MEXICO
Mexican scientists are developing nanotechnology for catalytic converters to reduce emissions from refineries. The nanocatalyzers help remove sulfur from gasoline and diesel.
LATIN AMERICA
21% of the Bolivian population suffers from malnutrition, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Other countries with high malnutrition in the study included Haiti (49.8%), Guatemala (30.5%), Paraguay (22.3%) and Nicaragua (21.7%).
BRAZIL
Brazil, which has been steeped in a debate about importing foreign doctors to fill its medical ranks, is now finding problems with its pharmacies. Half of the country’s pharmacies function irregularly and more than 10% lack a pharmacist, says a new study.
Cheap oil has driven down interest in growing sugar cane for ethanol in Brazil.
ARGENTINA
Argentine scientists are developing antivenom to treat scorpion stings. The researchers are asking hospitals to freeze and send the scorpions brought in my patients to the Dr. Carlos Malbran Institute in Buenos Aires for venom extraction.
Two students in Cordoba have designed a washing machine that doesn’t use water but rather carbon dioxide and a biodegradable detergent.
ANTARCTICA
Emperor penguins are moving to areas of ice that are more difficult to reach. Emperor penguin populations have been followed by satellites for several years and move with annual ice sheet changes. The question is: how severe have these changes become?
VENEZUELA
Researchers at two Venezuelan universities have developed a ‘cop in your pocket’ application for Blackberry phones that sends ‘panic’ alerts to the police in cases of need.