News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 5-May-2025 15:09 ET (5-May-2025 19:09 GMT/UTC)

22-Nov-2022

Artificial intelligence helps detect gait alterations and diagnose Parkinson’s disease

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

Researchers at São Paulo State University tested machine learning techniques to estimate parameters such as step length, width and velocity. The method makes clinical diagnosis more precise and can determine the stage reached in progression of the disease.

Journal

Gait & Posture

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

21-Nov-2022

New studies enrich knowledge of genetic factors that naturally protect people against COVID-19

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

A team at a FAPESP-supported research center investigated over-90s who were resilient to SARS-CoV-2 and identical twins who had severe COVID-19 with different outcomes, including long COVID. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of vaccines and treatments for this and other viral diseases.

Journal

Frontiers in Immunology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

18-Nov-2022

Cultural heritage may influence choice of tools by capuchin monkeys, study suggests

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

The tools are pieces of quartzite and sandstone found in places referred to as processing sites. The animals frequent these sites solely to look for these stones for use as hammers and anvils. One stone is used to pound a nut or seed resting on another stone used as an anvil.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

17-Nov-2022

Climate crisis and anthropic pressure are destabilizing the Pantanal

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

Brazilian researchers investigated the complexity of the world’s largest wetland biome, predicting heavier rainfall and longer dry periods, and proposing six guidelines for sustainable governance of the region.

Journal

Journal of South American Earth Sciences

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

16-Nov-2022

Review of more than 1,000 articles seeks to understand how nanomaterials affect plants

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

The analysis reviewed 1,154 original scientific articles published between 2009 and 2022 on the effects of nanomaterials in 1,374 plants belonging to 253 species.

Journal

Environmental Science Nano

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

10-Nov-2022

Planting and management of improved grass in tropical savannas can increase soil carbon by 15 percent, new paper finds

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists in Colombia show that well managed pasture can store more soil carbon while reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions to offset the climate impact of livestock.

Journal

Frontiers in Climate

9-Nov-2022

SARS-CoV-2 alters RNA in infected cells, study reveals

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

An article by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo describes how the functioning of RNA changes in cells infected by the COVID-19 virus. The findings provide clues as to how different variants can escape the immune system, and serve as a basis for the development of novel treatments.

Journal

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

8-Nov-2022

Tiger sharks that interact with tourists are larger and have higher hormone levels, study shows

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

Based on spatial use data collected during a period of 90 days, the researchers were able to identify the Tiger sharks that spent more time in the diving area, to which they were attracted by being fed.

Journal

Animal Behaviour

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

4-Nov-2022

Fire in the Amazon is associated more with agricultural burning and deforestation than with drought

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

Conclusion came from a Brazilian study that analyzed active fire occurrences between 2003 and 2020 in the nine countries with Amazon Rainforest areas. Brazil accounted on average for 73% of the fires detected in the period.

Journal

Global Ecology and Biogeography

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

3-Nov-2022

Novel single-crystal production method opens up promising avenues for studies in solid-state physics

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

A large supply of high-quality monocrystals is of the utmost importance to the study of the intrinsic physical properties of materials.The most widely used method of growing single crystals of intermetallic compounds is known as chemical vapor transport .

Journal

Journal of Crystal Growth