In search of the origin of the Universe

Researchers from the Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute (IFGW) are part of a consortium made up of a dozen countries that is installing the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory in Argentina. The project, which occupies an area of ​​3 thousand m2 and will be completed in 2005, will allow scientists to detect, analyze and interpret rare particles of very high energy. The expectation is that the data obtained will help to understand more about the big bang, the explosion that gave rise to the universe. page 12

Street children help family
A Unicamp study reveals that children who work on street corners in Campinas attend school and help with the family budget.
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Cocoa plague is mapped
The genetic sequencing of witches' broom, a pest that has caused serious damage to Brazilian cocoa farming, is close to being completed. Eight groups of scientists, coordinated by a team from Unicamp, are involved in the work. Once the research is ready in 2003, they will have a kind of "instruction manual" for the fungus, which will allow the microorganism to be attacked more efficiently. page 3

The country is already the 3rd largest incubator 
Brazil is already the third largest business incubator in the world, according to figures from the National Association of Entities Promoting Advanced Technology Ventures (Antropec). In the last four years, incubators generated R$600 million and grew 220%, going from 74 to 234 units, most of them technology-based. Codetec, the first national incubator, emerged at Unicamp in the mid-1970s. Pages 6 and 7

The evils generated by real estate speculation
Research shows the damage caused by the real estate sector in the subdivision of agricultural areas in the Campinas districts of Sousas and Joaquim Egídio (photo).page 5