NWU to livestream partial solar eclipse from campus observatory

Researchers and students at the North-West University (NWU) will livestream a partial solar eclipse from the NWU Solar Observatory* on the Potchefstroom Campus. This gives the public a safe way to experience the breathtaking celestial event on 17 February 2026.

Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and researcher at the Centre for Space…

Phase two of the SA Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative puts NWU at the forefront of mining innovation

The North-West University (NWU) is taking a big step forward! The university has been awarded Phase Two of the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative, co-hosted by the CSIR through Circular Innovation South Africa, and the official launch took place on Friday, 6 February at the Department of…

Why wildfires leave some land scarred for years, and how satellites are helping with damage control

When wildfires tear through landscapes, the flames disappear quickly but the damage they leave behind can last for years. A new study by North-West University (NWU) academics shows how satellite technology is helping scientists and decision-makers better understand the true impact of wildfires and plan smarter responses for the future.

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Early action is crucial as researchers warn of rising high blood pressure in children

A significant global health concern is that growing numbers of children and adolescents worldwide are developing high blood pressure. Newly published research highlights childhood hypertension, once considered rare in young people, as a rapidly growing health problem and a powerful predictor of cardiovascular and kidney disease later in life.…

Duty-free access to China opens door for South African exports but risks remain

South Africa’s exporters may soon find a wider door opening in Beijing, but whether they can fully walk through it will depend on preparation at home. China’s move to allow duty-free imports on selected South African products signals stronger economic ties, yet it is no silver bullet for broader trade challenges.

According to North-West…

NWU academic publishes book on mathematical modelling

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Patrick Tchepmo Djomegni, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics has added an important scholarly contribution to the field of applied mathematics with the completion of his new book on mathematical modelling techniques, a project that reflects both academic excellence and deep personal meaning.…

Why are we going back to the Moon?

Roughly 384 400 km from the pale blue dot we call Earth hangs an orb that has fascinated humanity for millennia. The Moon is our planet’s only natural satellite and is about a quarter of Earth’s size. Only 12 people set foot on it between 1969 and 1972, but more than 50 years later the Artemis programme aims to add to that number.

In…

SONA 2026: What to expect — and what not

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his 2026 State of the Nation (SONA) address on Thursday 12 February, and he will do so in a world starkly different from that of a year ago. Political uncertainty, strained international relations and domestic pressures mean the president is operating in a political climate that is no longer simmering but…

The All Blacks are coming, and so are the bucks!

It’s been 30 years since the New Zealand All Blacks last toured South Africa for a traditional rugby test series, but 2026 will see the old foes meet for three tests in the Republic and one abroad.

For rugby fans at home and in the Land of the Long White Cloud, The Greatest Rivalry Tour – which includes provincial matches between the…

Law students head to India for elite global criminal law moot competition

From 13-15 February 2026 three North-West University (NWU) law students will argue some of the world’s toughest criminal law questions in a premier mooting event in New Delhi in India.

Potchefstroom Campus students Lindiwe Ngophe, Ethan van Wyk and Connor Anderson will represent the NWU at the University of Delhi’s 22nd KK Luthra…