Many years ago it would have been (almost) unheard of for a woman to pursue a career in the study of herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), or to even hold a degree issued by a university for that matter. Fortunately, times have changed, and in general we as a society accept that women (or any other gender) can do anything they choose to do, with few or no preconceived biases.
“… by the help of Microscopes, there is nothing so small, as to escape our inquiry; hence there is a new visible World discovered …” Robert Hooke 1665
People have been aware of small living organisms such as mites and ticks from early times, mainly because of the association of these organisms with pets and livestock. In 1665 the English scientist, Robert Hooke (1635–1703), published a book, Micrographia, which is one of the earliest books about the use of a microscope to view the world of tiny animals.
Museums around the globe are battling on social media to see who has the creepiest item in their collection. The National Museum Collection’s Manager has joined the challenge by sharing our creepiest items: a collection of teeth.
Denis Goldberg, a struggle veteran of the calibre of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Bram Fischer, sadly passed away on 29 April. He was 87. Among others, Goldberg will be remembered for the Rivonia trial of 1964 during which he was found guilty on charges of sabotage and plans to overthrow the apartheid regime. He was handed four life sentences as one of the founding members of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
Baden-Baden is located about 75 km northwest of Bloemfontein on the edge of a large pan known as Annaspan. The site, which is situated on private property, has been named after the presence of a corrugated iron – constructed bath house, now abandoned, dating back to the late Victorian era (Figure 1).