In Brazil, a look at why health care declines around elections
Guillermo Toral PhD '20 finds health care quality drops in months leading up to mayoral elections, and if the incumbent loses, the quality continues to fall.
Jan. 20, 2021 • ~8 min
public-health international-development politics health-care latin-america research government global alumniae school-of-humanities-arts-and-social-sciences political-science
Uruguay quietly beats coronavirus, distinguishing itself from its South American neighbors – yet again
Pandemic devastation surrounds it on all sides, but tiny Uruguay has COVID-19 under control – just the latest win for a country that's always stood out.
June 15, 2020 • ~7 min
covid-19 coronavirus south-america latin-america democracy uruguay public-trust
COVID-19 is deadlier for black Brazilians, a legacy of structural racism that dates back to slavery
In Brazil, black COVID-19 patients are dying at higher rates than white patients. Worse housing quality, working conditions and health care help to explain the pandemic's racially disparate toll.
June 10, 2020 • ~8 min
covid-19 coronavirus south-america brazil latin-america racism structural-racism health-equity social-determinants-of-health access-to-healthcare afro-brazilians racial-injustice human-development
Coronavirus: a warning to Latin America and the Caribbean to dramatically increase COVID-19 testing
A group of population experts have called on governments in Latin American and the Caribbean to urgently ramp up testing for COVID-19 before it's too late.
April 8, 2020 • ~6 min
covid-19 coronavirus testing healthcare latin-america demography coronavirus-testing caribbean
Mesoamerican copper smelting technology aided colonial weaponry
Spanish conquerors depended on indigenous expertise to keep up their munitions supplies, archaeologists have found.
March 31, 2020 • ~7 min
history social-sciences latin-america research metals mexico school-of-engineering materials-science-and-engineering dmse
Modern tomatoes are very different from their wild ancestors – and we found missing links in their evolution
Through genetic detective work, scientists have identified missing links in the tomato’s evolution from a wild blueberry-sized fruit in South America to the larger modern tomato of today.
Jan. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
evolution genetics agriculture genomics research-brief global-perspectives crops tomato latin-america plant-breeding domestication
Can snails save coffee from fungus? It’s a risky idea
Coffee rust is a huge problem, but an invasive snail seems to eat its spores off leaves. Scientists say it's a potential strategy, but isn't without risks.
Jan. 23, 2020 • ~6 min
agriculture food coffee latin-america ecosystems invasive-species puerto-rico featured science-and-technology earth-and-environment mollusks
A closer look at the diabetes disaster
In a new book, Amy Moran-Thomas examines how diabetes is reaching epidemic levels in countries across the world.
Dec. 17, 2019 • ~9 min
health medicine anthropology latin-america research school-of-humanities-arts-and-social-sciences developing-countries books-and-authors health-science-and-technology
Supporting students in Puerto Rico after a hurricane’s devastation
Postdoc Héctor De Jesús-Cortés works to build up the STEM pipeline from his homeland to MIT and beyond.
Dec. 13, 2019 • ~9 min
education teaching graduate profile natural-disasters latin-america research school-of-science diversity-and-inclusion brain-and-cognitive-sciences picower-institute academics postdoctoral
Technology and policy pathways to Paris emissions goals
Two new MIT reports advance practical emissions-reduction strategies for Southeast Asia and Latin America at both the regional and country level.
Dec. 10, 2018 • ~9 min
climate-change energy environment economics policy carbon-dioxide greenhouse-gases latin-america emissions research asia global technology-and-society mit-energy-initiative alternative-energy international-relations joint-program-on-the-science-and-policy-of-global-change
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