South Africa
During the 'Great Dying,' This Saber-Toothed Predator Reigned
This ancestor of mammals briefly thrived amid a massive extinction event, hinting at how carnivores may respond to climate change today
Humans May Have Eaten Giant Snails 170,000 Years Ago
Shell fragments from a cave in southern Africa show signs of exposure to extreme heat, suggesting they were cooked
Paleontologists Uncover Fossil Impressions of Giant, Alligator-Like Amphibians
The find reveals how the creatures swam and relaxed in prehistoric waterways
The Ambitious Plan to Stop Mice From Eating Seabirds
Conservationists want to clear Marion Island of the pests, which are wreaking havoc on albatross and other nesting species
A Ring of Fire, Millions of Monarchs and Other Rare Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling For
Be in the right place at the right time to witness these sublime sights
Is It Ethical to Hunt Captive Lions?
In South Africa, the big cats are raised to be killed by hunters. Opponents are outraged, but advocates point to conservation benefits
The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2022
After two years of limited travel opportunities, we’re ready to explore the world once more
Construction of World’s Largest Radio Telescope Begins
Scientists will use its instruments to study the early universe
These Artificial Nests Are Helping African Penguins Beat the Heat
Ceramic nests deployed on penguin colonies in South Africa could shield the endangered seabirds from rising temperatures
Video Footage Captures Orcas Killing Great White Sharks
The predation could explain why the sharks have been locally declining in recent years
How Animals Survive in a Savanna Full of Predators
Ecologists have documented a hierarchy of fear in the South African grassland, and the king of beasts is at the top
Why a New Plaque Next to Oxford's Cecil Rhodes Statue Is So Controversial
The sign identifies the 19th-century statesman as a "committed British colonialist"
Endangered Wild Dogs Rely on Diverse Habitat to Survive Around Lions
A new study shows that bramble and brush help the canines avoid attacks by the big cats, and may offer clues about where to reintroduce the dogs
Researchers Uncover the Watermelon's Origins
A Sudanese plant called the Kordofan melon is the watermelon's closest wild relative, according to a new study
South Africa Announces Plan to End Captive Lion Breeding
The captive lion industry encompasses everything from cub-petting attractions to the sale of lion bones
Trove of African Modernist Masterpieces Spent Decades Hidden in Rural Scotland
A two-year research project identified 12 overlooked paintings, drawings and prints by pioneering 20th-century artists
Why the Cape Town Fire Is a Devastating Loss for South African Cultural Heritage
The inferno destroyed much of the University of Cape Town's special collections, including rare books, films, photographs and records
Contagious Yawning May Keep Lion Prides in Sync
A study finds after yawning together, lions were 11 times more likely to copy the actions of the individual that yawned first
Crystals Found in Kalahari Desert Challenge Assumptions About Where in Africa Human Culture Arose
The 105,000-year-old items may have held religious meaning
Twelve Ancient and Enduring Places Around the World
From Smithsonian Books, towering temples, dramatic works of art and early settlements that have stood the test of time
