Newsletter: UP Physicists Visualize Evolution of Global Values Over Four Decades

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) have generated culture maps using data from the Integrated Values Survey (IVS).

Newsletter: UP Researchers Predict Antimicrobial Resistance Using AI Models

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common bacterium that lives in the intestines of animals and humans, and it is often used to identify fecal contamination within the environment. E. coli can also easily develop resistance to antibiotics, making it an ideal organism for testing antimicrobial resistance—especially in certain agricultural environments where fecal material is used as manure or wastewater is reused.

Newsletter: UP Biologists Help Discover New Philippine Forest Mice Species in Mindoro

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By: Rio Constantino

Mouse A: A. gracilirostris; mouse B: A. veluzi; mouse C: A. crinitus; mouse D: A. minor (Photo credit: Heaney et. al 2025)

Mindoro is home to a unique bounty of endemic mammalian wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This includes the famous tamaraw, the Mindoro warty pig, and the humble Mindoro shrew. Now, three more species are added to the list, thanks to the recent discovery of Philippine forest mice—all belonging to the Apomys genus.

Newsletter: The Hidden Crisis - Groundwater Quality in the Philippines and Why It Matters

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By: John Kenneth R. Fraga

PGHI Project staff measuring onsite groundwater quality using a multimeter in one of the forested sites in Ilocos Sur. (Photo credit: Jacquilyn L. Estrada)

Groundwater—water trapped beneath the Earth's surface—is a resource that may be out of sight, but it is certainly not out of mind for many Filipinos. This invisible resource is vital for everyday life, especially in agriculture, where it provides the lifeblood for irrigation. However, as our demand for food grows and technology allows us to tap deeper into the Earth, groundwater faces an urgent crisis of over-extraction and contamination that demands immediate attention.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Explore Marine Microbial Genomes from Mabini, Batangas

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a process in which groundwater from land seeps into the ocean, transporting freshwater, nutrients, metals, and even pollutants into marine ecosystems. The diverse microbial communities in these SGD sites make them hotspots for biological and chemical activity, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Studying these microorganisms helps scientists not only understand their impact on marine ecosystems, but also explore their potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.

Newsletter: UP Study Identifies Potential Biomarkers for Early Lung Cancer Detection

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Graphical abstract of the study. (Photo credit: Dimayacyac-Esleta et al., 2025)

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with nearly 2 million deaths. In the Philippines in 2022, it recorded 23,728 new cases—making it the second most common cancer after breast cancer—and caused 20,953 deaths, the highest among all cancer types. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for more than 80% of cases. Experts say that late diagnosis and challenges in treating late-stage cases are the main factors affecting the cancer mortality rate, including NSCLC.

Newsletter: UP Biologists Investigate Multidrug-resistant Salmonella in Chicken

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Biologists from the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science, Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) call for further and more in-depth surveillance of foodborne pathogens like the bacterium Salmonella in poultry products. Infections caused by Salmonella typically result in symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, which usually appear 6 to 72 hours after ingestion of Salmonella, and can last 2-7 days.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Analyze Thin Films Deposited with Femtosecond Pulsed Laser

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Traditional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) methods typically use high-energy lasers with nanosecond-long pulses. Inspired by this, scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) challenged the conventional approach by using a lower-energy femtosecond laser with nanojoule pulse energy.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Develop Advanced Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The massive floods that tropical cyclones bring now demand urgent and science-based decision-making.

The Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System determines specific areas in the Philippines that are most likely to be affected by severe flooding. (Photo credit: Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay)

Considered one of the most devastating natural hazards globally, floods pose critical threats to both human life and economic stability. The Philippines is no stranger to flooding, as approximately 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year. According to the 2023 World Risk Index Report, the country also ranks first among those most affected by extreme weather events.

Newsletter: UP Physicist Among Winners of Prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

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By: The ATLAS Collaboration

Dr. Marvin Flores, Assistant Professor of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) and the Team Leader of the ATLAS group based in the Philippines, is among the thousands of researchers worldwide honored with the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, awarded to the A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS (ATLAS) Collaboration at the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN)'s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) alongside its sister experiments A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE), Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), and Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb).

Newsletter: “Of War and Peace, and Chemistry”: A New Commentary Co-written by One of UP’s Chemistry Experts

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

While chemistry greatly contributed to the world’s advancement, it also threatens human health and safety. (Photo credit: Michael Glazier, Unsplash)

Dr. Imee Su Martinez of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC) and Günter Povoden of the University of Technology’s Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Vienna, Austria, recently published an article entitled “Of War and Peace, and Chemistry,” which highlights the critical role of chemistry in both enabling warfare and fostering international peace and security.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Introduce Eco-Friendly Way to Create Gold Nanocorals

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have pioneered a simpler, faster, cheaper, and more eco-friendly method to fabricate gold nanocorals by using natural, low-cost acids in water at room temperature.

