News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Jun-2025 11:10 ET (18-Jun-2025 15:10 GMT/UTC)

2-May-2022

Enzymes discovered in capybara gut can accelerate utilization of agroindustrial waste

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

Brazilian researchers discovered, characterized and validated the functions of two novel enzyme families with biotechnological potential.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

28-Apr-2022

Combination of weak muscles and abdominal obesity can be an early sign of functional decline in men

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

Study suggests that early detection of functional decline – the dwindling capacity to perform everyday tasks independently – is possible by observing patients as they engage in simple actions such as sitting down and getting up from a chair, standing still, and walking a short distance. The findings are valid mainly for men with abdominal obesity combined with loss of muscle strength.

Journal

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

27-Apr-2022

Study points to physical principles that underlie quantum Darwinism

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

Although quantum theory is probabilistic and in general permits different results for a measurement, independent observers monitoring the same system see the same result . To explain this, “quantum Darwinism” posits that when all observers agree about what they see, they tend to regard this as objective knowledge of the system’s intrinsic properties, but things may not be quite what they seem.

Journal

Quantum

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

26-Apr-2022

Animals essential to seed dispersal are the first to disappear owing to deforestation

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

Large mammals and birds that can swallow fruit of different sizes are crucial to assure rich animal-plant interactions, thanks to which forests thrive, according to a study conducted at São Paulo State University.

Journal

Biotropica

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

25-Apr-2022

The first scientific expedition to Panama’s unexplored Cordillera de Coiba sets sail

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Business Announcement

Scientists, students and communicators from Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Spain will spend twelve days on the high seas exploring the biodiversity of Panama’s Cordillera de Coiba seamounts

Funder

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Collatos Family Foundation, Hothem Family, Mission Blue, Re:wild, Wyss Foundation

20-Apr-2022

Local committees help close gap between climate information and better farmers’ harvests

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

A co-author of a recent IPCC report says that there is still work to be done to bring farmers the climate information they need to adapt to climate change. Research from the Alliance shows that community-based climate risk management committees can help

20-Apr-2022

Research reveals how gut microbiota imbalance can lead to Parkinson’s disease

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

Research on the microbiomes present in the human organism is advancing rapidly, as is scientists’ understanding of the links between an imbalance in gut microbiota and neurodegenerative disorders, from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to autism. Dietary changes aimed at restoring a balance to the gut, as well as non-invasive transplantation of microbiota using capsules, can be important strategies to prevent these diseases.

Journal

iScience

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

19-Apr-2022

Deforestation of Indigenous lands could prevent Brazil from achieving climate change mitigation targets

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

The warning comes from a letter by Brazilian researchers published in the journal Science, highlighting the “dramatic increase” in deforestation in areas of the Amazon that should act as shields against such destruction.

Journal

Science

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

18-Apr-2022

Chiral gold nanoparticles increase vaccine efficacy by more than 25%, study suggests

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

Researcheres tested the nanoparticles on human immune cells cultured in vitro and found that the chiral nanoparticles induced production of substances associated with an immune response even in the absence of an antigen.

Journal

Nature

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

12-Apr-2022

Risk of obesity is 45% higher among adolescents whose diet is based on ultra-processed food products

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

The finding by Brazilian researchers was based on data for 3,587 adolescents who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Another finding of concern is a 63% higher risk of visceral obesity, which correlates closely with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Journal

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo