Brotes Científicos: Revista de Investigaciones Escolares
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to adapt to the modality of virtual classes and stay at home for health and sanitary reasons. Due to this, and according to the respective designated subject, we had to develop various topics, mainly focusing on searching for bibliographic information. In chemistry, specifically in the organic chemistry unit, we had to prepare an investigation report on the use of hydrocarbons in households. The results surprised us greatly during this study since we were completely unaware that so many products that we use daily in our homes were hydrocarbons (a type of organic compounds) and counteracting the bibliographic information. We concluded that we human beings have a comfortable quality of life. We currently depend on the discovery that man himself has made of these compounds from oil.
Copyright (c) 2021 Magdalena Martínez, Sofía Villarroel (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF BIRDS IN GREEN PATCHES OF THE CITY OF LA SERENA: IMPORTANCE OF THE PARKS
In recent decades, La Serena has undergone a growing expansion of its urban radius, making large urban green patches potential refuges and alternative habitats for many wild birds. In this study, we evaluate whether the ecological role of urban green patches in La Serena is related to the size of the patch. The richness and abundance of the birds and the vegetation cover in four green areas of different sizes were analyzed. It was established that the larger green areas (parks) have greater biodiversity than the smaller green patches, where a reduced number of species dominate, generally introduced. The greater richness of species found in the parks could be related to greater coverage and heterogeneity in their plant formations. The avifauna of the patches is constituted mainly by native birds, mainly Passeriformes. Therefore, the characteristics of the bird assemblage of the urban green patches in La Serena would be influenced by the size of the green area.
Copyright (c) 2021 Nicolás Castillo, Tomás Díaz, Eduardo Lara, Jan Riegel, Cristóbal Tapia, Antoine Touret, Vicente Varela, Walter Villa (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PRISON JARGONS: AN APPROACH FROM A LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE
Prison jargons are an example of the variation of our language that adopts semantic resources, uses a metaphorical language, and is only interpretable when one belongs to the community in which the variant is used. In this report, the concept of linguistic variation around jargon and slang will be reviewed, the sociolinguistic characteristics of inmates in prisons will be addressed, linked to the theory of Halliday (1976), in which it is postulated that in an anti-society (marginal space of society) an anti-language is produced, which adopts metaphorical characteristics. For this reason, terms used in the prison jargon of three Latin American countries will be analyzed around the literary forms that the concepts adopt.
Copyright (c) 2021 Consuelo Álvarez, Valentina Gallegos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
LANGUAGE IN CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS: CAUSES, PSYCHO-EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIALIZATION
Hearing loss, its causes, and the importance of its detection at an early age are fundamental for the linguistic and social development of children who are born with it or acquire it early. This report seeks to explain this close relationship between the individual, orality, language acquisition, and individual and social methods that help children develop in an environment that increasingly needs greater inclusion in a diverse society.
Copyright (c) 2021 Catalina Cárdenas, Maximiliano Garrido (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
COMPARISON OF THE WILD FLORA OF QUEBRADA DE PEÑUELAS: A THREE-YEAR RECORD (2017-2019)
The present work was a descriptive study on the wild flora of the Peñuelas stream, located in Tierras Blancas, Coquimbo. This research was carried out during August and September from 2017 to 2019. The members were students of the scientific workshop of the María de Andacollo School. The work methodology was descriptive; for this, three trips were made each year. Where they photographed and noted the species found. Teams of four to five students were formed, who traveled from west to east the slopes. The objective of this project was to compare the presence of wild flora during the three years (2017-2019). Approximately 23 species of wild flora have been reported, and given the low rainfall in 2019, 39% of the total species were identified. The data obtained suggest that the advance of climate change is altering the species richness of wild flora present in the place. In addition, this project seeks to raise awareness in the community surrounding the creek to avoid anthropization, which little by little has become a landfill, and thus disseminate about the existence of wild flora present in the Peñuelas creek.
