Supercomputing: SA back in top 500

SAinfo reports that a major upgrade to the Centre for High Performance Computing's (CHPC's) Tsessebe Sun Constellation System helped South Africa reclaim its place in the top 500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers. The Tsessebe cluster has been Africa's fastest supercomputer since its launch in 2009, when it was ranked 311th in the world, however, by May 2010 the machine had fallen to 461st. 5 Jan 2012 15:42

Consortium awarded two DoE 75 MW solar projects

South Africa's Energy Minister Dipuo Peters announced that the Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded preferred bidder status to a consortium that includes US solar power developer SolarReserve, Southern African empowered infrastructure player Kensani Group, and South African renewable energy developer Intikon Energy, PRNewswire.com reports. 12 Dec 2011 12:16

WCED delivers science kits to poorer schools

In a Western Cape Education Department (WCED) statement published in Allafrica.com, MEC Donald Grant announced that the department will deliver science kits, school bags and stationary to some of the province's poorest schools. 7 Dec 2011 16:55

SA to invest in LED lighting: Eskom

Following the announcement of Africa's largest energy-saving lighting deal - a joint initiative between local power utility Eskom and global electronics giant Philips - South Africa is set for a boom in the use of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, Media Club South Africa reports. 2 Dec 2011 14:02

Challenges facing SA higher education

Universities in SA have a lot to be proud of, says the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Pretoria (UP), Professor Cheryl de la Rey. 30 Nov 2011 11:03

ICT helps the blind

[Wilma den Hartigh] A portable voice-based computer for the blind, developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been shortlisted in the South African Breweries (SAB) Foundation inaugural Innovation Awards. 30 Jan 2012 10:49

University of Johannesburg student wins technology competition

An innovative computer-aided detection programme that detects tuberculosis at an early stage has won a student from the University of Johannesburg a place in the final of a global technology competition in Australia next year. 19 Dec 2011 10:17

Cape Town hosts first Africa-held Astron-Conference

Cape Town will host the 62nd International Astronautical Conference (IAC) - the first ever to be held in Africa - from 3-7 October 2011. The conference brings together all those taking part in space programmes around the world: administrators, industrialists, scientists, engineers, technologists, astronauts and cosmonauts. 30 Sep 2011 16:12

New wind turbine now in South Africa

Siemens Energy has launched its new SWT-3.0-101 Direct Drive wind turbine in South Africa. The new turbine, with a rated power of 3 megawatts, offers innovation through a new Direct Drive concept, introducing a permanent magnet generator. 27 Sep 2011 17:14

Big business support pays off for e-magination

While many entrepreneurs have vision, drive and commitment, they are often constrained by limited management capacity, compliance requirements, and difficulties in gaining access to finance. "But these challenges can be overcome with the support of large businesses, " says Richard Bezuidenhout, who, with the support of Woolworths, started e-magination, a small but growing information technology and consulting firm. 24 Nov 2011 13:26

Wits scientists working to neutralise HIV

Professor Caroline Tiemessen is attempting to understand why some individuals - referred to as elite controllers - are able to be HIV infected, but successfully suppress virus replication to undetectable levels. This is according to a report published on allAfrica.com. 14 Nov 2011 13:18

Non-communicable diseases: Africa must 'spend a lot more'

BERLIN, GERMANY: According to scidev.net, Olive Shisana, CEO of the South African Human Sciences Research Council, said at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany that infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, are expected to decline while non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, will increase in Africa over the coming decades. 4 Nov 2011 11:47

Doro: The new range of cell phones designed for senior citizens

Randburg-based Business Beyond Boundaries (BBB-SA) has been appointed the sole South African agent for Swedish company Doro AB, the Stockholm Stock Exchange-listed international leader in the design and manufacturer of cellular telephones that meet the special lifestyle needs of senior citizens. 24 Oct 2011 08:15