News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Dec-2025 02:11 ET (14-Dec-2025 07:11 GMT/UTC)

24-Feb-2022

Vaccination has changed the profile of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and those who die from the disease

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

Brazilian researchers analyzed data for 2,777 patients hospitalized between January 5 and September 12, 2021. For those who had been fully vaccinated, being over 60 and having kidney failure were the sole predictors of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Journal

Journal of Infection

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

23-Feb-2022

Smelly ocelot habitats may scare off seed-dispersing rodents

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An experiment in Panama’s Parque Natural Metropolitano and Gamboa revealed that agoutis were less likely to disperse and pilfer seeds in sites where ferocious felines roam

Journal

Behavioral Ecology

Funder

Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado at the University of Panama

23-Feb-2022

Substance analogous to cannabidiol can enhance chemotherapy by preventing neuropathic pain

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

In a study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo involving experiments on mice, the synthetic substance not only prevented the neuropathic pain typically induced by chemo drugs but was also beneficial against cancer.

Journal

Neurotherapeutics

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

21-Feb-2022

Properly managed fire enhances functional diversity and carbon fixation in savannas

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

A study led by Brazilian researchers measured species numbers and attributes, as well as carbon dynamics, in two areas of the Brazilian savanna – one is regularly burned and no fires have occurred in the other for 16 years.

Journal

Science of The Total Environment

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

17-Feb-2022

Scientists use “green” solvent and natural pigment to produce bioplastic

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

The process is sustainable and is described by researchers at universities in Brazil and Portugal in the journal Green Chemistry. The article is one of those highlighted as “hot” by the journal’s editors and referees.

Journal

Green Chemistry

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

16-Feb-2022

Researchers locate novel targets for development of male contraceptive

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

A group at São Paulo State University (UNESP) is working on pharmacological strategies to block sperm motility.

Journal

Molecular Human Reproduction

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

15-Feb-2022

Study shows high prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after COVID-19

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

Brazilian researchers tracked 425 patients for six to nine months after hospital discharge. Over half reported memory decline, and tests showed significant cognitive impairments in the group.

Journal

General Hospital Psychiatry

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

10-Feb-2022

Study describes challenges and opportunities for detection of high-frequency gravitational waves

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

Detection of high-frequency gravitational waves would offer knowledge of phases of the early Universe not accessible to investigation based on electromagnetic waves, potentially paving the way to a new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Journal

Living Reviews in Relativity

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

9-Feb-2022

Study shows link between child poverty and mental health disorders in adulthood

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

Children and young adults with externalizing disorders are more likely to fall behind in learning, social development and the job market.

Journal

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

9-Feb-2022

Equations might help make better agriculture funding decisions

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

An agricultural researcher at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT has developed a mathematical method that might help better allocate resources across different policies and projects in agricultural research.

Journal

PLOS One