News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2026 09:16 ET (27-Oct-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)

7-May-2019

Brazilian scientists investigate dwarf planet's ring

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

Theoretical paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society proposes an explanation for the dynamics of the ring around Haumea, a dwarf planet located beyond Pluto's orbit.

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Funder

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

6-May-2019

New molecule maps cerebrovascular system

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

Peptide developed in Brazil is capable of binding to the blood-brain barrier that protects the central nervous system and could help create novel imaging tests to diagnose Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Funder

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

3-May-2019

Study finds that collaborating with business contributes to academic productivity

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

Results of survey involving more than 1,000 researchers were presented to 8th Annual Meeting of Global Research Council in São Paulo.

3-May-2019

 

Study reveals amyloid clumps of a truncated p53 structure related to endometrial cancer

Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (INBEB)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Brazilian scientists have discovered that a truncated variant of the tumor suppressor protein p53 is present as amyloid aggregates in endometrial cancer cells. Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the study points to new perspectives for treating tumors in which p53 variants are important components of these clusters, given that alterations in the p53 protein are associated with more aggressive versions of these tumors, with a high mortality rate.

Journal

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Funder

Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes/Ministry of Education), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

29-Apr-2019

 

The Tietê, São Paulo State's main river, is filtered by dam reservoirs

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

Reservoir cascade steadily improves water transparency by retaining matter in suspension that affects light absorption, as measured by a study conducted in Brazil.

Journal

Water

Funder

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

29-Apr-2019

 

Parasitoid wasps may turn spiders into zombies by hacking their internal code

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A hijacked hormone may zombify spiders, altering their web-spinning behavior to favor wasp parasites.

Journal

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

26-Apr-2019

Bactericidal action of violacein revealed

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

Violet pigment is produced by microorganisms found in the environment, such as Chromobacterium violaceum and its various biological activities include the capacity to kill even bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.

Journal

ACS Infectious Diseases

Funder

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

24-Apr-2019

Study shows the potential of carbon nanotubes to cool electronic circuits

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

Mechanically stretched carbon nanotubes extract heat efficiently and could be used to cool flexible electronic devices, for example.

Journal

Annalen der Physik

Funder

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

24-Apr-2019

   

Fossil crab reveals a new branch in the tree of life

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Taking on characteristics from another, younger stage in its life-cycle, a newly named fossil crab species was able to adapt to new conditions.

Journal

Science Advances

Funder

Paleoclimatology and Energy Student Travel Award Grant, Environment, American Museum of Natural History Lerner Gray grant, Sedimentary Geology, Time

22-Apr-2019

Study highlights anti-tumor activity of curcumin on stomach cancer

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

A review article authored by Brazilian researchers evaluated several compounds with therapeutic potential against gastric tumors.

Journal

Epigenomics

Funder

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