A trek across the desert, in search of our origins
Two researchers transect the inhospitable Namib desert, in search of evidence of ancient human existence in this harsh landscape.
Ancient San rock art reveals earliest known depiction of extinct Dicynodont
Rock painting suggests San people were engaging in palaeontology long before Western scientists.
Eastern Cape meteorite find revealed
The spectacular entry of a meteorite into Earth’s atmosphere has unleashed a chain of events that would not be out of place in a Hollywood movie script.
“Space junk” that fell in Eastern Cape was a car-size meteorite
Meteorites are rare and hold deep scientific value as they give us a glimpse of the make-up and birth of our solar system.
Wits hosts Southern African synchrotron workshop
South African researchers have fully funded access to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, through the NRF.
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai
New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai shed light on South Africa's ancient ecosystems.
Leading mining companies invest R40 million in geosciences research at Wits
The Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair will advance the mining industry and develop the next generation of geoscientists.
ERC Advanced Grant for Paleoanthropologist Gabriele Macho
European Research Council funds project on early human evolution at Senckenberg.
.jpg "Artistic reconstruction of Nanoparia luckhoffi (RC 109) by Viktor Radermacher")
New description of a ‘dwarf’ pareiasaur from the Karoo Basin
Tiny Titans of the Permian: New anatomical description of the ‘dwarf’ pareiasaur Nanoparia luckhoffi from the Karoo Basin
Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition opens in the Western Cape
The exhibition showcases the archaeological heritage and rich marine environment of the Southern Cape coastline.
Medals and fellowships from Royal Society of South Africa
Medals for established and emerging researchers, eminent scholars inducted as Fellows.
Shoes maketh man
The humble “plakkie” made its debut up to 150 000 years ago.
Ancient sea level and climate changes led to major extinctions around South Africa
Sea level and climate changes altered the marine ecosystems at the South Pole 390-385 million years ago.
Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth
Superdeep diamonds formed between 650 and 450 million years ago show how continents developed and moved.
New study shows signs of early creation of modern human identities
Early ancestors collected eye-catching shells that radically changed the way we looked at ourselves and others.
South Africa’s meteorite heritage grow to over 50
Discovery of two meteorites are the first to be found by a member of the public on South African soil in over 40 years.
Crocks' ancestors grew old sloooowly
A gigantic, ancient crocodylomorph species that was recently discovered grew slower than other large reptiles of its day, such as dinosaurs.
The surprising path to life: breaking free from Plate Tectonics
New research reveals that the emergence of life on Earth did not require Plate Tectonics
India, South Africa and Australia shared similar volcanic activity 3.5 billion years ago
Ancient volcanism dating back to 3.5 billion years ago are common to Archaean cratons of South Africa, India, and Australia.
A planet called 'Home'
Our home planet Earth is unique, not only in its position in space but in the way it manages energy to create a comfortable spot for us to inhabit.
New fossil of a 252-million-year-old sabre-toothed lion shows it reigned just before mass extinction
Fossil is described in a paper exploring the rapid turnover of top predators in African terrestrial faunas around the Permian-Traissic mass extinction.
Wits researcher invited into her second exclusive global explorers club
Dr Keneiloe Molopyane joins the EC50 class of 2023, after also being selected as an Emerging Explorer for the National Geographic Society in 2021.
Wits takes lead in Global Innovative Seismic testing project for new generation exploration
The testing phase of a SA-Europe partnership project this December marks a significant step forward in developing new generation seismic sensing technology.
Wits researchers challenge common notions on the inner workings of Earth’s magma chambers
A recent study show that magmatic ore deposits that are generally referred to form by settling of crystals in magma chambers are instead shown to form in place
Students uphold the spirit of volunteerism
Volunteerism and activism is alive among the youth as demonstrated at the annual Student Leadership Awards.
The best job in the world
Column: Telling the stories of Wits’ research and academics might hopefully light a fire in the mind of the world’s next Einstein.
