There is increased evidence that extracellular DNA – genetic material released from bacteria killed during the treatment process – may act as a previously underappreciated reservoir of antibiotic resistance. Researchers from Stellenbosch University found evidence of genetic material from two major bacterial groups, commonly known to exhibit high-risk resistance profiles, in wastewater samples from a large South Africa city.

The Faculty of Science conferred a record number of 71 doctoral degrees during 2025. 53.5% of the 2025 cohort are women, graduating with PhDs in the fundamental sciences.

Dr Anneke Erasmus is one of 6 women scientists to graduate with a PhD in Physics during Stellenbosch University’s March graduation ceremony this week. She had to overcome several setbacks, including loadshedding and a burst water pipe, while experimenting with optical trapping – a technique that uses lasers to hold microscopically small particles in place.

An Integration Bee is a competitive mathematics event modelled after a spelling bee, in which participants rapidly evaluate indefinite and definite integrals from calculus, typically without calculators or reference materials. Raaid Fajander, a second-year student in Mechatronics Engineering, and Brock van der Westhuizen, a third-year student in Electric and Electronic Engineering, were the winner and runner-up after a week of nail-biting face-offs between the top 8 contenders.

A newly described African species in the magic mushroom family confirms its evolutionary origin as from Africa. Psilocybe ochraceocentrata last shared a common ancestor with P. cubensis approximately 1.5 million years ago. Study sheds new light on the wild origins of domesticated P. cubensis and provide new genetic resources for research on psychedelic mushrooms.

The last benchmark survey was done over two decades ago. The invasive weeping bottlebrush has already established in a substantial stretch of the river and is spreading rapidly. Key data on native species that persist adjacent to invasives will offer insights on options for management.

LMU-SU workshop on Random Discrete Structures

Hackathon hosted by the Stellenbosch University Developer Society

The Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of antimicrobial-resistance deaths worldwide. New strategies are urgently needed to fight these multi-drug resistance bacteria. Grant signifies a significant investment in Stellenbosch University’s ability to develop novel therapeutic drugs.

Prof Yin-Zhe Ma holds a joint research chair in computational astronomy