Researchers find ‘spiral arms’ around massive stars

Researchers have found an important piece of the puzzle in the formation of massive stars, also known as protons (stars with a mass that is about eight times or more greater than that of the sun). In the first-ever observational evidence, they have determined that accretion discs around forming protostars have spiral arm structures.

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A-rated researcher to tell us more about Earth’s Evil Twin

On 23 February the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be hosting a public lecture conducted by A-rated researcher and extraordinary professor, Prof Don Kurtz.

The topic of the lecture is “Venus – Earth’s Evil Twin”.

People often refer to Venus as the beautiful, bright “evening star…

NWU reaches out to smallholder farmers

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZNDARD) and Wesgrow Potatoes, hosted three farmers’ days for smallholder farmers in Swayimane and Applesbosch in January 2023. This was to show support to these farmers and to…

South Africa’s water mavericks

Together they are known as the water mavericks: Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout and Prof Henk Bouwman from the North-West University (NWU) have a wealth of experience between them and have amassed acclaimed recognition for their water-related research in their respective fields.

Last year their work was honoured when they were awarded the 2021…

Impressive innovations take centre stage during Leopards Lair competition

The impressive innovations of the students at the North-West University (NWU) took centre stage during the recent Leopards Lair competition, earning the innovators well-deserved recognition and sought-after prizes.

This year marked the NWU’s sixth Leopards Lair competition. It is held annually to encourage and support student…

NWU student wins national Three Minute Thesis competition

North-West University (NWU) PhD student Bongiwe Zungu walked away with the spoils at the 2022 national Three Minute Thesis competition.

Bongiwe from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences represented the NWU along with Heleen Dreyer from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

They competed against 18 participants from Rhodes…

NWU lecturer bags PhD against all odds

Walking across the stage to receive his PhD in operational research was surreal for Piet Ntema.

The North-West University (NWU) statistics lecturer received his degree at a recent graduation ceremony on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Piet and his five siblings were raised in poverty by a widowed mother who was a domestic worker.…

Hat trick for ‘nicosmiti’ as a third living species takes his name

In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks the age-old question: ‘What’s in a name?’ In the case of North-West University researcher Prof Nico Smit, the answer is clear ― his name is synonymous with expert contributions in the field of zoology.

This celebrated academic and parasitologist taxonomist follows in the…

NWU hosts the first ever Agri-Career Fair for Soil Science

By Oldrin Masowa

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Agricultural Sciences hosted its first ever Agri-Career fair on 19 October on the Potchefstroom Campus.

During the event, final-year students presented the findings of their soil science research and had the opportunity to network with the…

Using nanotechnology for food security and environmental protection

One of the most challenging anxieties of the 21st century is safeguarding food security for the world’s exponential growing population, as stipulated by goal 2 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to projections, the global food demand is expected to rise between 60 to 98% by 2050, with a population of more…