News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2025 19:10 ET (21-Jun-2025 23:10 GMT/UTC)

2-Mar-2021

Model describes interactions between light and mechanical vibration in microcavities

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

Study by researchers at the University of Campinas published in Physical Review Letters discusses both light dispersion by vibrations inside the device and light dissipation to the exterior, an aspect rarely studied hitherto.

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Funder

São Paulo Research Foundation (FIESP)

1-Mar-2021

A research group proposes six guidelines for managing the impacts of invasive species

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

Researchers in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the UK are participating in the initiative. Results are published in the journal BioScience.

Journal

BioScience

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

1-Mar-2021

Behavior of wild capuchin monkeys can be identified by marks left on their tools

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

Scientists who study capuchin monkeys on a nature reserve in Brazil found that stone tools are used for digging, seed pounding, and stone-on-stone percussion. The monkeys can serve as a model to help understand how humans evolved to use tools.

Journal

Journal of Archaeological Science

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

24-Feb-2021

Over 80% of Atlantic Rainforest remnants have been impacted by human activity

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

Researchers estimated biodiversity and biomass losses in the biome using data from 1,819 forest inventories. In terms of carbon storage, the losses correspond to the destruction of 70,000 km² of forest.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

23-Feb-2021

Models to predict dengue, zika and yellow fever outbreaks are developed by researchers

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

Scientists will monitor areas in which these diseases are endemic, such as São Paulo, the Amazon, the Pantanal and Panama, to investigate the factors that trigger outbreaks (monkey being examined in Manaus área.

Journal

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

22-Feb-2021

First DNA extracted from modern, ancient and fossil tropical shells

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The next time you eat seafood, think about the long-term effects. Will consistently eating the biggest fish or the biggest conch, mean that only the smaller individuals will have a chance to reproduce?

Journal

Molecular Ecology Resources

18-Feb-2021

Is odor the secret to bats' sex appeal?

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A literature review revealed that odor-producing glands and tissues in bats may play a prominent role in mating behavior

Journal

Mammal Review

Funder

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela) and Boston University

18-Feb-2021

Increasing temperatures will hit meat and milk production in East Africa

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

Heat stress will detrimentally impact future livestock production in East Africa without urgent adaptation measures.

Journal

Nature Food

Funder

CGIAR Trust Fund, CGIAR Research Program on Livestock, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Programme for Climate-Smart Livestock (PCSL), Helmholtz Society Program 'Earth andEnvironment'

18-Feb-2021

South American lizard's blood pressure mechanism is more efficient at cool temperatures

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

The black and white tegu lizard, which depends on external environmental factors to regulate body temperature, can survive swings between 15 and 35 degrees Celsius in a single day while keeping blood pressure steady.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

16-Feb-2021

Application of potassium to grass used as cover crop guarantees higher-quality cotton

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

In an article, Brazilian researchers show that besides simplifying operational logistics and improving production, fertilization of the grass used as a cover crop can reduce fertilizer use in the long run.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab