Category: Digest

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An ichthyosaur cementery found in Chile, the aerodynamic ‘Brazuca’ World Cup ball, and Mexico’s huge new aquarium

Chile Paleontologists in southern Chile have discovered an ichthyosaur cemetery with at least 46 complete ichthyosaurs. Ichthyosaurs are marine reptiles that disappeared 99 million years ago. One of the fossils contained two embryos. Brazil Studies suggest that the World Cup ‘Brazuca’ ball’s aerodynamics will allow players to pass faster and kick the ball more accurately. … Continue reading An ichthyosaur cementery found in Chile, the aerodynamic ‘Brazuca’ World Cup ball, and Mexico’s huge new aquarium

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This is your brain on tango, combating coffee rust in Central America, and developing vaccines in Cuba.

Argentina Argentine researchers studied the brains of 80 tango dancers and determined that some could predict–or better anticipate–actions. Using sample videos of tango steps executed with different correction levels and correlating these with high density EEG, they determined that the anticipatory activity depends on the degree of experience of the subject. Rosario scientists designed a … Continue reading This is your brain on tango, combating coffee rust in Central America, and developing vaccines in Cuba.

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A long-necked dinosaur found in Patagonia, one of America’s first settlers found in Mexico, and how to protect the World Cup mascot the giant armadillo

Argentina The fossilized remains of a long-necked sauropod have been found in Patagonia. The paleontologists estimate that the animal inhabited the area 140 million years ago. Seven other dinosaurs have been found in the same area; scientists believe it is a place they chose to die. Mexico In a cenote (water hole) in the Yucatan … Continue reading A long-necked dinosaur found in Patagonia, one of America’s first settlers found in Mexico, and how to protect the World Cup mascot the giant armadillo

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A Colombian supercomputer to work on biology, new bacteria found in the Atacama and fighting malaria in Argentina

Colombia Scientists have installed Colombia’s largest computer for genomic studies.  Chile An international team of scientists has found communities of cyanobacteria in the Atacama desert. Argentina Argentine scientists have found some antimalarial properties in a plant. Continue reading A Colombian supercomputer to work on biology, new bacteria found in the Atacama and fighting malaria in Argentina

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New bivalve named after Pablo Neruda, climate change and agriculture in Latin America and Argentine paleofauna after a great extinction.

Chile A new species of bivalve was discovered in Quisco, Chile. Austrogena nerudai was named in honor of the Chilean Pablo Neruda since the first specimens were found near the residence once occupied by the poet. Latin America Argentina researchers participated in the development of a report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and … Continue reading New bivalve named after Pablo Neruda, climate change and agriculture in Latin America and Argentine paleofauna after a great extinction.

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A sloth’s upside down life in Costa Rica, cosmic bursts seen from Puerto Rico, and thinking about a much warmer Antarctica.

Costa Rica A study of sloths in Costa Rica has determined that their organs are kept in place with adhesions to support their weight and make breathing easier. Sloths spend 90% of their time upside down. Puerto Rico A new astronomical phenomenon was confirmed by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Distant radio pulses of … Continue reading A sloth’s upside down life in Costa Rica, cosmic bursts seen from Puerto Rico, and thinking about a much warmer Antarctica.

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Goat cloned in Brazil, tracking cougars with cellular networks, and Chile is home to the world’s oldest mummies.

 Brazil The combined effects of climate change and fires could accelerate tree mortality in the Amazon, says a field study started in 2004 that evaluated plots burned annually, plots burned every three years and unburned plots. The researchers noted that one of the most important effects was the invasion of grasses in places where there … Continue reading Goat cloned in Brazil, tracking cougars with cellular networks, and Chile is home to the world’s oldest mummies.

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Forest fire turns deadly in Valparaiso, Brazil approves GM mosquitoes to fight dengue, and Colombia designs ‘climate intelligent’ crops

Chile A fire that began in a forest ravine and spread to the Chilean port city of Valparaíso claimed 15 lives and left thousands homeless. More than 10,000 have been evacuated. Chilean astronomers were able to observe for the first time in real time the explosion of a supernovae. For this work they developed a … Continue reading Forest fire turns deadly in Valparaiso, Brazil approves GM mosquitoes to fight dengue, and Colombia designs ‘climate intelligent’ crops

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Creating geological maps of Antarctica, water shortages in northern Chile, and using crustacean waste in Mexico.

Argentina An international study involving Argentine scientists studied the growth of more than 600,000 trees worldwide finding that most of them increase biomass accumulation with age and size. Argentina contributed to the study 7000 trees that had been monitored since 1991. Argentina and Spain are working together to create geological maps of Antarctica. The ideas … Continue reading Creating geological maps of Antarctica, water shortages in northern Chile, and using crustacean waste in Mexico.

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Latin America faces climate change, scientists in Latin America find an asteroid with rings, and the first guide in Spanish on Antarctic birds is published.

Latin America Smallholder Latin American farmers are hoping to mitigate climate change by combining advanced technologies with traditional methods. In Brazil, farmers are using traditional drip irrigation and fertilization techniques; Uruguay is monitoring its soil, climate and water; Bolivia is hoping to use irrigation water from snowmelt; and Haiti is looking at flood-resistant seeds. Most … Continue reading Latin America faces climate change, scientists in Latin America find an asteroid with rings, and the first guide in Spanish on Antarctic birds is published.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mexico’s Pyramid of the Sun could collapse, 169 new species found in the last four years in Brazil, and fossils tell of ancient climate in Paraguay.

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 … Continue reading Mexico’s Pyramid of the Sun could collapse, 169 new species found in the last four years in Brazil, and fossils tell of ancient climate in Paraguay.

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Darwin’s Argentine beetle, GM mosquitoes released in Panama to combat dengue, and diabetes in Mexicans.

ARGENTINA A team of Argentine scientists has made the cover of the latest issue of the journal Cell. The authors were able to identify the reasons why some tumors are refractory to therapy and described a mechanism to block cell proliferation. Charles Darwin landed in 1832 in Bahía Blanca, Argentina where he collected several specimens. … Continue reading Darwin’s Argentine beetle, GM mosquitoes released in Panama to combat dengue, and diabetes in Mexicans.

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Retreating glaciers in Colombia, the possible Aztec origin of the Voynich manuscript, and a 65 million year old plesiosaur found in Chile.

BOLIVIA A Bolivian company is offering a certified chia seed for farmers interested in moving into the expanding international chia market. LATIN AMERICA Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to statistics from the Pan American Health Organization. ARGENTINA Scientists at Argentina’s National University of Rosario have … Continue reading Retreating glaciers in Colombia, the possible Aztec origin of the Voynich manuscript, and a 65 million year old plesiosaur found in Chile.