Colombia wants to repatriate scientists, dengue mosquito-eating bats in Nicaragua, and ecological conflicts in Latin America.

Colombia Colombia’s science agency Colciencias has launched the “Time to Return ” program with the intention of repatriating Colombian scientists to promote high-level projects in science and technology in the country. LatinAmericanScience.org has covered this repatriation program. Nicaragua Nicaragua’s Bat Conservation Program has conducted research in a colony of bats inhabiting its Masaya volcano, finding … Continue reading Colombia wants to repatriate scientists, dengue mosquito-eating bats in Nicaragua, and ecological conflicts in Latin America.

A 1,500 year old Antarctica moss is revived, a water-rich mineral found in Brazil, and saving one of Darwin’s finches from extinction.

Brazil An international team of scientists have found a mineral in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state that might shed light on the existence of large volumes of water trapped beneath the Earth’s surface. The mineral is named ringwoodite and is rich in water (1.5% weight). Antarctica British researchers who found an Antarctic moss that lived 1,500 … Continue reading A 1,500 year old Antarctica moss is revived, a water-rich mineral found in Brazil, and saving one of Darwin’s finches from extinction.

Brazil’s World Cup recycling program, a new lizard found in Peru, and solving Guatemala’s problem with agricultural pests.

Brazil Brazil wants to stand out as a recycler during the World Cup this June. The country plans on employing 840 recycling workers to clean stadiums and festivities. A study of 2,927 Brazilian adults maps sedentary lifestyle to socioeconomic status. “Our study is one of the first to present a description of sedentary time in … Continue reading Brazil’s World Cup recycling program, a new lizard found in Peru, and solving Guatemala’s problem with agricultural pests.

Heavy rains damaging Cuban tobacco crop, studying brewer’s yeast in Mexico, and the illegal wildlife trade in Peru.

Cuba “Tobacco needs sun during the day and cold at night,” says one Cuban farmer about the decrease in tobacco production the island has seen due to heavy rainfall. In 2013, the country pulled in almost US$450 million from the crop. México Mexican researchers have created a fungicide from the bacteria Bacillus subtilis to attack … Continue reading Heavy rains damaging Cuban tobacco crop, studying brewer’s yeast in Mexico, and the illegal wildlife trade in Peru.