CONTENTSOctober 2021 • Volume 93 • Issue 10

COVER STORY

30LIGHTANDPOWER While much of the world has improved when it comes to access to electricty, sub-Saharan Africa has fallen behind by a huge margin, a fact that touches every facet of people’s lives there. But change can happen with the right policies in place.

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LAST DROPS IN BENGALARU As crucial groundwater gradually runs out, Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, is grappling with a set of chronic water problems.

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UNCHARTED WATERS Tommy Trenchard joins a research expedition to the Saya de Malha Bank in the Indian Ocean.

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THE BLUE WONDER Marine biologist Frauke Bagusche reveals the wondrous world of plankton.

56 Find out more about the benefits of joining at www.rgs.org/joinus

RGS panel

Find out more about the benefits of joining at www. rgs.org/joinus

A LIFELONG OBSESSION Carnivorous-plant expert Mateusz Wrazidlo fulfils an ambition by ascending South America’s Mount Roraima.

DEPARTMENTS WORLDWATCH 8 Social media conservation 10 Soil carbon credits; Climatewatch 11 Saildrone mapping 12 Hotspot: Escaping Afghanistan 14 Cartogram: Climate zones 16 Gallery: Sacred Nature 2 18 Research round-up

REGULARS 52 Geo-graphic: Urbanisation 54 Geo-photographer: Anastasia Taylor-Lind 62 Gallery: Earth Photo 68 Reviews 72 Where in the World? 73 Crossword 74 In Society 75 RGS–IBG events 76 Discovering Britain 78 RGS-IBG archive 82 Next month: COP 26

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