Veículo

• Home
• Veículos
• SciTech Daily (EUA)

The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has played a major role in the worldwide decline of frogs and toads. Its origins were investigated in a study conducted by scientists from the State University of Campinas, which examined where this damaging strain first emerged. The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), commonly known as Bd, is widely recognized as a major factor behind the global decline of amphibians. Scientists have discovered that the pathogen exists in multiple [...]

By applying computational engineering methods to model weight and gravitational forces acting on sauropod femurs, researchers found that these massive four-legged dinosaurs were generally able to stay upright while feeding, mating, and defending themselves. Sixty-six million years ago, two types of long-necked, four-legged dinosaurs had an edge over other sauropods because they could readily rise up and remain standing on their hind legs for long stretches of time. This ability likely helped [...]

Researchers at the University of São Paulo found that these effects become stronger when the molecule is used together with fluoride and xylitol, rather than on its own. An experimental artificial saliva developed as a mouthwash may help protect teeth in people with head and neck cancer. The product is made using the CANECPI-5 protein, which is extracted from sugarcane and altered under laboratory conditions. For many cancer patients, radiation therapy delivered near the mouth damages [...]

A Viewpoint published on January 6 in Genomic Psychiatry by Dr. Mayana Zatz and colleagues at the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center at the University of São Paulo argues that Brazil may be one of the most valuable yet overlooked places to study extreme human longevity. The article draws on the team's ongoing nationwide research involving exceptionally long-lived individuals while also summarizing recent scientific advances in the biology of supercentenarians. Why Living Past [...]

A chance observation of an unusual spider led scientists to identify a new parasitic mite species in Brazil. While sorting through spiders and scorpions in the Zoological Collections Laboratory at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, researchers noticed something unusual. A spider only a few millimeters long appeared to be wearing a strand that looked like a pearl necklace, so they asked a colleague who specializes in mites to take a look. Ricardo Bassini-Silva, a researcher and [...]

Alternanthera littoralis, commonly called Joseph’s Coat, is native to Brazil’s coastal regions and has a long history of use in treating microbial infections and parasitic diseases. Scientists in Brazil from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and São Paulo State University (UNESP) have carried out new research on the Joseph’s Coat plant (Alternanthera littoralis), demonstrating its safety along with anti-inflammatory, [...]

A study reveals that the liver acts as a bidirectional hub, exchanging gut-microbiome-derived metabolic products with the heart. A research team supported by FAPESP and working at Harvard University in the United States has identified a collection of metabolites that move from the intestine to the liver and then reach the heart, which distributes them throughout the body. These compounds influence key metabolic processes in the liver and affect how the body responds to insulin . According [...]

Coastal ecosystems are being crushed by rising sea levels linked to urbanization. Beaches across the globe are experiencing a form of “crushing,” a process driven by rising sea levels linked to climate change, along with the growing development of coastal regions. These pressures disrupt the wide variety of species that live in sandy environments, reduce opportunities for tourism and fishing, and increase the risk faced by coastal cities as the ocean moves inland. This concern [...]

A major new three-paper Series in The Lancet shows that ultra-processed foods are pushing aside fresh, minimally processed meals worldwide. The evidence links rising UPF consumption to poorer diet quality and higher risks of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other long-term illnesses. The authors stress that while more research will deepen our understanding, the science already shows enough harm to justify immediate public health action. They argue that waiting [...]