, enabling them to grow their crops and vegetables in very large quantities and within limited space without using soil.
Scientific American: CLicK to find how teens engineer a way to help farmers in Swaziland
Kite Spiders: South Africa
Kite spiders are diurnal Araneidae or "orb-web" spiders which means that during the process of making a web, the spider will use its own body for measurements.
Gasteracantha falcicornis
Gasterocantha sanguinolenta
These spiders are small (8-10 millimetres long), with 4 species in South Africa. The Araneidae occupies a niche not utilized by other spiders: the aerial passage amongst vegetation in the path of flying insects.
The diurnal orb web spiders continually repair their webs, usually using them for a few of days. The web cannot be used indefinitely as it dries and loses its capture ability and insects will no longer stick to it.
The diurnal orb web spiders continually repair their webs, usually using them for a few of days. The web cannot be used indefinitely as it dries and loses its capture ability and insects will no longer stick to it.
South African Mountain Bike Racing
A "natural" incident...
OLPC XO-1
Lighter than a lunchbox with the size of a textbook! It´s designed to be distributed by governments and nongovernmental organizations to schools all over the world.
The XO is the first generation of an inexpensive computer conceived by One Laptop per Child, a nonprofit program begun at the MIT Media Lab.
Many of its characteristics serve at least two purposes: the Wi-Fi antennas double as covers for the USB ports, the handle serves also as an attachment point for a strap and the protective bumper also seals to protect from dust.
The “neighborhood view” showing children collaborating on various tasks. By clicking on it communication by Wi-Fi is activated.
The screen has both full-color and reflective high-resolution mode that makes it readable in bright sunlight, and a wide track pad doubles as a drawing and writing tablet.
If electricity is not available, the computer can be recharged by a pull cord that works like a yo-yo.
The XO is the first generation of an inexpensive computer conceived by One Laptop per Child, a nonprofit program begun at the MIT Media Lab.
Many of its characteristics serve at least two purposes: the Wi-Fi antennas double as covers for the USB ports, the handle serves also as an attachment point for a strap and the protective bumper also seals to protect from dust.
The “neighborhood view” showing children collaborating on various tasks. By clicking on it communication by Wi-Fi is activated.
The screen has both full-color and reflective high-resolution mode that makes it readable in bright sunlight, and a wide track pad doubles as a drawing and writing tablet.
If electricity is not available, the computer can be recharged by a pull cord that works like a yo-yo.
South African Games: Mankala
The game is based on counting and calculation, involving no external element of chance.
Many scholars think that the Mankala game can be the oldest in the world. Traces of game boards have been found during excavations in 15th-century Zimbabwe, Ancient Egypt and even Neolithic Kenya.
Ancient Gebeta (Mancala), Axum Ethiopia.
The Mankala contains 12 holes sideways and one larger one on each side, with 48 small stones/marbles/beans.
Many scholars think that the Mankala game can be the oldest in the world. Traces of game boards have been found during excavations in 15th-century Zimbabwe, Ancient Egypt and even Neolithic Kenya.
Ancient Gebeta (Mancala), Axum Ethiopia.
The Mankala contains 12 holes sideways and one larger one on each side, with 48 small stones/marbles/beans.
British Southern Africa Colonial Artist & Explorer: Thomas Baines
Lion and Dead Quagga, ZuluLand, 1874.
Matebele Warrior in Dancing Dress, 1870.
Rhinocerous by Thomas Baines, 1875.
The Battle of Blauwkrantz, 1838.
Gold and Ivory Elephants Charging over Quartose Country, 1873.
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