Copyright (c) 2026 Constanza Ahumada, Bruno Baeza, Alex Caimanque, Lucia Maturana, Francisca Riffo (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
COMPARISON OF THE DIET OF TYTO ALBA IN SECTORS OF THE METROPOLITAN REGION, IMPLICATIONS ON THE DIVERSITY AND CONTROL OF MICROMAMMALS
In order to compare a protected wilderness area with a disturbed suburban sector in terms of its diversity of small mammals, owl pellets of white owl (Tyto alba) were collected from the La Aurora sector of Curacaví, which is identified as a suburban area with a certain degree of of disturbance; and others obtained from the Río Clarillo National Park. Dietary items of T. alba were identified, focusing on small mammals. A higher percentage of exotic rodents is obtained in the Río Clarillo National Park than in the Curacaví sector. A calculation of the Simpson diversity index is made, where a slightly higher value is obtained in the Curacaví area compared to the Río Clarillo National Park. It is inferred that the protected wilderness area under study is serving as a favorable habitat for exotic rodents. In addition, it is inferred that the hypothesis of intermediate disturbances could be influencing the results in the Simpson index for the Curacaví area.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
TAILINGS WHAT IS THE SURROUNDING ECOSYSTEM LIKE?
The Coquimbo region has 51.3% of the tailings deposits that exist in the country. According to the information provided by Sernageomin, tailings is a pulverized solid that is discarded from mining operations and is not considered toxic, but in contact with acidic pH water, it could generate toxic gases due to its chemical composition including elements such as arsenic, cyanide, copper, zinc, lead. There are inhabited sectors where these structures can be found even close to towns and cities where the inhabitants must live with them. The purpose of this research corresponds to identify the ecosystem (beaches, ravines, hills, highways, agricultural plantations, towns and/or cities) that surrounds the tailings deposits that are located in the province of Limarí through the revision of the Cadastres of tailings deposits in Chile in the years 2019-2020 and the Google Earth tool. The main result was that 36% of the province’s tailings deposits are found in uninhabited sectors such as hills, highways, beaches, and streams, while 64% are located near agricultural plantations, towns and/or cities.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITIZENS OF QUELLÓN ABOUT THE USES AND PROPERTIES OF POMPOM (SPHAGNUM MAGELLANICUM BRID)
The Chiloé peat bogs represent one of the most important ecosystems on the island by providing various ecosystem services, and are currently threatened by the extraction and overexploitation of pompom (Sphagnum magellanicum Brid.), its main component. In this scenario, the knowledge of citizens about its importance and that of its ecosystem services is essential for its protection. We designed a quantitative research to know the perception of the citizens of Quellón about the importance of the pompom and its potential uses as an antimicrobial agent. From 155 applied surveys, it was obtained that the groups belonging to native peoples, those who have not completed basic education or a postgraduate degree and those who are between 41 and 50 years old know evidence about the antimicrobial effect of the pompom. In addition, the younger groups have not had experiences with the pompom as a medicinal plant, unlike the older ones. Thus, it is verified that there is a general ignorance of the medicinal uses of the pompom. Finally, the importance of deepening the ethnobotanical knowledge of the citizens of Quellón is raised, as this is a possible case of extinction of the experience.
TRANSFORMING ORGANIC WASTE FROM ALGAE, SEEDS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES INTO HEALTHY FOOD ADDITIVES
Chilean Law 20920 aims to reduce the generation of waste and promote its reuse and recycling in order to protect the health of people and the environment. The aim of this research was to develop healthy food additives from organic waste: algae, seeds, fruits and vegetables. The hypothesis was the organic wastes from algae, seeds, fruits and vegetables produce natural additives, which can be incorporated into different foods. The methodology consisted of weighing 300 grams of cochayuyo, pumpkin seeds, quince and tomatoes. They were washed, chopped and hydrated for 1 hour in a 700 mL. They were placed on medium heat for 1 hour. Once cold, they were ground, sifted, weighed and refrigerated. The results showed that each food used produced different amounts of natural additive at the same initial mass. Highlighting cochayuyo, quince, tomatoes and finally pumpkin seeds. In conclusion, this research proved the hypothesis that each of the organic wastes generated natural additive. Transforming organic waste into a food product with health benefits.
