News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Oct-2025 02:11 ET (8-Oct-2025 06:11 GMT/UTC)

4-Oct-2024

Life on Earth was more diverse than classical theory suggests 800 million years ago, a Brazilian study shows

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

According to an article published in the journal PNAS, different lineages of amoebae and ancestors of plants, algae and animals were already established in the Neoproterozoic period and survived the two glaciations that covered the entire planet.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

3-Oct-2024

Asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs led to the invention of ‘ant agriculture’

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

When the dust that covered the skies 66 million years ago prevented plants from photosynthesizing and benefited creatures that fed on decomposing organic matter, these insects selected species that could fill their nutrient void, confirms a study published in Science.

Journal

Science

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

3-Oct-2024

In rats, intrauterine exposure to cannabinoid affected cardiorespiratory function and sleep quality in adulthood

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

Brazilian researchers analyzed behavioral and physiological factors in animals whose mothers received a synthetic substance that activates the same receptors as marijuana during pregnancy. The consequences were different in males and females.

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

2-Oct-2024

Peptide synthesized at University of São Paulo acts as molecular shield to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting cells

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

The synthetic peptide was inspired by ACE2, the protein to which the virus that causes COVID-19 binds to invade human cells. The results point to a route for the development of novel antivirals.

Journal

Antiviral Research

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

1-Oct-2024

Pollination changes after hurricane in Caribbean

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

Hurricane Maria killed so many Purple-throated caribs, sole pollinator of two species of heliconia, that other birds were able to gain access to the plants, according to an article in New Phytologist, which concludes that species extinction is a far more complex process than is often thought.

Journal

New Phytologist

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

30-Sep-2024

Pantanal Study shows how emissions from Brazilian Pantanal’s soda lakes contribute to climate change

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

Characterized by high pH and salinity, these water bodies have practically dried up because of rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and wildfires. The findings show how the local microbial community and other factors influence greenhouse gas emissions.

Journal

Science of The Total Environment

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

27-Sep-2024

New composite based on brewery waste to improve the production of fiberboards

Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral

Globally, the food industry generates around 1.3 billion tons of waste per year, which has caused environmental problems such as habitat loss, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and pollution. The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) has estimated that in Ecuador, approximately 14.4 thousand tons of waste are generated despite regulated legislation, and the brewing industry accounts for a significant portion of this. 

Journal

Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering

27-Sep-2024

Strategy to combat breast cancer involves two-pronged attack on enzyme that ‘feeds’ tumor

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

Promising results were obtained by a group at the Brazilian Center for Research on Energy and Materials (CNPEM), working with collaborators elsewhere. They combined inhibition of glutaminase, an enzyme that converts glutamine into nutrients for tumor cells, with inhibition of HuR, a protein that regulates the RNA of glutaminase.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

26-Sep-2024

Presence of bacteria in soil makes flowers more attractive to pollinators, study shows

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

Experiments conducted at the Federal University of the ABC showed that nitrogen-fixing bacteria play a key role in the reproduction of a legume native to Brazil.

Journal

American Journal of Botany

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

26-Sep-2024

New laboratory enhances agricultural resilience through partnerships in Tanzania

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture

A cutting-edge laboratory in Arusha, Tanzania, co-managed by the Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, is set to provide research and service facility with access to advanced disease diagnostics, nutrition analysis and biotechnology research that are crucial for adapting to climate change.