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The gold standard is complete suppression of the virus, which can be done without massive economic disruption by using rapid testing, effective contact tracing and complete isolation of infected cases. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

In a pandemic, science and humanities work side by side

Anthropologists ask the difficult questions about human behaviour and also provide the difficult answers

This handout picture made available by Archeovision and taken on March 3, 2020 shows French geo-archeologist Richard Oslisly (C) and two French anthropo-biologists Sebastien Villotte (L) and Sacha Kacki (R) looking at the remains of a skull in the Iroungou cave, near Mouila, southern Gabon. – The discovery of a 14th century underground burial site deep in Gabon’s tropical forest may shed light on a little known period in Africa’s history, with hundreds of artefacts. (Pascal MORA / ARCHEOVISION / AFP)

Rare Gabon burial cave reveals clues to African history

There are 30 skeletons in the Iroungou cave, and carbon dating has shown they are from the 14th century. It is only the second cave burial site to be unearthed on the continent

Back to his books: First-year student Michael Willemse received a special welcome from vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, which he says has made him ‘semi-famous’ on campus.

Pensioner goes back to class

Fifty years after matriculating, a 67-year-old has become the oldest-ever first-year student to study at Rhodes University

(John McCann/M&G)

Grass roots of Ice-Age extinctions

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

Shocking science: The campus of Stellenbosch University, where the problematic research article originated. (Courtesy of Stellenbosch University)

Scientific racism rears its head again

A recent journal article on ‘coloured’ women reflects an outmoded paradigm of race

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an “extraordinary coronavirus budget” on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Storytelling an evolutionary tool of our humanity

"Sharing stories is an evolutionary tool that alters our minds," says the author.

The Vredefort Dome

The Anthropocene equation measures the impact of humans

The world is warming at 170 times its natural rate, thanks to human action and carbon emissions.

Africa’s ecosystems now run on less than two-thirds of their historical energy, with the decline of elephants, lions, and rhinos reshaping landscapes and livelihoods

Humans wipe out wildlife at speed

The world’s wildlife population has decreased by 52% in the 43 years since 1971 because of human industry, according to the Living Planet Index.

Helping the army aim higher

Arguments rage in the US about whether anthropologists should be helping the military. Kurt Jacobsen reports.