MECHANISMS FOR REMOVAL OF QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS AND SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE IN POLLUTED WATERS
One consequence of the current COVID-19 pandemic is the increased use of disinfectants, such as quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite. Due to this, an increase in water pollution has been generated, making it necessary to seek solutions to this new problem. This research aims to compare the existing mechanisms to choose the most appropriate remediation for water contaminated by quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite based on a bibliographic search. A selection of documents was made for further study, where they were organized through a comparative table and a diagram. From the analyzed results, four methods for water decontamination are presented: (I) photolysis, (II) electro-oxidation, (III) activated carbon, and (IV) membrane contactor. It can be concluded that activated carbon is the best candidate, the most efficient way to decontaminate water due to its characteristics, such as its ability to reuse and adsorb compounds, transforming them into less toxic metabolites.
ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRYSTALLINUM, ON THE MICROBIOTA OF THE HANDS
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is an invasive species of African origin, which was introduced into the national territory approximately in the year 1881. Some studies show that M. crystallinum has antiseptic properties. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of M. crystallinum is evaluated for the development of a hand cleaning gel. To obtain the extract from the leaves of M. crystallinum, the maceration method was used and the antibacterial effect of the extract was evaluated by the colony-forming unit (CFU) count method. Regarding the statistical analysis, the data indicate that there is a significant difference in total CFU with the extract from the leaves of M. crystallinum concerning the control. It is then concluded that the ethanolic extract of the leaves of M. Crystallinum has an antibacterial effect on the microbiota of the hands.
PRESENCE OF THE WHITE-WINGED TENCH (MIMUS TRIURUS) IN CHILE: REVIEW AND PROPOSALS FOR ITS SEARCH
Among the three species of the Mimus genus that can be observed regularly in Chile, the white-winged Tench (Mimus triurus) presents accidental historical records in different places of the national territory. The mostly solitary individuals are traditionally described in ornithological literature as wandering birds lost from their migratory route, which extends from Argentina to more northern latitudes in South America. However, due to the recent increase in records west of the Andes, it has been proposed that the most appropriate status for the white-winged Tench in Chile is that of a scarce regular visitor with a small resident breeding population in the mountain area of the Antofagasta Region, leaving open questions associated with their migration, colonization, and expansion in the national territory. The present bibliographic research reviewed the natural history of the species and generated an ornithological challenge for the Chilean ornithological community, considering the hypothesis of a post-reproductive migration to Chile from the eastern side of the Andes, with a view to specifying the status that traditionally has been assigned to this bird in our country.
SINGLE CRYSTALS AND CONGLOMERATES OF COPPER SULFATE CRYSTALS
In supersaturated solutions, the solution contains more dissolved solute than can be dissolved. When the solute separates from the solution, it forms crystals. The objective was to generate single crystals and crystal conglomerates from supersaturated solutions of copper sulfate. The hypothesis was that single crystals and crystal conglomerates will be generated from supersaturated solutions of copper sulfate. The methodology consisted of mixing distilled water with copper sulfate. Subsequently, the solution was heated to 80°C until the solute dissolved. Finally, it was filtered, cooled and temperature and pH were measured. The results show the formation of single crystals of copper sulfate with a mass of 10 grams on day 13. In turn, on day 34 of monitoring, a conglomerate of copper sulfate crystals with a mass of 143 grams is obtained. In conclusion, the hypothesis was verified. There were monocrystals and conglomerates of crystals from supersaturated solutions, controlling pH, temperature, and solute concentration.
VEGETATION-CLIMATE RELATIONSHIP IN THE QUEBRADA DE PEÑUELAS ECOSYSTEM (2017-2020), COMMUNE OF COQUIMBO, CHILE
The impact of human activity extends throughout the planet, modifying abiotic factors such as rainfall and temperatures that influence the organization of ecological interactions. In this way, the objective was to evaluate the vegetation-climate relationship in ecosystems present in the Quebrada de Peñuelas for four years (2017-2020). The results showed that until the year 2020, 35 species were identified, which highlights a 74% endemism. In addition, the data obtained from the calculation of the ombrothermic index validate the type of arid climate present in the region and the most representative type of vegetation of the study site: Coastal Mediterranean desert scrub, which is equivalent to more than 50% of the identified species. Therefore, the advance of climate change is altering the richness of species of wild flora present in the place. However, it is necessary to consider other abiotic factors that modulate the vegetation levels to establish a complete relationship between the climate and the plant communities in the Quebrada de Peñuelas.
