Science news
August 2019In Upemba National Park in south DRC, researchers have identified a new fish species which shows a striking difference in colour between males and females. Protecting the rich and unique fish stock in the Congo basin, the world's second largest river basin, is a matter that calls for greater attention.
August 2019The Earth is the only planet in the solar system that has continents. How these continents came into being is a very debate unsolved question amongst scientists. An international team of researchers has now found the key: a basaltic source-rock enrichment in silica by interaction with seawater was the controlling factor of the continental growth between three to four billion years ago.
August 2019They’re not just pleasing to the eye, but are of great scientific importance too. When it comes to describing new animal species, good illustrations are indispensable. An interview with scientific illustrator Alain Reygel (RMCA).
July 2019Archives.Africamuseum.be provides a glimpse of the museum’s collection of archives. There, a database gives site visitors access to descriptions of the contents of the RMCA historical archives.
June 2019Each year, the RMCA organizes a three-month training course on fish taxonomy and the use of FishBase for five African researchers. In a milestone, four of this year’s five participants are women.
April 2019A new wood biology laboratory in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve will be used by Congolese and international scientists to conduct top-notch research on wood anatomy and dendrochronology to better understand forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
April 2019Artificial savanna naturally turns into tropical rainforest when annual burning regimes are discontinued. A boost to carbon storage and biodiversity.
March 2019A tiny North American freshwater snail, found in large numbers in Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe), can fuel the spread of infectious diseases. Artificial lakes are especially vulnerable to invasive species, which travel the world thanks to globalization.
February 2019Since its launch in 2011, EJT has published 1791 new taxa (1602 new species). Taxonomic research enables biologists to better understand and study biodiversity and evolution.
January 2019Forest giants have long been considered the oldest trees in tropical forests. Research now shows that small trees can grow older than the big ones, and therefore hold on to longer-term carbon. This finding has important consequences for forest policy in the tropics.