Basaltic magma chambers may grow catastrophically fast
Basaltic magma chambers can grow extremely rapidly - in months to years.
Groundbreaking discovery from South Africa challenges the recent re-interpretation of magma chambers
Wits researchers have compelling evidence for the existence of a magma chamber deep within a South Africa’s ancient crust.
Training scholars in groundwater to rock economies and make a splash in water security
Wits hydrogeologist Prof. Tamiru Abiye is a National Research Foundation-rated scholar and winner of the 2021/22 NSTF-South32 TW Kambule Researcher Award.
Witsies win lifetime achievement, research, and capacity development awards at Science Oscars
Professors Shabir Madhi, Sehliselo Ndlovu and Tamiru Abiye were winners at the 2021/2022 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South 32 Research Awards.
Mammals were not the first to be warm-blooded
Karoo fossils provide “smoking gun” on clues to when warm-bloodedness evolved in pre-mammalian ancestors.
Famous Sterkfontein Caves deposit 1 million years older than previously thought
New dates for Australopithecus-bearing Sterkfontein Cave deposit places South African hominin fossils at the centre of global palaeo research.
Geologists explain why most basaltic magma chambers are roofless
Wits geologists come up with an original interpretation for a long-standing petrological paradox – the common absence of roof rocks in basaltic magma chambers.
Twelve Witsies in the running for Science Oscars
Twelve Wits researchers are contenders for the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards for 2021/2022, four of whom were nominated in two categories each.
R10 million for the palaeosciences
#Wits100 donation will be used to fund the Micro CT scanner upgrade to benefit palaeontologists.
Bushveld Complex functioned as a big magma tank
Scientists find that large, long-lived, and entirely molten magma chambers did exist in Earth’s crust.
Wits audience get a virtual tour of the JOIDES Resolution research ship
Virtual linkup was done live from the ship while the ship was on an expedition to conduct science operations on the Walvis Ridge, off the coast of Namibia.
Wits in multi-country high-tech mineral exploration partnership
Team of experts help search for metals and minerals needed to meet the tech demands of an evolving world.
![Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [? Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres?sangle]](/media/wits-university/news-and-events/images/news/2021-sept-dec/Asediba.jpg "Life reconstruction of Australopithecus sediba com-missioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. [? Sculpture: Elisabeth Daynes / Photograph: S. Entres?sangle]")
Ancient human relative, Australopithecus sediba, “walked like a human, but climbed like an ape”
New lower back fossils settles a decades old debate proving early hominins used their upper limbs to climb like apes, and their lower limbs to walk like humans.
Witsies win six Science Oscars at prestigious national research awards
Wits researchers won six National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 research awards .
Breathing life into bone
An international Wits-led team of scientists used high-powered X-rays to show how an extinct South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed.
Barberton Geotrail Education Tour
Nocturnal dinosaurs: Night vision and superb hearing suggest moonlight predator
By looking at the eye bones and ear canals of extinct dinosaurs, researchers show that a small ancient predator likely had senses good as a modern barn owl.
Challenging perspectives on magma chambers
Wits researchers report on a new phenomenon in magma chambers called “magmatic karstification”.
Prehistoric killing machine exposed
Previously thought of as heavy, slow and sluggish, the 260-million-year-old predator, Anteosaurus, was a ferocious hunter-killer.
New technology allows scientists first glimpse of intricate details of Little Foot’s life
High resolution X-ray imaging of Little Foot's skull and dentition shows Little Foot suffered periods of dietary stress and illness when she was a child.
New Earth Sciences Cluster
This new Cluster will further encourage world class research through collaboration, coordination and communications.
National Research Foundation A-rates four Wits scientists again
The NRF has re-awarded A-ratings to four Wits scientists, a grading which confirms that they are recognised as leading international scholars in their fields.
Geophysicists develop innovative seismic technologies
Wits geophysicists have invented cost-effective and environmentally friendly seismic technologies that will contribute to sustainable mining exploration.
