Earth sciencehttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/rss.xml/?type=topic&rssname=earth-science&parent=environmentEarth science RSS feeds.Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:55:54 GMTenTurning waste into composthttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/podcast/turning-waste-into-compost/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/podcast/turning-waste-into-compost/Through collaboration with local farmers and innovative research, Josephine Nackeny Augustino is attempting to solve Sudan’s waste management problems. Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:36:23 GMT+0000Q&A: Revealing the deep human journeyhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/role-models/qa-revealing-the-deep-human-journey/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/role-models/qa-revealing-the-deep-human-journey/The adventures of South Africa’s ‘underground astronauts’ uncover long-hidden secrets of human history. Wed, 20 Oct 2021 02:16:56 GMT+0000Fiona Broom‘Soil health key to achieving SDGs’https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/soil-health-key-to-achieving-sdgs/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/soil-health-key-to-achieving-sdgs/Healthy soils offer solutions to pressing issues ranging from food security to climate change. Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:34:21 GMT+0000Fatima ArkinDrones safely check volcano emissionshttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/drones-safely-check-volcano-emissions-1/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/drones-safely-check-volcano-emissions-1/Drones prove to be a safe way to measure carbon emissions from volcanoes. Mon, 9 Nov 2020 02:01:25 GMT+0000Claudia CaruanaQ&A: Recovering from war with help from spacehttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/opinions/q-a-recovering-from-war-with-help-from-space-1/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/opinions/q-a-recovering-from-war-with-help-from-space-1/One satellite image is worth a 100-page report from a warzone, says the UNDP’s Bertrand Frot, as satellite power is harnessed for the Sustainable Development Goals. Tue, 7 Apr 2020 02:09:39 GMT+0000Michelle Z. DonahueHow space science can spur Africa’s developmenthttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/how-space-science-can-spur-africa-s-development/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/how-space-science-can-spur-africa-s-development/African governments should tap the potential of space science to boost socioeconomic growth, a forum has heard. Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:24:00 GMT+0000Sam OtienoGeospatial tech could boost Africa’s agricultural sectorhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/geospatial-tech-boost-africa-agricultural-sector/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/geospatial-tech-boost-africa-agricultural-sector/Use of space science data could help Africa boost the agricultural sector and tackle development challenges. Mon, 16 Oct 2017 10:58:34 GMT+0000Gilbert NakweyaRwanda extracting methane to avert risks, boost energyhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/rwanda-extracting-methane-avert-risks-boost-energy/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/rwanda-extracting-methane-avert-risks-boost-energy/Rwanda’s efforts to extract methane gas from a lake could both save lives and spur electricity generation. Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:46:46 GMT+0000Ignatius SsuunaAfrica Analysis: Fast-forward to end of 2015https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/column/africa-analysis/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/column/africa-analysis/Linda Nordling dusts off her crystal ball to present key science issues that should impact development in 2015. Wed, 14 Jan 2015 01:20:27 GMT+0000Linda NordlingTeam assess volcanoes to help forecast eruptionshttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/volcanoes-to-help-forecast-eruptions/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/volcanoes-to-help-forecast-eruptions/Scientists from Ethiopia and the United Kingdom are evaluating the risk of East Africa Rift volcanoes. Thu, 4 Sep 2014 06:54:56 GMT+0000Mercy AdhiamboDrought, flooding insurance ‘could aid African farmers’https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/drought-insurance-aid-farmers/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/drought-insurance-aid-farmers/Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa could gain from insurance developed from satellite data, say researchers. Thu, 22 May 2014 04:48:47 GMT+0000Farai MatebvuDust and wind linked to ‘meningitis belt’ outbreakshttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/dust-and-wind-linked-to-meningitis-belt-outbreaks/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/dust-and-wind-linked-to-meningitis-belt-outbreaks/Climatic conditions help to predict seasonal epidemics, offering hope of vital early forecasts, a study shows. Fri, 18 Apr 2014 11:45:17 GMT+0000Amin EquianoSoil near mining sites ‘contaminated with heavy metals’https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/soil-near-mining-sites-contaminated-with-heavy-metals/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/soil-near-mining-sites-contaminated-with-heavy-metals/Farming in soils close to mining sites could expose crops and humans to pollutants, a study suggests. Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:18:34 GMT+0000Moses MagadzaWorld Bank to unveil project to map Africa’s mineralshttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/world-bank-to-unveil-project-to-map-africa-s-minerals/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/world-bank-to-unveil-project-to-map-africa-s-minerals/The five-year project will use new technologies to identify untapped mineral deposits in Africa. Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:03:09 GMT+0000Maina WaruruUganda gets mobile lab to spur farmers’ soil know-howhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/uganda-gets-mobile-lab-to-spur-farmers-soil-know-how/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/uganda-gets-mobile-lab-to-spur-farmers-soil-know-how/A truck that has an advanced soil testing lab could help disseminate agricultural information to Ugandan farmers. Mon, 3 Mar 2014 01:20:55 GMT+0000Esther NakkaziTeam probes vanishing glaciers’ link to climate changehttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/team-probes-vanishing-glaciers-link-to-climate-change/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/team-probes-vanishing-glaciers-link-to-climate-change/Explorers have embarked on a two-week journey to Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains to assess Africa’s melting glaciers. Mon, 27 Jan 2014 06:11:15 GMT+0000Esther NakkaziDjibouti joins the Rift Valley geothermal energy clubhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/djibouti-joins-the-rift-valley-geothermal-energy-club/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/djibouti-joins-the-rift-valley-geothermal-energy-club/The Rift Valley has potential to produce geothermal power, and the African Development Bank is backing projects. Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:39:45 GMT+0000Maina WaruruAfrican soil diversity mapped for the first timehttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/african-soil-diversity-mapped-for-the-first-time/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/african-soil-diversity-mapped-for-the-first-time/An atlas of a key natural resource, Africa's soil, aims to give people outside the science world insight into its importance and management. Fri, 17 May 2013 07:38:25 GMT+0000Bernard AppiahDeaths from drought in Africa are down, data revealhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/deaths-from-drought-in-africa-are-down-data-reveal-ssa/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/deaths-from-drought-in-africa-are-down-data-reveal-ssa/Drought is the deadliest disaster in Africa, but deaths have been going down, a conference hears. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:33:42 GMT+0000Ochieng’ OgodoMozambique to build study of natural resource managementhttps://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/mozambique-to-build-study-of-natural-resource-management-1-ssa/https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/mozambique-to-build-study-of-natural-resource-management-1-ssa/The UN University is teaming up with partners in Germany and Mozambique to boost Africa's management of its natural resources. Wed, 7 Dec 2011 06:25:25 GMT+0000Munyaradzi Makoni