STOP FOR WILDLIFE: ROAD SIGNAGE PROPOSAL TO MITIGATE VIOLATIONS OF NATIVE ANIMALS IN CHILE
The present study sought, via surveys displayed on Facebook, to evaluate public opinion about different vertical signage alternatives on highways and roads, aimed at drawing the attention of drivers to the presence of native fauna on the road. In a first consultation, 100% of the informants expressed the need to improve road signs that warn of fauna in the vicinity. Concerning a signage proposal made by the research team, 59.9% favored signs with silhouettes of native vertebrates. A yellow background concentrated 72.6% of the elections over, for example, the green background (16.3%). The signage combined silhouette and informative legend concentrated 88.9% of the elections, with the rhombus being the geometric figure best evaluated by people (52%). Together with complementary educational material, these and other results are discussed based on actions aimed at the community, thinking of road education that incorporates native fauna within its concerns.
CHARACTERIZATION OF ROAD-KILLED VERTEBRATE FAUNA REPORTED ON INATURALISTCHILE
This research is a continuation of the school science work associated with wildlife roadkill in Chile, where the reactions of social network users to photographs of wildlife roadkill have been documented, along with the development of road signage design. In this opportunity, the citizen reports of native animal roadkill, hosted until June 2024 in the collaborative science platform iNaturalist, are characterized. The results of this exploratory study showed more than 1400 cases of roadkill deaths, with birds being the most affected, followed by mammals, reptiles and amphibians. In particular, among the top 3 species that were run over, we found Philodryas chamissonis (Long-tailed snake), with 100 observations, followed by Mimus thenca (Chilean tench), with 66 reports, and Lycalopex culpaeus (Culpeo fox), with 62 records. Regarding the distribution of reports of roadkill in Chile, the records show a great asymmetry, concentrated in the large highways of the central and northern central zone of the country, with significant gaps of information in areas such as the far north and extreme south of the country. These results coincide with studies conducted by the National Forestry Corporation and call for the urgent generation of public policies to address the problem at the national level, considering the recent announcements on the incorporation of wildlife crossings in new roads and the incipient development of educational campaigns by the State and NGOs.
IMPACT OF MARINE WILDLIFE TOURISM ON THE DIET AND BEHAVIOUR OF FOXES (LYCALOPEX SPP.), COQUIMBO REGION, CHILE
The increase in tourism within natural areas can alter the feeding and behavioral patterns of wildlife, potentially affecting their health and survival. We hypothesized that high tourist influx along Route D-110-C (Coquimbo Region, Chile) modifies both the diet and behavior of local fox populations. To evaluate this, 96 scat samples were collected, and 17 behavioral encounters were recorded in September 2023, focusing on dietary composition and “flight initiation distance” (FID) in response to human presence. Results revealed a diet composition dominated by invertebrates (84.4%), plant material -- herbaceous remains (84.4%) and seeds (65.6%) -- and small mammals -- hair (78.1%) and bone fragments (32.3%). Anthropogenic waste was found in 31.3% of the scat samples, mainly chewing gum and plastic fragments. Notably, 76.5% of the encounters involved voluntary approaches towards the observer, with a mean FID of 3.6 meters. These findings suggest that tourism influences both dietary intake and tolerance to human disturbance. We recommend promoting clean and respectful environments in natural areas, implementing ongoing monitoring of diet and behavior, and, where possible, incorporating biomarker analyses for health and toxicity in wild fox populations.
