In Chile, during the dictatorship, photographs taken in domestic and intimate settings documented ways of life that the regime sought to render invisible. Many of these images, preserved in family albums or personal collections, became over time testimonies to experiences that remained outside official narratives, even after the return to democracy.
Driven by its rich biological and genetic diversity, Chile is positioned to become a standout global producer of distinct, high-quality whiskies. To advance this emerging industry, the University of Santiago de Chile (Usach) is driving sustainable, biodiversity-led innovation through the R&D project “Development of Hybrid Yeasts of National Origin for Whisky Production.”
“A drop of water wears away a stone” is a saying we’ve probably heard more than once. Attributed to the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu more than 5,000 years ago, it is often interpreted as a metaphor for perseverance and consistency; however, behind this popular phrase lies a scientific question that, to this day, remains without a definitive answer.
Although the phenomenon seems obvious, physics has yet to explain how a drop of water—incapable of breaking a rock with a single impact—can eventually erode it by falling repeatedly on the same spot.
Early in the morning, silence still fills the hallways of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology at the University of Santiago de Chile (Usach). At the far end stands Dr. Francisco Cubillos’s lab—a vibrant, bright space filled with flasks, test tubes, and cutting-edge biotechnology equipment where groundbreaking yeast genetics research takes place.
Every year, millions of metric tons of plastic end up as waste, making plastic pollution one of the world’s major environmental challenges. According to global plastic waste statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), more than 408 million metric tons of plastic waste are currently generated each year, but only about 9% is effectively recycled; the rest ends up incinerated, in landfills, or improperly disposed of in natural ecosystems.
Development economics increasingly focuses on how household health conditions and caregiving responsibilities shape economic participation, particularly for heads of household. In this regard, disability is understood as a phenomenon that transcends the individual, reshaping family structures, income, and employment opportunities for those who take on caregiving roles.
On the second floor of the Usach Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, a laboratory with long benches and wide hallways stretches out in silence, without much decoration, except for a few research posters hanging on the walls that break up the monotony of the white walls.
The University of Santiago has a solid portfolio of legally protected technologies, including patents, microorganism registrations, industrial designs, and other intellectual property (IP) mechanisms.
These innovations have a direct impact on areas such as health, food, mining, clean energy, nanotechnology, and education, among others. But why is it crucial to protect research results? As part of Intellectual Property Day, celebrated on April 26, academics from Usach share their experiences and views on the importance of IP as a way to protect knowledge.
Under the Open Access Policy for Scientific Information and Research Data, Chile’s National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) is strengthening open science capacities across national universities. This initiative improves the visibility, availability, and reuse of scientific knowledge and research data generated through public funding.
Despite public policies like the REP and Single-Use Plastics laws, plastic waste management remains a significant national challenge. According to Fundación Chile, our country consumes nearly one million tons of plastic annually, with only a meager 8.5% being recycled.
To address this challenge, the University of Santiago (Usach) has partnered with the Juan Fernández Circular R&D project. Led by CircularTec and funded by ANID, the project’s goal is to treat plastic waste from a circular economy perspective and develop useful products for the archipelago’s community.