Huge money boost for Planetary and Space Science Project
Wits plays key role in securing funding to develop Planetary and Space Science projects in Africa.
Book takes Sterkfontein fossils to the world
Paleoanthropologists have published a book on the fossils excavated from Sterkfontein Caves for the benefit of the global scientific community.
Wits researcher writes book on the evolutionary origins of life and death
Durand uses cell death as a lens through which to examine the interconnectedness of life and death.
Grass on ash: uncovering 200,000 year old beds from South Africa
Before 200,000 years ago, close to the origin of our species, people used ash as layers for broad-leaved grasses to build their beds.
200 000 years ago, humans preferred to kip cozy
Humans prepared beds to sleep on right at the dawn of our species – over 200 000 years ago.
Hat-trick of wins for Witsies at Science Oscars
Three Witsies in human genetics, economic geology, and public health research data respectively have won National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) awards.
PhD student’s study on the state of magma in crustal reservoirs published in Nature Communications
The study challenges a recently-emerged paradigm that magma chambers are huge masses of crystals with just a very small amount of melt.
Challenge accepted: bringing a science paper to life through video
Professor Lee Berger accepts a challenge in science communications to turn a science paper into an interesting video lecture.
Dedicated dozen nominated for science oscars
Twelve Wits scientists across disciplines have been nominated for NSTF-South 32 Research Awards, known as the 'Science Oscars', and eight are finalists.
How to discover your own fossil site
Discovering a fossil site takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. Professor Lee Berger describes the clues that led him to the discovery of Malapa.
The long arm and short legs wars
Professor Lee Berger explores the origins of the this great debate and examines the arguments of the terrestrialists and the arborealists.
The impact of Gladysvale
Gladysvale is known for its impact on the dating of cave sites in Africa and has produced some of the most spectacular faunal remains of extinct animals.
A Question of Numbers
Does the fossil sample for Australopithecus africanus only represent one species. Professor Lee Berger takes on this sticky question.
A matter of time
Professor Lee Berger explores the use of the absolute age of fossils in questions of phylogeny, and where the age of a fossil is important.
When were there giants?
Is there any evidence in the fossil record that giants have lived on Earth in the past? Professor Lee Berger explores this question.
The context of fossil hominid discoveries in Africa
Professor Lee Berger explains the context of how original fossils are preserved and explores the context of discoveries.
The species concept in palaeoanthropology
Professor Lee Berger explains the concept of species in palaeoanthropology.
Exploring the Fossil Hominid Vault at the University of the Witwatersrand
Professor Lee Berger shows what is behind the doors of the Phillip V Tobias Fossil Hominid vault.
An Introduction to the fossils of Sterkfontein
Professor Lee Berger introduces one of the world's longest running and richest fossil hominid sites.
The muddle in the middle-Pleistocene
Professor Lee Berger explains the mystery surrounding human relatives living in Africa during the middle Pleistocene.
Rise of the Prometheus
In the second episode of Professor Lee Berger’s series of lectures on human origin, he delves into his favourite hominid-bearing site, Makapansgat.
Professor Lee Berger to host online video lectures on human origins
Lectures will feature some of the University’s fossils, including the Taung Child, Homo naledi, Australopithecus sediba and various other fossils.
Dinosaur "Easter eggs" reveal their contents in 3D
High-powered X-rays of the world’s oldest fossilised dinosaur embryos show surprising similarities to the embryos of today’s crocodiles, lizards and chickens.
Wits researchers unravel the mystery of magmatic rocks consisting of random proportions of minerals
Geologists found the answer as to why certain magmatic rocks have varying proportions of minerals than what is expected of their type.
"Little Foot" skull reveals how this human ancestor lived
Micro-CT scanning of “Little Foot” skull reveals new aspects of the life of this more than 3-million year-old-human ancestor.
New study reveals the secret of magmatic rocks consisting of only one mineral
Geologists from Wits have come up with an original explanation of how nature may produce a class of magmatic rocks that are made up of only one type of mineral.
