Issue # 128 _ October 2006

S&T Policy

Innovation

Foundation stone

Federal government launches program that offers R$ 450 million in non-reimbursable funds for innovative companies

By Fabrício Marques

Intellectual Property

To disseminate knowledge

FAPESP gives up being owner of the patents generated by research projects

Environment

Buffer Zone

Study that proposed a protection zone for the Cantareira Park inspires a bill

By Fabrício Marques

Technological parks

Flight plan

Support from the municipal government and from Embraer speeds up project in São José dos Campos

Science

Agriculture

The broom swept

Simple techniques show how to recover the cacao plantations

By Carlos Fioravanti

Biochemistry

Like a dagger

Poison from the sting of a river stingray causes pain, swelling and necrosis

By Iracema Corso

Medicine

More attention to the female heart

Majority of physicians do not alert women to the risk of a heart attack, even though mortality is close to that in men

By Ricardo Zorzetto

Physics

Echoes of gravity

The Brazilian gravitational wave detector begins to function

By Carlos Fioravanti

Technology

Alcoholic drink

Cachaça revealed

Studies increase knowledge about the drink and contribute to its quality

By Marcos de Oliveira

Immunotherapy

Exaggerated reaction

An innovative diagnostic kit monitors the evolution of respiratory allergy

By Dinorah Ereno

Pharmacology

Biotechnology hopes

A company prepares immunotherapy for cancer treatment and a vaccine against ticks

By Yuri Vasconcelos

Humanities

Sociology

The exorcism of the Internet

Psychologists and lawyers advocate moderation in criticisms of the web and say that the virtual media merely exteriorizes disorders of the real world

By Gonçalo Júnior