News from Latin America

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

22-Feb-2019

 

Setting the stage for cassava disease monitoring: A baseline for Vietnam and Cambodia

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

Southeast Asia is the source of 95 percent of global cassava exports, and the detection in 2015 in Cambodia of Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus raised alarm. By 2016, the disease had spread, showing potential to become a major threat to millions of smallholders. The virus's spread over a single growing season was documented by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. The study is the first systematic baseline evaluation of SLCMV in Southeast Asia.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Tubers and Bananas (RTB)

21-Feb-2019

 

Dermal disruption: Amphibian skin bacteria is more diverse in cold, variable environments

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers swabbed more than 2300 animals representing 205 amphibian species to better understand the ecology of their skin bacteria. They asked which environmental factors influence the makeup of their microbiomes and how might the makeup of their microbiomes be important to amphibian health and survival?

Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Funder

FAPESP, CNPq, Deutsche Forshungsgemeinschaft, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, Templeton World Charity Foundation, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology, CAPES, Simons Foundation

21-Feb-2019

Climate change may affect ecological interactions among species

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

Predator-prey equilibria are being disrupted by climate change, according to a study led by Brazilian researchers and published in Nature Climate Change.

Journal

Nature Climate Change

Funder

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

21-Feb-2019

Phantom limb sensation explained

D'Or Institute for Research and Education
Peer-Reviewed Publication

After a limb amputation, brain areas responsible for movement and sensation alter their functional communication. This is the conclusion of a new study published today in Scientific Reports. According to the authors, from the D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the findings may help to understand why some patients report phantom sensations and others do not.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Rio de Janeiro Foundation for the Support of Science (FAPERJ), CAPES Foundation., National Institute of Translational Neuroscience (INNT), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)

20-Feb-2019

 

Genetic study seeks to prevent foodborne infection caused by Salmonella

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

Project presented at FAPESP Week London identifies genes that allow bacteria to survive in the digestive tract of poultry and thus infect humans.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESP Week London

19-Feb-2019

 

Technology developed in Brazil will be part of the International Space Station

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

Presented during FAPESP Week London, instrument created in São Paulo will be improved in collaboration with Russia and will measure solar flares; launch is scheduled for 2022.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESPWEEK LONDON

18-Feb-2019

 

'Arapuca,' a device developed in Brazil for international neutrino experiment, is enhanced

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

One of the makers of the light detector to be used in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) presented a new version, X-Arapuca, that will make the capture of photons even more efficient, at FAPESP Week London.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESP WEEK LONDON

15-Feb-2019

 

Lithium-air batteries can store energy for cars, houses and industry

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

Growth in the offer of renewable energy sources will mean increased demand for devices optimal for energy storing; São Paulo and UK researchers presented advances in new battery development at FAPESP Week London.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESP Week London

14-Feb-2019

 

Animal venoms are sources in the search for new medicines

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

The study of natural toxins and their derivatives may help in the development of medicines to treat diseases like cancer and osteoarthritis, says coordinator of the Center of Excellence in New Target Discovery.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESPWEEK LONDON

13-Feb-2019

 

Carbon gas storage cavern is the best way to obtain clean energy from a fossil fuel

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

The Research Center for Gas Innovation is developing technology to separate CO2 and methane in oil and gas exploration and store it in offshore salt caverns.

Funder

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

Meeting

FAPESPWEEK LONDON