Latest news with #MeerKAT
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
DJ Zinhle and GalxBoy's boss join Bathu on 'Walk Your Journey'
This year's edition of 'Walk Your Journey' series kicked off on Wednesday at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. From left to right: Theo Baloyi, DJ Zinhle and Thatiso Dube during a 'Walk Your Journey' panel discussion at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg. Picture: Supplied In celebration of Youth Month, the Bathu Foundation has revived the Walk Your Journey series, partnering with renowned DJ and entrepreneur DJ Zinhle, alongside GalxBoy founder Thatiso Dube. This year, the Foundation is focusing on equipping young South Africans with tools for success in the evolving entrepreneurship landscape. The 2025 edition of the series kicked off on Wednesday at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg under the theme 'Navigating the New Age of Retail: Opportunities and Challenges in South Africa.' Bathu founder Theo Baloyi, along with DJ Zinhle and Thatiso, led discussions on business growth, innovation, and sustainability in today's competitive market. Theo said the idea behind the series is to fast-track entrepreneurial growth by sharing real-world lessons. 'We believe there is a lot of potential in South Africa, a lot of emerging entrepreneurs. And it cannot only be that every 10 or 15 years, there's a Bathu or GalxBoy era that goes beyond the 10-year mark. 'So, we want to share the knowledge of how we managed to build a sustainable business over a period of 10 years. A lot of people have potential, but they just lack tangible know-how,' he said. He also highlighted the importance of including emerging topics like artificial intelligence in the conversation. 'There might be someone sitting there thinking, 'Actually, I want to start this business, but I don't know how to go about it,' or they struggle with self-expression. There is a tool in AI that can help you express yourself better.' ALSO READ: SA's MeerKAT telescope joins forces with European VLBI Network Bathu Foundation aims to reach wider audience The series is scheduled to continue on 18 June at the Fusion Boutique Hotel in Polokwane and conclude on 25 June at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban. Each session includes panel discussions, Q&As, and networking opportunities. The inclusion of Thatiso and DJ Zinhle in the programme reflects the Foundation's focus on practical, relatable insights. Theo said that together with DJ Zinhle and Thatiso, they bring over 30 years of combined experience to the stage. 'It's our way of giving back because we know that from this, instead of waiting 10 years to see two or three brands emerge, collectively we can have five to ten brands that come out of this session.' NOW READ: Thandiswa Mazwai says she would've accepted invite to national dialogue had Ramaphosa sent it
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
SA's MeerKAT telescope joins forces with European VLBI Network
This is a new chapter for high-resolution radio astronomy, enabling scientists to study the universe in greater detail than ever before. FILE: Part of the ensemble of dishes forming South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope is seen in Carnarvon on July 16, 2016. Picture: Mujahid Safodien/ AFP South Africa's MeerKAT telescope has joined forces with the European VLBI Network (EVN), one of the world's most sensitive and advanced very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) systems. Their partnership sets a new standard for global collaboration and significantly enhances both resolution and sensitivity, opening new avenues for scientific exploration and a new era of radio astronomy. Space exploration It is also a new chapter for high-resolution radio astronomy, enabling scientists to study the universe in greater detail than ever before. The collaboration has already delivered impressive results, with EVN researchers capturing enhanced images of energetic plasma jets from the supermassive black hole J0123+3044. This sets the stage for a new wave of scientific breakthroughs in understanding cosmic phenomena. 'Proud moment' Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande said the achievement is a proud moment for South African science and a powerful demonstration of what international collaboration can accomplish. 'Integrating MeerKAT into the EVN marks a giant leap for precision radio astronomy and lays vital groundwork for the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA)-VLBI era'. The Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE), headquartered in the Netherlands, coordinated the EVN's participation and played a central role in data processing and image development, working closely with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory's (SARAO) engineering and science teams to ensure the mission's success. ALSO READ: Anyone out there? Astronomers find signs of life on distant planet Universe exploration Reflecting on MeerKAT's remarkable capabilities and its collaborative observations with the EVN, SARAO Managing Director Pontsho Maruping said the telescope has been highly successful in its mission to explore the radio sky with unprecedented detail, capturing images of some of the universe's largest-scale structures. 'At the same time, we strongly emphasise collaborating with other instruments as we continue to develop MeerKAT's scientific capabilities before its eventual integration into the SKA-Mid telescope'. 'Great achievement' Jive Council Chair Jessica Dempsey applauded the 'great' achievement by the SARAO team. 'This collaboration not only showcases the power of international partnerships in radio astronomy but also paves the way for transformative scientific discoveries through cutting-edge technological innovation.' The achievement is not just a technological milestone; it is also a powerful example of global scientific unity, with South Africa proudly at the forefront of the world's expanding window on the universe. ALSO READ: SA takes giant leap with Prime telescope to enhance exoplanet discovery [VIDEO]
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Astronomers fear impact of Musk's Starlink on South Africa mega-telescope observations
