Issue # 253 _ March 2017
S&T Policy
INDICATORS

Drawing a map of scientific competencies
Study shows where researchers are concentrated and describes the impact of their production in the 15 administrative regions of the state of São Paulo
By Fabrício MarquesAwards

Celebrating Engineering
British award recognizes the most innovative accomplishments in the applied sciences and honors creators of digital imaging
By Fabrício MarquesINNOVATION

From risk to market
Evaluation of the BNDES program that encourages cooperation between universities and companies finds that 67% of projects resulted in products
By Bruno de PierroUnited States

Fear of isolation
Dependent on foreign talent, the U.S. scientific community mobilizes against Trump’s anti-immigration policy
By Bruno de PierroScience
ARCHEOECOLOGY

An immense orchard
Distribution of trees and geoglyphs underscores the impact of pre-Columbian human populations in the Amazon Forest
By Maria GuimarãesMedicine

Blood holds more clues about cancer
Liquid biopsies are starting to be used to evaluate tumor growth and assess the need to switch treatment
By Ricardo ZorzettoHealth

Zika in early pregnancy
Research corroborates the hypothesis that infections in early pregnancy present the gravest danger to the fetus
By Marcos PivettaEpidemiology

The threat of yellow fever
The high number of yellow fever cases and deaths this summer is bringing back the fear of an urban epidemic in Brazil
By Marcos PivettaZoology

Retroactive epidemiology
Study of tadpoles preserved in zoology museums identifies fungus responsible for die-off registered nearly four decades ago
By Maria GuimarãesASTRONOMY

The cost of shining so brightly
The emission of light particles extracts energy from the Sun’s outermost layer and causes it to spin more slowly
By Ricardo ZorzettoTechnology
NANOTECHNOLOGY

Alternative uses for a plant fiber
Brazilian companies are investing in nanocellulose, a material with promising uses for reinforcing plastic and cement and for making prostheses and sensors
By RedaçãoELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

Chip for particle collisions
Brazilian researchers develop and test a device to be installed in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
By Evanildo da SilveiraNaval engineering

Autonomous boat
An autonomous prototype of a solar-powered vessel carries out measurements and collects data in rivers, lakes and the ocean
By Evanildo da Silveira