Chikungunya spreading through Central America, Chileans help decipher the Atlantic salmon genome, and Cretaceous fossils found in Cuba.

Central America The chikungunya virus is quickly spreading through Central America and has alerted health authorities in several countries. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause profound fatigue, nausea and rashes. It has no cure and can cause death in the elderly. Chile A group of Chilean, Norwegian and Canadian scientists have cracked … Continue reading Chikungunya spreading through Central America, Chileans help decipher the Atlantic salmon genome, and Cretaceous fossils found in Cuba.

Central America’s vulnerability to climate change, Nature magazine highlights South American science, and recreating Alzheimer’s in fruit flies.

Costa Rica Despite being an area that emits less than 0.5% of the world’s greenhouse gases, Central America is one of the planet’s regions most vulnerable to climate change, according to a study involving four Costa Rican universities. Latin America According to the latest issue of the journal Nature, investment in science and scientific studies … Continue reading Central America’s vulnerability to climate change, Nature magazine highlights South American science, and recreating Alzheimer’s in fruit flies.

Studying desert plants in Mexico for cancer treatments, an atomic clock on Chile’s ALMA telescope, and an artificial heart in Argentina.

Mexico Scientists at the University of Sonora are studying desert plants in order to find active ingredients that could be used for cancer treatments. They have found promising alkaloids and fatty acids in the species Argemone gracilenta and the substance is now being assessed against tumor cells. Chile An ultra-precise atomic clock was built for … Continue reading Studying desert plants in Mexico for cancer treatments, an atomic clock on Chile’s ALMA telescope, and an artificial heart in Argentina.

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

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.

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

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.

New rodent found in Patagonia, algae help double eucalyptus production in Chile, and Nicaragua commits to science.

ARGENTINA Scientists in Patagonia have discovered a new species of rodent in the province of Chubut. The rodent belongs to the genus Tympanoctomys and it was dubbed T. kirchnerorum as a tribute to Nestor and Cristina Kirchner for “their efforts in promoting science.” A prehistoric common ‘latrine’ was found in La Rioja in northern Argentina where … Continue reading New rodent found in Patagonia, algae help double eucalyptus production in Chile, and Nicaragua commits to science.

Peru’s disappearing glaciers, a state of emergency in Brazil due to a caterpillar, and Rio de Janeiro’s sewage problems.

BRAZIL Brazil has declared a state of emergency in Mato Grosso, its main crop growing state, due to an infestation from an invasive caterpillar in corn, soy and cotton crops. Last summer, the pests caused $4.7 billion in damage. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=”via @LatAmSci”]Rio de Janeiro is having sewage problems at the site of its … Continue reading Peru’s disappearing glaciers, a state of emergency in Brazil due to a caterpillar, and Rio de Janeiro’s sewage problems.

Studying leishmaniasis ‘on the cloud’ in Brazil, top Argentine scientists awarded, and the collapse of Venezuela’s healthcare system.

ARGENTINA Scientists from Rosario, Argentina are using scanning electron microscopy to detect gunpowder residue to help police fight crime. Rosario is one of Argentina’s major scientific and technological centers. The Argentine geologist Victor Ramos won the 2013 Mexican Science and Technology Prize for his studies on the formation of the Andes. The physicist Juan Martin … Continue reading Studying leishmaniasis ‘on the cloud’ in Brazil, top Argentine scientists awarded, and the collapse of Venezuela’s healthcare system.

Argentinosaurus walks, 1.5 million-year-old Antarctic climate data, and scientists find the first poisonous crustaceans.

ANTARCTICA Certain regions of Antarctica could be storing climate data dating back to more than 1.5 million years, according to recently published Swiss and German scientists. Ice cores have small air bubbles and thus function as an “archive ” of the composition of the atmosphere of the time they were formed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1OP-fKcjHc ARGENTINA Scientists at INTA … Continue reading Argentinosaurus walks, 1.5 million-year-old Antarctic climate data, and scientists find the first poisonous crustaceans.