Mercury, a potentially toxic metal that is capable of accumulating in the body, is being found in Amazonian rivers as residue from mining activities and, in some locations, occurring naturally. Its presence is affecting the aquatic fauna and could affect humans who consume fish that contain mercury.

For the year 2030 the snowcapped Nevado del Ruiz mountain top could be completely extinguished. The situation of the Santa Isabel glacier is even more critical and will cease to exist in eight or ten years. Given the current situation and the speedy climatic change, students and professors of UNal Manizales and Medellín carried out a research project in which they considered possible melting of these glaciers and therefore determine the floodable areas of the El Rosario area in Manizales.

The first humans to pluck a Caribbean fighting conch from the shallow lagoons of Panama’s Bocas del Toro were in for a good meal. Smithsonian scientists found that 7,000 years ago, this common marine shellfish contained 66 percent more meat than its descendants do today. Because of persistent harvesting of the largest conchs, it became advantageous for the animal to mature at a smaller size, resulting in evolutionary change.

UNal experts presented a model to produce a biologic compound to battle against Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), a very frequently diagnosed disease in Colombian cattle. IBR is a disease caused by the Bovine herpesvirus 1, which has world-wide distribution and is responsible for respiratory and genital diseases.