A computational model predicts the path of light radiation within the body to tailor noninvasive therapies to each patient’s anatomy.

As the 2030 deadline for global biodiversity targets approaches, Chilean researchers at COP17 are calling for urgent action to turn international commitments into effective conservation measures. Aníbal Pauchard and Ricardo Segovia of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) highlight the need for increased conservation funding, stronger regional cooperation, and robust scientific monitoring tools to address biodiversity loss and assess progress toward global goals.

International study reveals that the maturation of secondary forests naturally reduces the density of non-native trees and restores ecosystems.

Pollution from anthropogenic waste in marine ecosystems has reached critical levels, with cigarette butts (CBs) being one of the most persistent and harmful pollutants. Globally, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, making them the most common type of litter on beaches over the past three decades. This material, composed primarily of cellulose acetate (a non-biodegradable plastic), acts as a reservoir for more than 7,000 toxic compounds, including nicotine and heavy metals, which threaten the integrity of food webs through processes of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In this context, the study conducted in the municipality of Ayangue, Ecuador, stands out as a milestone in the literature on co-created citizen science, positioning children as the protagonists of local environmental governance.

Researchers at Chile’s Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) identified 87 bird species and 27 sites of biocultural significance in the Río Cruces Wetland by combining scientific research with local and traditional knowledge. Published in Ecology & Society, the study explores how community memories, relationships with birds, and connections to territory can contribute to wetland conservation. Conducted in collaboration with local communities, the research found that residents identified 73% of the bird species recorded in the wetland sanctuary and that 93% of the sites of biocultural significance lay outside its boundaries. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing local knowledge and biocultural memory to strengthen community-based conservation.

A study conducted by researchers from ESPOL, the University of Cagliari (Italy) and the Technical University of Manabí (UTM) used satellite radar images to investigate subtle ground movements at Guagua Pichincha, Rucu Pichincha, Pululahua and Cayambe between 2017 and 2024.

For the first time, research reveals the food subsistence strategies of these communities, which involved sophisticated land use practices that incorporated various species. Previously, it was believed that these populations were either hunter-gatherers or monoculture farmers.