The dengue detectives
Control teams, mosquitoes and climate change on the frontlines of Latin America’s dengue epidemic Continue reading The dengue detectives
Tag: Brazil
How can we prevent cultural heritage loss in Latin America?
Despite five hundred years of perseverance, Latin America’s cultural heritage is being eroded and modern medicine stands to lose, too. Continue reading How can we prevent cultural heritage loss in Latin America?
Mexico’s coffee feels the heat, Colombia to open its first aviary, and a Puerto Rican scientist finds capybara fossils.
COLOMBIA Colombia plans on opening its first aviary off the Caribbean coast of the city of Cartagena and will harbor around 1,850 species. MEXICO Climate change is affecting coffee production in Mexico’s Chiapas region. More moisture means more coffee rust, a fungus that is currently spreading through South and Central America. PUERTO RICO A Puerto … Continue reading Mexico’s coffee feels the heat, Colombia to open its first aviary, and a Puerto Rican scientist finds capybara fossils.
A scientific study of Patagonia’s Beagle Channel, deforestation in the Gran Chaco, and a ‘planetarium on wheels’ in Mexico.
CHILE Scientists from Chile will be traveling to the southernmost part of Patagonia to study the continental tip that Darwin rounded on his voyage on the Beagle. The scientific expedition will study things like biodiversity, effects of climate change and anthropology of the local indigenous tribes. Critics are worried that Chile’s new energy minister will … Continue reading A scientific study of Patagonia’s Beagle Channel, deforestation in the Gran Chaco, and a ‘planetarium on wheels’ in Mexico.
Ethnobiological drug discovery in Latin America
In the 1530s, the French seafaring explorer Jacques Cartier noticed that indigenous slaves did not die from the debilitating disease that was spreading through the ranks of his sailors. Upon inquiry, Cartier learned from Dom Agaya, one of the Huron natives, that the use of decoctions from the ameda tree protected them against scurvy. This … Continue reading Ethnobiological drug discovery in Latin America
Using satellites to find kidnapped people in Mexico, thirty-five species found in Ecuador since 2008, and Argentina beats out China in oilseed production.
MEXICO Students of Mexico’s National Polytechnic Institute are hoping to facilitate the rescue of kidnapped or missing persons using a satellite navigation system. The system won first prize for Latin America in the European Satellite Navigation Competition 2013. UNAM, the Juárez Hospital and the National Institute of Genomic Medicine are collecting indigenous genetic data for studies … Continue reading Using satellites to find kidnapped people in Mexico, thirty-five species found in Ecuador since 2008, and Argentina beats out China in oilseed production.
New ‘Game of Thrones’ slug found in Brazil, the ‘sponge effect’ of Latin America’s tropical forests, and Peru’s scientific cruise sails for Antarctica.
BRAZIL Brazilian scientists have discovered a slug that lives on the northwest coast of the country which they dubbed Tritonia khaleesi in honor of the character from the renowned television series “Game of Thrones.” The slug can grow up to 12 mm long and has a white stripe along the body that resembles the braid … Continue reading New ‘Game of Thrones’ slug found in Brazil, the ‘sponge effect’ of Latin America’s tropical forests, and Peru’s scientific cruise sails for Antarctica.
2014 and the future of Latin America’s bioeconomy
From quinoa genes that enable crops to resist climate change to intestinal bacteria that produce biopolymers and biofuels, scientific work performed in 2013 in Latin America suggests the continent is poised to become a bioeconomic power. Continue reading 2014 and the future of Latin America’s bioeconomy
Weekly digest: An in-depth look at Belo Monte dam, the threat of a fungus on Latin America’s bananas and exporting the Galapagos model to Chile.
BRAZIL In mid-2011, construction started on Brazil’s Belo Monte hydroelectric dam on a southeast tributary of the Amazon started and by early 2015 should supply 18 million people with its 11,200 MW capacity. Of course, that’s when the Xingu river is flowing at full strength. The average capacity will generate 4,500 MW. Folha de Sao … Continue reading Weekly digest: An in-depth look at Belo Monte dam, the threat of a fungus on Latin America’s bananas and exporting the Galapagos model to Chile.
Accelerating Science in Latin America
How to make particle physics interesting to Latin Americans: CERN as a benchmark for global science diplomacy by: Marga Gual Soler, PhD (Georgetown University/WAYS) and Javier Santaolalla Camino, PhD (UERJ/ CERN) One of the central themes in discussions at the World Science Forum in Rio de Janeiro last week was how to enhance science diplomacy … Continue reading Accelerating Science in Latin America
Thursday July 12
An avian flu epidemic in Mexico, the ongoing cholera outbreak in Cuba and genetically-modified mosquitos to be released in Brazil ARGENTINA Argentina is planning on building a 173 square mile wind farm in Chubut province, Patagonia. The China Development Bank Corp. has offered a $3 billion loan to Generadora Eolica Argentina del Sur (Geassa) for … Continue reading Thursday July 12