News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Jan-2026 01:11 ET (3-Jan-2026 06:11 GMT/UTC)

2-Jan-2026

Allowing coral reef fish stocks recover could feed millions

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study shows that allowing coral reef fish populations to recover could help fight global hunger, meeting seafood intake requirements for millions more people worldwide

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

19-Dec-2025

Four years after the Mariana mining disaster in Brazil, river fish remained contaminated

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A comprehensive analysis conducted in 2019 detected the accumulation of 13 heavy metals and other toxic substances, advising against consumption due to risks to human health.

Journal

Total Environment Advances

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

19-Dec-2025

Potentially toxic elements in bananas grown in the Mariana disaster region exceed FAO limits

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The study also assessed the risks of consuming cocoa and cassava grown in Linhares, a municipality in an area affected by the Fundão dam collapse in Minas Gerais, Brazil, ten years ago. The research group warns that continued consumption of food grown in contaminated soil may pose a carcinogenic risk due to the long-term accumulation of potentially toxic elements in the body

Journal

Environmental Geochemistry and Health

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

18-Dec-2025

Latin American research indicates a lower prevalence of a type of head and neck cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

After analyzing over 1,400 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the study found that more aggressive histopathological variants occur at a rate of 4.6%. Previous estimates pointed to a rate of up to 15%.

Journal

Annals of Diagnostic Pathology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

18-Dec-2025

Bromeliads promote plant diversity in the forest by enriching the soil with nutrients

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Water accumulated in the tanks of these plants living high up in trees has much higher concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and iron than rainwater. Plants irrigated with this nutrient-rich water produced almost twice as many leaves.

Journal

Plant and Soil

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

17-Dec-2025

The COVID-19 virus manipulates host cell RNA to shut down the immune system

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A study by the Federal University of São Paulo describes how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the RNA of infected lung cells in an unprecedented way. The results may guide the search for new treatments and vaccines.

Journal

NAR Molecular Medicine

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

17-Dec-2025

Obesity and inflammation may accelerate lung aging and increase the risk of COPD

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A study of nearly 900 adults indicates that although smoking is still the main risk factor for lung function loss, systemic inflammation and obesity also increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Journal

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

12-Dec-2025

Abdominal obesity and muscle loss increase the risk of death by 83% after age 50

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

A study of more than 5,000 people over 12 years showed that simple measures to assess the two conditions can facilitate the diagnosis of sarcopenic obesity without complex tests, such as MRI and CT scans. This finding expands access to treatment for older adults.

Journal

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

12-Dec-2025

Eight sessions of non-invasive brain stimulation improve postural response in people with Parkinson’s disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

A study conducted at São Paulo State University indicates that the non-invasive technique provides lasting benefits by reducing the risk of falls. The study involved 22 volunteers with Parkinson's. disease

Journal

Gait & Posture

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

11-Dec-2025

Smallholder farms maintain strong pollinator diversity – even when far from forests

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new analysis shows that most smallholder farms are not facing pollinator crises, unlike many industrial farms. The results hold up even when farms are far from forests or other natural habitats. Researchers said the findings suggest that on-farm plant biodiversity - even in fragmented landscapes - may be behind the findings. The research may hold lessons for industrial farming facing pollinator crises.

Journal

Ecology Letters