News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Dec-2025 16:11 ET (21-Dec-2025 21:11 GMT/UTC)

1-Mar-2023

Study reinforces potential use of zika virus to combat prostate cancer but points to possible side-effect

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

When researchers at the State University of Campinas analyzed zika’s effects on normal and cancer cells, they discovered that while the virus can be used to treat the disease, it may trigger a harmful inflammatory process and damage the male reproductive system.

Journal

Journal of Proteome Research

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

28-Feb-2023

Novel method of analyzing microplastic particle pollution can facilitate environmental impact assessment

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

An article by three Brazilian researchers published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research aims to contribute to progress in this field by proposing a novel perspective on particle morphology.

Journal

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

22-Feb-2023

Yeast used in production of cachaça can prevent asthma, study shows

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

Brazilian researchers conducted preclinical trials involving mice to find the ideal dose and administration regime. The results suggest high daily doses of the probiotic are needed to obtain the benefit.

Journal

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins

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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

16-Feb-2023

Study shows that COVID-19 virus can be detected in tears sampled by ocular swab

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

The research group has now begun working on a new line that focuses on detecting other viral diseases by means of tests and analyses relating to the eyes. The scientists collected samples by conjunctival swab and Schirmer strip, normally used to determine whether the eye produces enough tears.

Journal

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

16-Feb-2023

Rural population in Brazil is underestimated and lacks political representation, scientists warn

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Book Announcement

A book chapter by researchers at the Federal University of the ABC shows that scant progress has been achieved in addressing the concentration of land tenure in Brazil since the return to civilian rule in 1985. For the authors, extreme inequality and a lack of public policies to combat it are the main causes of rural conflict and violence.

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

15-Feb-2023

Novel technique distinguishes between types of oral bone lesion based on MRI scan image texture

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

First study to identify pixel and voxel organizational parameters in MRI scans of two different (albeit similar) benign tumors may contribute to development of more accurate, less invasive diagnosis.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

14-Feb-2023

Number of fires in Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was highest since 2010

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

A Brazilian study identified more than 74,000 active fires in the period. They were not mainly due to extreme drought, the foremost cause of the spate of forest fires seen in 2010. Half of the Amazon is typically vulnerable to fire in the two-month period analyzed. Human action was the main cause of the recent destruction.

Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

13-Feb-2023

Snakes are distributed in the Chaco in accordance with adaptations to environment, study shows

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

The Banded pampas snake, Phimophis vittatus, lives in the dry part of the Paraguayan Chaco. It has fossorial habits, as evidenced by its reduced eyes and modified rostral scale (snout), which is shaped like an upturned spade and adapted for burrowing.

Journal

Ecology and Evolution

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

9-Feb-2023

São Paulo to host Advanced School on Multi-Messenger Astrophysics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Meeting Announcement

The event will bring together world-renowned researchers to expand on this emerging new area of astrophysics related to hidden aspects of extreme phenomena. Registrations are due on March 17.

9-Feb-2023

Biogas produced with waste from apple juice making can minimize use of fossil fuels in industry

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

A study by Brazilian researchers shows that the use of bioenergy avoids greenhouse gas emissions. Another benefit of their bioreactor is conversion of apple pomace into organic fertilizer.

Journal

Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo