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Articles on South African Karoo

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Tritylodon, a therapsid, reconstructed as a night dwelling warm blooded animal. Note the steam coming out of its lungs. Illustrated by Luzia Soares

Mystery solved: when mammals’ ancestors became warm-blooded

Warm-bloodedness is the key to what makes mammals what they are today. That’s why working out when it emerged in mammal ancestors matters.
Drilling for water in the Karoo where one major concern from fracking is that groundwater will be affected in the shale gas extraction process. Danita Hohne

Groundwater maps could help South Africa prepare for safer fracking

A vulnerability map could help assess the risks associated with fracking and groundwater which around 300 towns depend on in South Africa’s Karoo.
There are indications shale gas may be present in South Africa’s Karoo. Reuters/Mike Hutchings

Shale gas in South Africa: game-changer or damp squib?

South Africa’s Karoo region potentially holds shale gas that could transform the energy economy of the country. But given the uncertainties around exploration what’s the next logical step?
Two male Moschops are fighting using their ornamented head as a weapon. (Artwork by Alex Bernardini, SimplexPaleo)

New insights into the survival techniques of a prehistoric beast

The Moschops fossil was discovered in South Africa in 1911 and a new study of a complete skull shows how its dense braincase protected the brain and sense organs during head-to-head combat.

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