Crowd-funding campaign helps Wits students to find large haul of ancient fossils
Group of students find a large haul of fossils on the first day of their dig in Oviston Nature Reserve.
Early modern humans cooked starchy food in South Africa 170 000 years ago
The discovery also points to food being shared and the use of wooden digging sticks to extract the plants from the ground
Origins Centre opens new rock art archive in newly built wing
The rock art archive is the first of three new floors that will provide public access to some of South Africa's most valuable historical finds.
Did a large meteorite hit the earth 12,800 years ago? Here’s new evidence
Could platinum-rich dust associated with the impact of a very large meteorite have contributed to major climatic change and extinctions 12,800 years ago?
Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba travel to the States
The South African national treasures will for the first time ever go on display for international audiences, when it is exhibited in Dallas, Texas
New research supports hypothesis that asteroid contributed to mass extinction
First African evidence to support hypothesis of an asteroid impact that contributed to the extinction of large animals 12 800 years ago.
Croc-like carnivores terrorised Triassic dinosaurs in southern Africa 210 million years ago
Rauisuchians fed on vegetarian dinosaurs according to Wits student Rick Tolchard.
Wits University PhD student discovers new species of early dinosaur
New dinosaur was discovered after it lying misidentified in the university's vaults for over 30 years.
Ancient drop of water rewrites Earth's history
The remains of a microscopic drop of ancient seawater was used to re-establish the date that plate tectonics started on Earth.
, Michael Westgate (PhD Candidate), Mpofana Sihoyiya (MSc candidate), Prof.jpg "Kenneth Rapetsoa (MSc Candidate), Michael Westgate (PhD Candidate), Mpofana Sihoyiya (MSc candidate), Prof. Musa Manzi (Director, Wits Seismic Research Centre), and Philip Staley (Senior project geologist, Sibanye-Stillwater)")
Sibanye-Stillwater donates R50m worth of seismic data to Wits
Sibanye-Stillwater has donated their 2D/3D reflection seismic data worth R50m to the Wits Seismic Research Centre of the School of Geosciences.
Prof. Lynn Wadley elected as Fellow of the British Academy
Wadley has been made a Fellow of The British Academy in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of archaeology.
The secret of platinum deposits revealed by novel field observations in the Bushveld Complex
Research from the Wits School of Geoscience shows how platinum deposits form in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa.
Software licence donation advances Geosciences
Petroleum Experts Ltd has donated an academic software licence worth R25m to the School of Geosciences.
New fossil find may shed light on how sabre toothed predators evolved
Prehistoric bestiary is full of remarkable creatures and fearsome predators.
Australopithecus sediba: No such thing as a missing link
Autralopithecus sediba is not the missing link that connects modern man to its more primitive ancestors.
International researchers confirm species status of Sediba skeleton
Four papers published in a special issue of the open access journal, PaleoAnthropology, address critiques of Sediba, confirming it is indeed a unique species.
Wits and Perot Museum launch virtual reality app of Dinaledi cave
Free virtual reality experience provides global access to the Dinaledi caves to researchers, students and amateur explorers.
Wits Professor Lee Berger wins Science for Society Gold Medal
The Academy for Science SA (ASSAf) awarded Berger its Gold Medal for excellence in the application of outstanding scientific thinking in service to society.
Ledumahadi mafube – South Africa’s new Jurassic Giant
A team of international scientists, led by Professor Jonah Choiniere from Wits, described a new species of a giant dinosaur that has been found near Clarens.
Awards for Wits researchers advancing science for society
The National Research Foundation has recognised Wits researchers for advancing their fields.
What it would mean to decolonise palaeontology
The call by students to “decolonise science” still rings in many South African academics’ ears.
Two new Chinese dinosaurs discovered
New fossils from north China shed light on the incremental evolution of insect-eating dinosaurs.
Wits signs Memorandum of Understanding with Perot Museum
The MOU is part of the Museum’s new focus on human origins, plans to increase research, produce traveling exhibitions, and cultivate scientific communications.
