Decline in health of SA businesses slows

Decline in health of SA businesses slows

The easing of lockdown restrictions helped ease the pace of decline in businesses’ health, according to new insight from Experian South Africa. Experian’s quarterly Business Debt Index (BDI) for quarter four (Q4) 2020 reflects the level of health of...
Digital transformation tops the staffing agenda in 2021

Digital transformation tops the staffing agenda in 2021

CIOs plan to increase their IT staffing so they can further accelerate digital initiatives this year. A recent survey by Gartner found that 55% of CIOs will up the total number of full-time employees (FTEs) in IT across the course of 2021. They will predominantly...
NASA’s Mars helicopter survives first cold Martian night on its own

NASA’s Mars helicopter survives first cold Martian night on its own

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has emerged from its first night on the surface of Mars. Evening temperatures at Jezero Crater can plunge as low as minus 90 degrees Celsius, which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components and damage the onboard batteries...
Self-healing living robots work together, record information

Self-healing living robots work together, record information

Scientists have created a new generation of biological – or living – robots that can assemble and heal themselves. The latest version of Xenobots are faster, live longer, and can now record information. Last year, a team of biologists and computer scientists...
Critical ICT skills are in short supply

Critical ICT skills are in short supply

South African organisations are still battling to attract and retain critical skills locally, with many turning to overseas markets to fill positions. This is among the findings from Xpatweb’s Critical Skills Survey 2020/21, which highlights the most in demand...
Solar installations to hit record 180GW in 2021

Solar installations to hit record 180GW in 2021

Solar PV installations are expected to post 27% year-on-year growth in 2021 amid strong demand despite increased module prices, long lead times and rising freight costs, according to a new report from IHS Markit. This comes at a time when the solar supply chain is...