CITIZEN SCIENCE TO STUDY AIR POLLUTION ECONOMICALLY
Air pollution is becoming a growing problem for our health, causing complications such as asthma, shortness of breath, coughing, or throat irritation, and even heart problems. The main causes of air pollution are currently industrial development and the emission of polluting gases from transportation. For this reason, this study has investigated the air pollution at IES Betxí. This was all part of the state-wide citizen science project Amiaire.org (Amiaire, 2025), in which more than 100 educational centers across Spain participated. Using simple paper sensors coated with petroleum jelly, we were able to collect samples of airborne particulate matter. Additionally, IES Betxí was chosen to receive a digital sensor for measuring suspended particles. This allowed the project’s researchers to verify the reliability of the paper sensors as a method for measuring air quality. Overall, the air quality in our school has been generally good, in line with the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, there was a significant difference between the outdoor air quality (good) and the measurements taken in our 4th-year ESO classroom for the Curricular Diversification Program (4PDC), where the air quality was moderate. This project was also crucial for applying all the steps of the scientific method studied in the scientific field subject, as the students in this class were the ones who developed all parts of it.
ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF LEAD ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONION (ALLIUM CEPA) FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
Lead, a mutagenic agent, can intensify the function of regulatory genes, generating uncontrolled cell proliferation that may result in tumour formation, causing physiological failures and increased energy expenditure in multicellular organisms (Rey et al., 2017). The literature reports high concentrations of toxic elements in the waters of the Maipo River basin. It is established that in 80% of Santiago’s drinking water, arsenic exceeds the Chilean standard by 5%, and lead surpasses the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation by 170%. This element can dissolve into drinking water due to pipe wear and erosion. In the experiment, Allium cepa will be exposed to lead nitrate in aqueous solution to compare its effects on bulb diameter, root and stem growth, and biomass. Through this project, we aim to infer how lead may impact the agricultural productivity of A. cepa, since reduced quality would lead to a decrease in supply, a price increase, and consequently affect the Chilean population’s diet, hindering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of “Zero Hunger”.
Our study aims to investigate the effect of CO-2 accumulation during lessons, considering factors such as student density, classroom size, and inadequate ventilation, all of which can impact academic performance. To this end, we conducted a practical investigation designed to address the following research question: “Can the accumulation of CO-2 from students’ respiration affect academic performance in the absence of ventilation?” The proposed hypothesis states that high student density and poor ventilation in the classroom lead to an excess of CO-2 in this physical space, which negatively affects students’ concentration levels. The objective of our work is to contribute to a better understanding of internal school factors that influence students’ academic performance. Specifically, we examined aspects of classroom ventilation (CO-2 accumulation) and their relationship with students’ concentration during lessons. As a result, we observed a significant effect of ventilation and student density on CO-2 accumulation during lessons. This provides evidence of a significant correlation between CO-2 accumulation and students’ attention, indicating a reduction in concentration as CO-2 levels increase.
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY MICROALGAE AND THEIR MAIN CAUSES OF GROWTH IN THE SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
In this study, we present vegetation estimates for the South Shetland Islands based on remote sensing. Using the combination of bands provided by the Sentinel-2 satellite, we calculated a Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is a numerical indicator strongly associated with vegetation content. Higher NDVI values correspond to areas that reflect more in the near-infrared spectrum, as greater reflectance in this band indicates higher vegetation cover. Algal biomass on snow results in a reduction in albedo compared to clean snow. Visible green patches reduce snow albedo by approximately 40 %. In comparison, red patches reduce it by 20 %, since algal pigments not only act as protective compounds but also play a functional role in snow and ice melt (Khan et al., 2021). Based on these remote sensing results, we aim to identify areas with higher NDVI values to analyse the main drivers of microalgae growth and bloom.
EVALUATION OF BACTERIAL RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS PRESENT IN THE MAPOCHO RIVER DURING THE WINTER SEASON
Water bodies have been among the most frequently studied subjects due to the increasing anthropogenic input of pharmaceutical waste, which has been observed in recent times and severely impacts the ecosystems involved. To address this, a study was conducted using the Mapocho River as a sampling site, a location where the presence of pharmaceutical residues, including antimicrobial compounds, has previously been confirmed. Therefore, it can be inferred that at specific points with higher contamination levels, antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be present. Through the characterisation and zoning of the water body under study, sampling was carried out, and the collected samples were subsequently subjected to laboratory analysis to evaluate bacterial resistance to antimicrobial compounds. Upon completion of this process, the results indicated the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the lower sector of the river, which could be related to contamination from pharmaceutical products. This helps identify the negative factors influencing the area due to the hazardous nature of this type of pollution.