Space & STEM in SA: Rooibos seeds are set for a pioneering trip to the International Space Station this October, with learners tracking germination and yield after exposure to microgravity and space radiation. Connectivity & telecoms: MTN topped South Africa’s mobile network performance rankings again in the latest MyBroadband Insights report, leading on download speeds and overall results while Vodacom retained the 5G crown but slipped overall. Engineering talent: Durban chemical engineering professor Amir Mohammadi was named South Africa’s top engineering scientist, recognised for research spanning sustainable energy, carbon capture and environmental engineering. Youth & jobs reality check: New research highlights the hidden cost of job hunting for unemployed young South Africans, with many forced to choose between essentials like food and the expenses of applying for work. Fintech & consumer safety: Financial literacy is being framed as “critical national infrastructure” as South Africans face debt pressure and rising digital fraud. Energy skills pipeline: Energy Transition Africa has selected 15 Pan-African fellows from eight countries to train on tackling the continent’s energy crisis. Water accountability: WaterCAN urges citizens to test and publish water quality results to hold authorities to account. Local innovation: Cape Town’s Acepak is pushing end-of-line packaging automation across Africa, aiming to help manufacturers keep production steady and faster. Mandela Day & ubuntu: A debate is growing over whether ubuntu is fading as inequality, costs and anti-immigration tensions reshape how people give and who they help.