Mexico
The Pyramid of the Sun, located in Teotihuacan, Mexico, could collapse by the drying up of its south side, say researchers at UNAM. They put a muon detector in the pyramid and analyzed over three million data points to confirm the need of rehumidifying the south side to preserve the building.
Mathematicians working at UNAM are using algorithms to improve traffic in Mexico City. The next step is to install more than three thousand ‘self-organizing’ traffic lights to expedite the movement of private vehicles and public transport.
Paraguay
Paleontologists from the National University of Asunción found five small rodents jaws dating back 10,000 years in the Riso cave at the confluence of various ecosystems in the Paraguayan Chaco. These fossils will allow scientists to study the feeding habits of these rodents and deduce the evolution of climate and vegetation in the area.
Argentina
Argentine and Italian scientists have developed a map based on satellite data to determine the risk of hantavirus transmission, which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and can end in death. The map is dynamic and currently the southern Andean region is at the largest risk.
High school students from San Juan have used old electronic parts to build a microscope with a USB port. The project was recognized by Argentina’s Ministry of Education.
Colombia
Colombian scientists are studying biomass yield and production of essential oils of a medicinal plant known as “mountain oregano.” They’ve showed that applying nitrogen fertilizer can increase yields and are also oil production.
The creation of new materials to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells is the goal of researchers from the National University of Colombia. These studies seek to replace high cost platinum and aim at creating catalysts with lanthanum, calcium, iron and manganese.
A young Colombian researcher working with sustainable transport systems has been listed as one of the 100 most innovative scientists in the world. Javier Solano Martínez was recognized for his work in Germany on fuel cells in electric vehicles.
Brazil
In the past four years 169 species were discovered in the Brazilian Amazon, as reported by the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Pará, Brazil.
Panama
Male túngaras frogs have a kind of song whose waves attract females to their ponds so they can mate. These waves are also detected by males of other species of frog and serve to assess competition in the pond. They also alert bats that feed on frogs to their position, according to a study by the Smithsonian Institute in the journal Science.
Chile
The University of Arizona reported that construction is about to begin on the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile. This telescope, the size of a basketball court, will be used to study distant planets, dark matter and black holes, among other things.
Latin America
Google launched a Latin America science fair which aims to capture the attention of adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. 2014’s Google science fair will celebrate students in Argentina , Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru for innovative projects in computer science.