Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations recently accused Ethiopian troops of making illegal incursions across their shared border. Relations between the two countries have continued to decline ever since Ethiopia signed a non-binding agreement with the breakaway Republic of Somaliland earlier this year.
Why Africans continue to pay a high price for denied visas into Europe.
And how floating solar panels can help Africa become more energy sufficient.
Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Susan Gachuhi, Frenny Jowi, Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle and Patricia Whitehorne.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Protesters in Kenya embarked on yet another round of demonstrations against a new finance bill that seeks to introduce new taxes. Police appeared overwhelmed in some parts of the capital, Nairobi. Demonstrators were seen approaching the parliament complex, where fire could be seen. Why have demonstrations darkened?
Also Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control expresses particular concern over this year's outbreak of cholera. Over 50 people have died from the disease.
And a new study in Sierra Leone says political discourse can have a devastating impact on mental health.
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Charles Gitonga, Sunita Nahar, Rob Wilson and Victor Sylver
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Namibian activist Friedel Dausab, who won a landmark case when judges ruled that laws banning same-sex acts between men are unconstitutional, says he drew strength from his Christian faith and from his mum.
Over a billion dollars has been pledged to develop vaccines in Africa. How will it work and will African insitutions be able to access the money?
And who is Michael Usi, the former comedian who is now Malawi's new vice president?
Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Rob Wilson, Frenny Jowi and Bella Hassan
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard
It’s hard to imagine something as mind-bogglingly small as an atom.
But CrowdScience listener Alan has been attempting to do just that. All things in nature appear to be different and unique; like trees and snowflakes, could it be that no two atoms are ever the same?
Alan isn’t the first person to wonder this. Philosopher and scientist Gottfried Leibnitz had a similar idea in the 17th century; in this episode, philosopher of physics Eleanor Knox helps us unpick the very idea of uniqueness.
And with the help of physicist Andrew Pontzen, presenter Anand Jagatia zooms into the nucleus of an atom in search of answers. Listener Alan has a hunch that the constant movement of electrons means no atom is exactly the same at any given moment in time. Is that hunch right? We discover that the world of tiny subatomic particles is even stranger than it might seem once you get into quantum realms.
Can we pinpoint where uniqueness begins? And if the universe is infinite, is uniqueness even possible?
In the podcast edition of this show, we peer into that expansive universe, as we discover that the quantum world of hydrogen - the tiniest and most abundant of all atoms - allows us to observe galaxies far, far away.
Featuring:
Dr Eleanor Knox – King’s College London
Prof Andrew Pontzen – University College London
Dr Sarah Blyth – University of Cape Town
Dr Lucia Marchetti – University of Cape Town
Presented by Anand Jagatia
Produced by Florian Bohr
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Coordinators: Ishmael Soriano and Liz Tuohy
Studio Manager: Emma Harth
(Photo: Twelve snow crystals photographed under a microscope, circa 1935. Credit: Herbert/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Kenya braces itself for more marches next week when lawmakers take a final vote on the controversial tax proposals. But who are the young people taking to the streets and are they really changing the face of protest in Kenya?
Also what are the factors hampering Burundi's economy
And why are South African traditional healers, or Sangomas as they're known, being trained to test clients for HIV?
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Rob Wilson, Susan Gachuhi, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard
At a recent Taylor Swift concert in Scotland, seismographs measured a “Swift Quake” caused by foot-stomping fans. But this wasn’t the only star that has made the ground shake - there have been several others, including Travis Scott and Bruce Springsteen. Could this power be harnessed in some way?
Turning our attention to non-popstar quakes, there are some animals that seem to predict earthquakes. A pond in Italy, usually filled with toads during breeding season, was suddenly void of them shortly before an earthquake hit. Are there any other animals with seismographic abilities? And is there a chance we could harness their abilities somehow?
Also, tremors on the small island of Mayotte led to a surprising deep-sea discovery. Nathalie Feuillet shares some earth-shattering facts about her team’s discovery.
And, to shake things up, Marnie and panel talk about the 'Frenchness' of French fries, the tech hidden inside the Euros’ footballs, and the gadgets that fools your employer into thinking you are working.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, Godfred Boafo, Christine Yohannes
Producer: Florian Bohr, Julia Ravey, Dan Welsh, Noa Dowling.
Sound engineer: Emily Preston
How has China reached the top spot of scientific research so quickly? Science editor of The Economist, Ainslie Johnstone, gives us the CCPs grand, broad plans whilst senior reporter for Nature, Gemma Conroy, digs into the specifics of China’s future particle collider.
Also, Gene Kirtsky, who has been studying cicadas for 50 years, discusses the spectacle of the millions of insects which have been emerging across the USA this summer.
And Unexpected Elements' Marnie Chesterton gets close and personal with the stinkiest plant in the world at Kew Garden in London.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Ella Hubber
Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Photo: Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory under construction. Credit: VCG/Getty Images.)
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers have reportedly died during Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Most of the deaths have been because of heat-related illnesses. Saudi Arabia has been hit by sweltering temperatures this year. What measures are in place to help travellers mitigate the risks from these high temperatures?
Also, why are cases of sexually transmitted infections on the rise on the continent?
And why do many students from across Africa prefer studying at Western Universities? What's the attraction and how are they treated once they get into a University in the West?
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Frenny Jowi, Susan Gachuhi, Patricia Whitehorne, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan.
Technical Producer :Jack Graysmark
Senior Producer:Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard
Amnesty International is calling on Egypt to stop arresting Sudanese people seeking refuge from war. The human rights watchdog says Egypt must also stop sending refugees back to Sudan. Our correspondent in Cairo tells us how these refugees are perceived and treated.
Also why is violence once again on the rise in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province?
And how did Famo, a genre of music in Lesotho, came to be associated with gang violence?
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan, Rob Wilson, Patricia Whitehorn and Nyasha Michelle
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Kenya's government has bowed to public pressure and scrapped plans to introduce new taxes on items like bread and motor vehicles. Why were Kenyans so angry with the tax increments?
Ethiopia one of sub-Saharan Africa's major economies, opens up its banking sector to foreign investors. What will it mean for the country?
And why is Sierra Leone considering updating its child protection laws?
