News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Nov-2025 02:11 ET (8-Nov-2025 07:11 GMT/UTC)

30-Sep-2022

Study reveals main target of SARS-CoV-2 in brain and describes effects of virus on nervous system

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

Research by groups at the University of São Paulo and the State University of Campinas combined MRI scans of the brains of mild COVID-19 patients, analysis of brain tissue from people who died of the disease and experiments on human nerve cells infected in the laboratory.

Journal

PNAS Nexus

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

29-Sep-2022

Risk of urban tree falls is influenced by building height and neighborhood age, Brazilian study shows

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

Research conducted in São Paulo, the largest city in the southern hemisphere, also found sidewalk width and tree height to be key factors. The results will be used in tree management and urban planning.

Journal

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

28-Sep-2022

Fungus simultaneously combats two of the worst threats to banana plantation yields

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

Brazilian researchers and collaborators found that Beauveria caledonica can be used for biological control of banana borers and Fusarium wilt, which are serious threats to a tropical and subtropical crop of the highest economic importance. The soil fungus supplements traditional banana plantation management strategies.

Journal

Pest Management Science

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

28-Sep-2022

Brazilian soybean growers’ use of biofertilizer is highlighted by a leading science journal

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

According to the article, Brazil has had more success than any other country with the use of biofertilizer to provide nitrogen for soybeans. The inoculation of microorganisms into the soil boosts yields, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and saves some USD 10 billion per year in imports of synthetic fertilizer.

Journal

Frontiers in Microbiology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

27-Sep-2022

Radical action is needed for the climate. This means transforming the way we do science

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

Incremental change has not slowed the pace of the climate crisis. For researchers working with some of the hardest hit farmers in low- and middle-income countries, radical, transformative action is needed to speed up change

Journal

Environmental Research Climate

27-Sep-2022

Researchers identify genes potentially responsible for sugarcane’s resistance to pests, cold and drought

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

A study conducted at the State University of Campinas provides a foundation for future research to confirm identification of the best candidate genes for biotech applications such as insertion into commercially valuable plants and development of sugarcane varieties resistant to environmental pressures.

Journal

Frontiers in Plant Science

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

22-Sep-2022

Novel method to predict behavior of different COVID-19 waves in the vaccinated or previously infected

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

A study published in the journal Vaccines used samples from blood banks in seven Brazilian state capitals to measure levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the extent to which vaccines afford protection against the delta variant.

Journal

Vaccines

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

21-Sep-2022

The priorities for food-security research under extreme events

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

How can researchers help improve food security? To determine what questions to ask and how to prioritize, 69 food security experts, including scientists, governments, international institutions and NGOs, published a comprehensive set of research questions across different food-related domains that have the potential to bolster food security.

Journal

One Earth

20-Sep-2022

Protein restriction can be effective in combating obesity and diabetes, study suggests

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

Twenty-one patients with metabolic syndrome were given a calorie or protein restriction diet in a randomized clinical trial by Brazilian and Danish researchers. Weight loss, controlled blood pressure and improved blood sugar and lipid levels were observed in all participants.

Journal

Nutrients

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

20-Sep-2022

2022 Winners of World Cultural Council awards announced – Award Ceremony to be held in Portugal for first time

Consejo Cultural Mundial
Grant and Award Announcement

Astrophysicist Victoria M. Kaspi, educator Claudia Mitchell and Architect and educator J. Meejin Yoon will be granted the 2022 World Cultural Council’s Awards. The 37th Award Ceremony will be hosted by the University of Coimbra, Portugal to be held on November 30, 2022. This will be the first time in the history of the WCC awards programme that all three prizes will be presented at the same event.