A representative SEM image (false-colored) of Au nanocorals. (Photo credit: Ende et al., 2025)

Gold nanostructures have unique properties that depend on their shape. Branched structures resembling tiny corals, particularly gold nanocorals, have been proven valuable in applications such as chemical detection (SERS-based), fluorescence imaging, and catalysis. However, their production often involves complex, costly, and environmentally harmful processes.

Newsletter: UP Biologists Develop an Aptamer-based Test for Trichomoniasis Detection

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Schematic representation of the assay. (Photo credit: Justo et al., 2024)

The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics as significant public health threats by 2030. One of the four main non-viral and curable STIs, trichomoniasis, stays persistent, affecting 156 million out of 376 million individuals aged 15–49 in     . About 70–85% of persons with trichomoniasis show no signs of infection, highlighting the urgent need for accurate, fast, and accessible detection of Trichomonas vaginalis, the parasite that causes the infection.

Newsletter: UPD-CS Mathematicians Introduce Innovative Matrix Decomposition Framework

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Matrix decomposition is an area of linear algebra which is focused on expressing a matrix as a product of matrices with prescribed properties. (Photo credit: Merino et al., 2024)

Imagine discovering an ancient treasure chest sealed with a complex dual-lock mechanism, requiring two keys that must work together in a precise way. A matrix—a rectangular array of numbers—is like a locked chest holding valuable information that helps us understand the world around us. Matrices need keys like decompositions, which break them down into simpler components while preserving their essential properties, to help us understand them better. At times, special kinds of decompositions are required to have a deeper understanding of matrices.

Newsletter: UPD-CS Spearheads Workshop on Promoting Innovation and Industry Collaboration

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Participants of the OGSM Workshop. (Photo credit: UPD-CS Innovation Committee)

Institutions around the globe are working toward creating scientific innovations to address the challenges faced by humanity. Likewise, Filipino scientists are striving to find solutions to the Philippines' concerns.

Newsletter: UP Geologist Represents Southeast Asia in Global Young Scientists Summit 2025

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Dr. John Dale Dianala of UPD-CS NIGS represented UP Diliman at the GYSS 2025. (Photo credit: Global Young Scientists Summit)

Dr. John Dale Dianala from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS) presented his research on the earthquake potential of faults using satellites at the recently concluded Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2025.

Newsletter: UP Geologists Report Subsidence Rates in Select PH Metropolitan Cities

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Land subsidence, or the gradual sinking of the ground, threatens not only Metro Manila but also other cities.

Extreme damage running along the length of a road in Marilao, Bulacan is visible. (Photo credit: Sulapas et. al., 2024)

Excessive groundwater extraction, rapid urbanization, tectonic motion, and the natural compaction of sediments contribute to land subsidence worldwide. This issue is worsened by rising sea levels due to climate change, leading to frequent and severe flooding especially during high tides or typhoons, as well as local contexts of hazard management regulations.

Newsletter: CS Researchers Receive UPD 2024 REPS Chair and REPS Awards

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Researchers from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) are recipients of the University’s first-ever recognition for its Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS).

Researchers from UPD-CS will be recognized at UP Diliman’s first-ever recognition focused on its Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS). (Photo credit: Craig Soroño).

The UP Diliman REPS Chair and REPS Awards aims to recognize the achievements of the REPS in the fields of research and creative work, extension services, and professional public service. These awards also aim to encourage REPS to advance knowledge and learning in their respective fields, establish scientific and thought laboratories, and develop collaborative programs that support UP’s mandate as the nation’s leading research university.

Newsletter: Save Philippine Seas and UP Diliman College of Science Host 2-Day Workshop on Science Communication

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

Participants and organizers take a photo in front of the UPD-CS Admin Building. (Photo credit: SPS)

Selected students and researchers from the University of the Philippines – Diliman (UPD) participated in the Commservation Workshop, a two-day event focused on the basics of science communication and conservation. The workshop was organized by the UPD College of Science (UPD-CS) in collaboration with the non-profit organization Save Philippine Seas (SPS) and took place on October 12 and 14.

Newsletter: Documentary on UP Marine Science Institute’s work on plastics wins at Bantog Awards

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

MSI researchers are collecting sediment samples from coastal areas, which will be analyzed in their laboratory to detect the presence of microplastic particles. (Photo credit: Microbial Oceanography Laboratory)

A documentary featuring projects of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) received the Best Science and Technology Investigative Story (Audio-Visual) trophy at the Department of Science and Technology’s 2024 Bantog Awards for Science Communication.