By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN: Astronomers working with South Africa's SKA telescope are pushing authorities to ensure that any licensing agreement with Elon Musk 's Starlink will protect their groundbreaking observations, a senior scientist said. Discussions to bring Musk's internet service Starlink in South Africa have already been contentious, with parent company SpaceX criticising local shareholding laws while backing equity equivalent programmes. South Africa said it will review its Information and Communication Technology sector rules but will not back down on government policies to transform the economy three decades after white-minority rule ended. Scientists fear South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid), the world's most powerful radio telescope together with another array co-hosted in Australia, will have their sensitive space observations distorted by Starlink's low-orbiting satellites. "It will be like shining a spotlight into someone's eyes, blinding us to the faint radio signals from celestial bodies," Federico Di Vruno, co-chair of International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, told Reuters in a telephone interview. Di Vruno said the SKA Observatory, where he is spectrum manager, and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) were lobbying for license requirements to reduce the impact on observations in certain frequency ranges, including some that SKA-Mid uses. That could direct Starlink to steer satellite beams away from SKA receivers or stop transmission for a few seconds to minimise interference, he said. South Africa's current SKA antennae, in the remote Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, use the 350 megahertz to 15.4 gigahertz bandwidth, a range also used by most satellite operators for downlinks. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa regulator and Starlink did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the scientists' concerns. MAJOR OBSERVATIONS South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to SKA-Mid which will be incorporated into the larger instrument, has already discovered a rare giant radio galaxy that is 32 times the size of the Milky Way. Last year, it found 49 new galaxies in under three hours, according to SARAO. SKA Observatory, an international body, also campaigns for conditions on licensing agreements with other major satellite operators such as Amazon and Eutelsat's OneWeb to ensure quiet skies amid a boom in new satellite launches. "We are trying to follow different technical and regulatory avenues to mitigate this issue on the global stage," Di Vruno said.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Astronomers fear impact of Musk's Starlink on South Africa mega-telescope observations
By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -Astronomers working with South Africa's SKA telescope are pushing authorities to ensure that any licensing agreement with Elon Musk's Starlink will protect their groundbreaking observations, a senior scientist said. Discussions to bring Musk's internet service Starlink in South Africa have already been contentious, with parent company SpaceX criticising local shareholding laws while backing equity equivalent programmes. Attaching astronomy-linked licensing conditions may further complicate attempts to introduce Starlink to the country of Musk's birth, where he has already said he is deterred by government Black empowerment policies. South Africa said it will review its Information and Communication Technology sector rules but will not back down on government policies to transform the economy three decades after white-minority rule ended. Scientists fear South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid), the world's most powerful radio telescope together with another array co-hosted in Australia, will have their sensitive space observations distorted by Starlink's low-orbiting satellites. "It will be like shining a spotlight into someone's eyes, blinding us to the faint radio signals from celestial bodies," Federico Di Vruno, co-chair of International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, told Reuters in a telephone interview. Di Vruno said the SKA Observatory, where he is spectrum manager, and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) were lobbying for license requirements to reduce the impact on observations in certain frequency ranges, including some that SKA-Mid uses. That could direct Starlink to steer satellite beams away from SKA receivers or stop transmission for a few seconds to minimise interference, he said. South Africa's current SKA antennae, in the remote Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, use the 350 megahertz to 15.4 gigahertz bandwidth, a range also used by most satellite operators for downlinks. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa regulator and Starlink did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the scientists' concerns. MAJOR OBSERVATIONS South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to SKA-Mid which will be incorporated into the larger instrument, has already discovered a rare giant radio galaxy that is 32 times the size of the Milky Way. Last year, it found 49 new galaxies in under three hours, according to SARAO. SKA Observatory, an international body, also campaigns for conditions on licensing agreements with other major satellite operators such as Amazon and Eutelsat's OneWeb to ensure quiet skies amid a boom in new satellite launches. "We are trying to follow different technical and regulatory avenues to mitigate this issue on the global stage," Di Vruno said.
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
UKZN's youngest PhD graduate 'unlocks secrets of gravity'
At 26 years old, Dr Shavani Naicker was the youngest doctoral graduate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) during its 2025 autumn graduation ceremonies — an achievement earned with a PhD in applied mathematics, specialising in astrophysics. Naicker's academic journey has been entirely home-grown, completing her BSc, BSc Honours and MSc degrees at UKZN — all summa cum laude. UKZN said her doctoral research, conducted under the guidance of Prof Sunil Maharaj and Dr Byron Brassel through the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC), delved into the intricate theories of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, part of Lovelock gravity, a higher-dimensional extension of Einstein's General Relativity. 'Lovelock gravity introduces higher-order curvature terms into the equations of gravity,' said Naicker. 'Studying these helps us understand gravitational interactions in extreme conditions, such as near black holes or in the early universe. My work contributes to uncovering the gravitational dynamics of astrophysical objects in higher dimensions, which could address some of the unresolved questions in cosmology and quantum gravity.' UKZN said her work produced new exact solutions to complex field equations — earning praise for its potential to shed light on how stars and black holes behave in extreme conditions. Maharaj, director of the ARC, called her research 'critical in understanding gravitational phenomena' and said it offers 'deep insights into the behaviour of stellar models'. Brassel, who taught and supervised Naicker over the years, described her as 'an astute student' and said he hopes their collaboration continues. Naicker is now a postdoctoral fellow at the ARC, supported by the National Research Foundation, and aims to one day become its director. Her work aligns with major scientific projects such as the MeerKAT and Square Kilometre Array telescopes. 'Obtaining a PhD in applied mathematics with a specialisation in relativistic astrophysics is the realisation of a lifelong dream,' said Naicker. 'It stands as testament to years of hard work, resilience and an enduring curiosity about the universe. I hope my journey inspires others — especially young women — to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.'
