News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Jan-2026 21:11 ET (15-Jan-2026 02:11 GMT/UTC)

1-Aug-2019

Bats use leaves as mirrors to find prey in the dark

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Bats can find motionless insects on leaves in the dark. This was thought to be impossible, because the acoustic camouflage provided by the leaves should confuse their echolocation system. Inga Geipel and colleagues discovered how bats overcome this problem.

Journal

Current Biology

Funder

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, STREP, EU Project ChiRoPing

31-Jul-2019

Low muscle mass in arms and legs can heighten the mortality risk in older men and women

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

A study of individuals over 65 years old showed that all-cause mortality risk increased nearly 63-fold in women with low appendicular muscle mass. The risk of dying increased 11.4-fold in men (patient undergoing DXA body composition and bone density scan.

Journal

Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

29-Jul-2019

Cannabidiol reduces aggressiveness, study concludes

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

Experiments with mice performed by Brazilian scientists show that a substance derived from cannabis plants attenuates isolation-induced aggressive behavior.

Journal

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

23-Jul-2019

White-tailed deer were predominant in pre-Columbian Panama feasts

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An analysis of white-tailed deer remains at an archaeological site in Panama revealed signs of 'feasting behavior' associated with this animal among pre-Columbian populations.

Journal

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

22-Jul-2019

Adolescents who skip breakfast may develop obesity

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

This study investigated behaviors associated with weight gain and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents. Missing the first meal of the day can contribute to the development of unhealthy habits and behaviors.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

18-Jul-2019

Study reveals unusually high carbon stocks and tree diversity in Panama's Darien forest

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Through a participatory forest-carbon monitoring project in the Darien forest of Panama, scientists and a team of trained indigenous technicians found that, even in disturbed areas, it maintained the same tree species richness and a disproportionately high capacity to sequester carbon.

Journal

Conservation Science and Practice

Funder

McGill University's Department of Biology (NEO Program) and Dr. Catherine Potvin's Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Mitigation and Tropical Forests, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

17-Jul-2019

Ants that defend plants receive sugar and protein

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

The aggressiveness of ants in arid environments with scarce food supply helps protect plants against herbivorous arthropods.

Journal

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

15-Jul-2019

Biocompound from Atlantic Rainforest combats leishmaniasis and Chagas disease

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

Researchers find that substances synthesized from plant species endemic to the biodiversity hotspot can kill the parasites that cause these neglected diseases.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

11-Jul-2019

Nanotechnology delivers hepatitis B vaccine

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

X-ray imaging shows that nanostructured silica acts as a protective vehicle to deliver intact antigen to the intestine so that it can trigger an immune response. The material can give rise to a polyvaccine against six diseases.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

10-Jul-2019

Study contributes to the production of flexible electronic devices

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

Research conducted by Brazilian and Italian scientists ordered the structure of polythiophene to enhance the optical and electronic properties of this organic conductive polymer.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab