Cover

The pandemic detectives

Health professionals use a variety of methods and instruments to follow the trail of the novel coronavirus and to try to contain the epidemic

Back to school?

Obstacles to resuming classroom teaching caused by the worsening pandemic, problems with mass testing, and behavior outside school

Vaccines edge closer

Less than a year after first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, vaccine candidates in the final stages of development offer promising results

Shaped by floods and fires

Water, and to a lesser extent, fire, influence flora distribution and diversity in the Pantanal

The Pantanal pleads for rain

Record fires destroy a quarter of the world’s largest floodplain and worsen the impacts of a prolonged drought

A panorama of rights

Brazil's pioneering Statute on Children and Adolescents marks 30 years promoting public policies for children

The distance between dental research and treatment

The pandemic focuses attention on the debate regarding scientific production and dental care in the public healthcare system

Scientific philanthropy boost

Pandemic drives donations from companies and individuals wishing to support COVID-19 research in Brazil

The uncertainty of herd immunity

With a lack of scientific consensus on the subject, experts warn that protection measures against COVID-19 must be maintained

Potential treatment

With no effective antiviral therapy, COVID-19 management for the time being consists of reducing inflammation and preventing blood clots

The effects of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus can affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, pancreas, and brain, causing long-term damage after the acute phase of the disease has passed

Research during quarantine

Pandemics as allegory

Writers and artists use images of plague to portray tragic events and reflect on the human condition

Sharing and expanding knowledge

Data sharing has grown amid the pandemic and perceived benefits can drive further growth

Varying investment in science

Countries increase spending on COVID-19, but levels of investment in research vary

The risk of traveling by plane

The probability of catching a respiratory virus, such as the novel coronavirus, is high for those close to a contaminated passenger and low for those further away

The puzzle of immunity

Crucial questions about the response of the immune system to the novel coronavirus remain unanswered

Health professionals under emotional stress

Depression rates for health professionals who care for COVID-19 patients have tripled

The emotional pain of the pandemic

Psychological suffering and mental illness caused by radical changes to daily life, fear of getting sick, and an economic crisis

Research during quarantine

Amplified violence

Rates of violence against women in Brazil increase during the pandemic

A difficult return

Brazil seeks health and education parameters for planning the resumption of in-person classes in its school systems

The challenge of calculating R

Poor data makes the effective reproduction rate difficult to track and is hampering the pandemic response

Difficult exit

Quarantine relaxation strategies differ around the country

Each nation’s effort

Brazil’s government unfreezes funding for COVID-19 research, but will spend far less than developed countries

Calling all scientists

Researchers in São Paulo mobilize against the pandemic as FAPESP awards funding to 210 related projects

Science takes on the virus

Federal call for proposals attracts 2,200 applications for research grants to study COVID-19

Cristiana Toscano: An unprecedented global effort

According to the only Brazilian member of a WHO vaccine committee, we are experiencing unprecedented worldwide collaboration to develop a vaccine in record time

Standing alone

Brazilian vaccine projects race to begin clinical trials next year

Saving time

Brazilian research centers negotiate deals to import vaccine production technology