Mandela and the treasure in the Blombos Cave
Many Norwegian researchers had a close relationship with Nelson Mandela but few as close as Christopher Henshilwood, also of Wits ESI, did.
Largest symposium in almost 50 years
School of Geosciences congratulated on “one of the best” International Platinum Symposiums ever.
In the gaping mouth of ancient crocodiles
As a modern apex preditor, the crocodile's mode of attack - its mouth - had humble beginnings
The heat of acid mine drainage
Mining is a key contributor to South Africa’s economic development but its effect on the environment could spell disaster.
"Mrs Ples" is actually a "Mr"
A study of the tooth sockets of one of the world’s most famous fossil skulls, “Mrs” Ples, has made scientists think differently about “her” sex.
Print a 200-million-year-old dinosaur fossil in your own home
CT-scan study of Wits PHD student makes it possible to 3D print the skull of the dinosaur species Massospondylus that roamed South Africa 200 million years ago.
Lee Berger named SA’s ‘most visible’ scientist
Wits palaeoanthropologist tops 25 300 others in a new study on highly visible scientists.
Little Foot takes a bow
After 20 years of painstaking excavation and preparation, Professor Ron Clarke introduces the most complete Australopithecus fossil ever found to the world.
Wits University scientists highly cited worldwide
Two scientists from Wits University are on the list of Highly Cited Researchers in the world.
New Centre of Centre of Excellence to focus on early human behaviour
Collaboration between Wits and the new CoE at University of Bergen is essential to answer some of the most fundamental questions about our ancestry.
Lost mountains in the Karoo reveal the secrets of massive extinction event
Fossil records near the lost Gondwanides mountains show that the Permian-Triassic extinction started 1 million years prior to what was previously believed.
Early 'homebodies'
New study finds 'staying longer at home' was key to Stone Age technology change some 60 000 years ago.
A leader among leaders in archaeology
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has awarded an A1-rating to Professor Lyn Wadley.
AfricaArray advancing Geophysics in Africa
AfricaArray Field School upskills geophysical talent throughout Africa in response to the growing demand for highly trained geoscientists and researchers.
Cultural flexibility was key for early humans to survive extreme dry periods in southern Africa
Early human's ability to survive through prolonged arid areas in southern Africa developed from their ability to innovate and adapt.
Young Homo naledi surprises
250 000 year old species from Rising Star Cave raises more questions about our origins.
New ultra-clean isotope geoscience laboratory opens up a new world of research
New laboratory will work closely with the University of Johannesburg to offer southern African scientists a local solution for isotope analysis.
Norwegian Centre of Excellence awarded to Wits Archaeologist for early humans research
With its new Centre of Excellence status, the Centre for Early Human Behaviour will receive funding amounting to about R540 million over the next 10 years.
Why this small continental fragment in the Indian Ocean matters
Far beneath Mauritius’ inactive volcanoes lies an astonishing, important piece of the Earth’s history: a fragment of ancient continental crust.
A kiss of death – mammals were the first animals to produce venom
CT scans of fossils of the pre-mammalian reptile, Euchambersia, shows anatomical features, designed for venom production.
"Lost continent" found under Mauritius
Lava-covered piece of continent is an ancient remnant, left over from the break-up of the supercontinent, Gondwana, which started about 200 million years ago.
Our early ancestors developed advanced heating techniques
Humans living in South Africa in the Middle Stone Age used these techniques to vastly improve their living conditions during the era.
How did multicellular life evolve from single celled organisms?
The genome sequencing of the algae, Gonium pectorale, provides valuable clues into how and why single cells live together in groups.
-399x533.JPG "Researchers exploring Milner Hall in the Sterkfontein Caves.")
Sterkfontein Caves produce two new hominin fossils
Specimens from the Homo genus and can be associated with early stone tools dated to 2.18 million years ago.
Early human ancestor didn’t have the jaws of a nutcracker
Biting too hard would have dislocated jaw of Australopithecus sediba