News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 7-Aug-2025 08:11 ET (7-Aug-2025 12:11 GMT/UTC)

30-May-2018

Sugarcane pest produces foam to protect itself from heat

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

Brazilian researchers found that the root spittlebug nymph produces bubbles by feeding on sap, to form a thermal insulator foam that maintains an optimal body temperatures during development. Knowledge of the foam's physical and chemical properties can pave the way for research on compounds that could destabilize the bubbles and eliminate the pests' nymphs in the process.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

28-May-2018

Research enhances enzyme that degrades plastic

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

Brazilians participate in international project to boost capacity of PETase of breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used in bottles and responsible for producing millions of tons of waste.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

25-May-2018

Group of Brazilian researchers achieves almost instant magnetization of matter by light

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

In an experiment described in Physical Review Letters, a single photon aligned the spins of 6,000 electrons in only 50 picoseconds. The result offers prospects for technological applications in the electronic component industry.

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

24-May-2018

Revealed mechanism behind citrus canker bacteria's defense system for predators

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

A study published by Brazilian researchers describes one of Xanthomonas citri's secretion systems and a signaling pathway that enhances its resistance against amoebae. Investigations might contribute for future forms of intervening and putting a stop on the development of X. citri, known for its persistency.

Journal

Environmental Microbiology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

23-May-2018

Overweight and obesity make up for more than 15,000 cancer cases per year in Brazil

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

A collaboration between Brazilian university and Harvard assessed the impact of the rise in body mass index over health indicators and can serve as a basis for public policy. The study can serve as basis for public policies, such as a higher degree of regulation on ultraprocessed foods market, whose sales in Latin America increased over 100 percent since year 2000.

Journal

Cancer Epidemiology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

22-May-2018

New network is installed to investigate space weather over South America

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

Magnetometer network identifies magnetic field disturbances that can cause interference in electronic appliances, power grids and satellite navigation systems. Using the data collected by the network, Brazilian researchers work on the development of a specific magnetic K-index for South America.

Journal

Radio Science

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

21-May-2018

Extrasolar asteroid has been orbiting the sun for 4.5 billion years

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

The object is revolving around the sun in the vicinity of Jupiter but in the opposite direction from most other celestial bodies, according to a study featuring a Brazilian scientist as co-author. Through a computer simulation, the study shows that the orbit has been stable since the giant planets were formed.

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

17-May-2018

International consortium wants to sequence the DNA of 1.5 million species

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

The purposes and the challenges of Earth Biogenome Project, which aims at sequencing the genome from all eukaryotic species, are described in article at PNAS. Objectives include not only biodiversity conservation but also exploring biotechnology's broad applications, capable of generating great economic input - especially for developing countries boasting rich ecological heritage.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

16-May-2018

Mechanism underlying malformation associated with severe epilepsy is revealed

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

Study suggests dysregulation of gene NEUROG2 could be linked to development of focal cortical dysplasia, one of the most common causes of drug-resistant epilepsy. NEUROG2 is involved in cell differentiation and, when overexpressed, it maintains the neurogenesis signal active into adulthood, what helps explaining the presence of abnormal neurons and glial cells in patients' brains.

Journal

Annals of Neurology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

15-May-2018

Key enzyme for production of second-generation ethanol discovered in Brazilian Amazon

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

Protein encoded by gene found in microorganisms living in Amazon lake could boost efficiency on the sugarcane bagasse saccharification process, which makes for up to 50% of the global costs of cellulosic ethanol production.

Journal

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP