International issue | December 2019
Cover
- When light bent
- Observations of the 1919 solar eclipse from Brazil and Africa provided the first experimental proof of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity By Marcos Pivetta and Rodrigo de Oliveira Andrade
- In the British expedition’s shadow
- The Sobral eclipse was also observed by scientific expeditions from Brazil and the US By Rodrigo de Oliveira Andrade
- Daniel Kennefick: The importance of Sobral
- An astrophysicist and science historian reports that without the observation of the eclipse in the city of Ceará, the experimental results of 1919 would probably have been inconclusive By Redação
S&T Policy
Internationalization

Long distance connections
Initiatives that promote networking and knowledge exchange among Brazilian researchers in the United States are on the rise
By Fabrício MarquesIntellectual property

Mapping out the roadblocks
A study looks at why Brazilian industry is not very innovative and suggests that academic publishing and patent counts are two sides of the same coin
By Fabrício MarquesShared facilities

Faster access to equipment
USP and UNICAMP create portals to expand the shared use of core research facilities
By Fabrício MarquesGender

Visible women
Initiatives that aim to increase recognition of female researchers and their contributions to science
By Carla AranhaScience
Health

Partnership for a dengue vaccine
Butantan produces 100 million doses of nine different types each year
By Rafael GarciaHealth

Life-saving vaccines
Butantan produces 100 million doses of nine vaccines each year
By Rafael GarciaInterview

Alexandre Antonelli: At the forefront of science in royal gardens
In February, a Brazilian biologist will assume the role of scientific director of Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom
By Carlos FioravantiEnvironment

How forests are reborn
In dry areas, hardwood trees are the first to naturally regenerate, while the reverse scenario occurs in wet forests
By Rafael GarciaPhysics

Fluidity in curved space-time
Study supports theory on how dense matter interacts with strong gravitational fields
By Marcos PivettaPhysico-chemistry

The hidden strokes of Portinari
Tests show how the artist produced his artwork and may be useful in confirming the author of a piece found in the painter’s former home
By Rafael GarciaNew materials

New energy applications for gold and platinum
Platinum-coated gold nanoparticles could enhance the efficiency of fuel-cell catalysts
By Rafael GarciaTechnology
ENERGY

Winds of change
Brazilian wind power could provide three times more energy than all other electricity sources put together; it currently supplies 22 million homes
By Domingos ZaparolliMining

The niobium controversy
The production of niobium, for which Brazil is by far the global leader, is surrounded by myths and misconceptions
By Yuri VasconcelosHumanities
Demography

Global health in motion
A multidisciplinary team reviews the scientific evidence and challenges stereotypes regarding health and migration
By Luisa Destri