The research, led by University of Santiago academics Dr. María José Galotto, Dr. Abel Guarda, Dr. Eliezer Velásquez, and Ximena Valenzuela, seeks to prove that a circular economy model can be successfully implemented in food packaging, especially for polystyrene yogurt containers.
Historically, Chile’s electrical system has depended on large, distant power plants that transmit energy across long lines to urban consumers. This model, however, is now under considerable strain. The increasing adoption of renewable energies, residential solar panels, domestic batteries, and electric vehicles highlights the urgent need for modernization.
The Second International AlQui (Alginate-Chitosan) Workshop, held at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology during the last week of May, brought together the public sector and scientific researchers currently working in the field.
Climate change is significantly altering the quality and fertility of agricultural land, hindering its capacity to retain nutrients, capture moisture, and support vegetation. To combat this phenomenon, the use of microorganisms such as cyanobacteria offers an effective solution.
In response, Usach’s Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, specifically its Plant Biochemistry and Phytoremediation Laboratory, is developing a multifunctional biotechnological tool based on these living organisms to enhance soil adaptability and mitigate the climate crisis.
A total of eleven applied research projects from the faculties of Engineering, Technology, Science, Medical Sciences, and Chemistry and Biology at the University of Santiago de Chile were awarded the Fondef IDeA I+D 2025 competition, organized by ANID. Nationwide, 129 initiatives will receive this funding.
For our institution, this result represents an 8.5% increase in awards compared to 2024, when eight proposals received funding. Institutional participation also expanded, with three to five faculties involved, while the number of applications grew from 44 to 51.
For years, green hydrogen has emerged as a leading contender for driving the global energy transition. Its ability to generate clean energy without emitting pollutants has ignited worldwide interest in decarbonizing production and energy sectors. In this context, Chile has become an international leader in developing this technology, leveraging its abundant solar and wind resources and a strong national commitment to clean energy production.
Today's AI advancements, from ChatGPT to facial recognition, rely on massive, energy-intensive data centers that process millions of calculations per second. This model, however, incurs high costs and significant environmental impact, while the ability to further increase AI's processing power is starting to stagnate.
The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH) excelled in early-stage research, securing 10 Fondecyt Iniciación 2026 grants. This achievement surpasses last year's results and underscores FING's dedication to innovation, technological development, and nurturing young talent in Chilean engineering.
USACH earned a total of 19 Fondecyt projects in this year's call, with more than half, 10, from the Faculty of Engineering. This highlights FING's leadership in supporting emerging researchers tackling national challenges.
Driven by high international demand, Chilean fruit growing has expanded steadily in recent decades. To maintain competitiveness, the sector has adopted intensive practices like higher planting density, aggressive pruning, and heavy fertilizer use.
Unfortunately, these practices have led to an increase in phytopathogenic fungal diseases, especially those affecting fruit tree wood. Such infections weaken the trees’ structure and significantly diminish their productivity.
When we think of galaxies, we often picture them as solitary, spinning disks of stars. However, the reality is far more intricate. Galaxies actually reside in cosmic neighborhoods called galaxy clusters, where hundreds of other galaxies are tightly bound together by gravity. These immense clusters typically feature a dominant central galaxy, which almost always hosts a supermassive black hole at its core.