On Ecuador's coast, ancestral heritage and modern tourism coexist in a dynamic, often challenging interplay. While global tourism leans toward the dominance of large corporations and international travel flows, rural and Indigenous communities face the challenge of adapting without losing their identity and roots. This study explored how coastal Ecuadorian communities are redefining tourism on their own terms, prioritizing collectivity and cultural values over commercial norms. Through a decolonial lens, local tourism ventures are analyzed as acts of resistance and cultural preservation in an environment that typically demands conformity to market-driven rules. 

The School is aimed at a broad audience that includes students with a keen interest in complexity or bio-inspired applications, information science and quantum materials. Registrations are due on February 15, 2025.

Researchers at the University of São Paulo found 62 proteins specific to spores of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal species that causes lung disease. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, showed that at least one of these proteins inhibits human defense mechanisms.

An analysis of 429 specimens belonging to 39 species representative of the diversity of Polistes in the Americas confirmed the inverse of Bergmann’s rule by pointing to larger body size for species occurring in or near the tropics compared with species inhabiting higher latitudes.

Researchers partnering with the City of Guarujá (São Paulo state) conducted a study that found a high level of contamination on Perequê Beach, with plastics and cigarette butts predominating. The results will be useful for policymakers to implement measures that can mitigate the problem.

A recent study conducted by scientists at ESPOL has unveiled the biotechnological potential of microorganisms from Antarctica. In this remote continent, where life thrives under extreme conditions, researchers isolated 77 microbial strains from 162 cultures, identifying 49 species, predominantly actinomycetes (66.23%). Sampling conducted at the Great Wall and Henryk Arctowski stations revealed a rich diversity of microorganisms, especially in areas covered with mosses and lichens, where organic matter appears to support their proliferation. 

Plant-based pigment with antioxidant and anticancer properties breaks down easily in the gastrointestinal tract and under adverse environmental conditions. To avoid the problem, researchers at the University of São Paulo inserted the compound into pectin-coated nanoparticles, enhancing its bioavailability.

The study was conducted at the Federal University of São Paulo and involved 144 diabetic patients, who were treated with monochromatic infrared light and physical therapy.

The inventory identified some 1,000 landslide points in São Sebastião (São Paulo state, Brazil). The research group is now using airborne laser scanning and other data inputs to create a methodology capable of more precise results.