Newsletter: UP Scientists’ Invention Could Lower Terahertz Antenna Device Cost

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have developed a new semiconductor structure that could lead to more affordable and reliable terahertz (THz) technology—used in applications ranging from medical imaging to high-speed wireless communication.

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 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: Tapuy rice wine fermentation yields possible anti-aging superfood

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Filipino researchers have found a way to optimize the traditional procedure for making Philippine rice wine or “tapuy” to produce a potential superfood rich in anti-aging compounds and antioxidants. 

“Tapuy” rice wine starts out as a mixture of black and white glutinous rice (A), which is fermented using a starter culture or “bubod.” After a month, the solid residues from the fermentation process or “lees” (B) are filtered out and usually discarded. CREDIT: Bragais and Medina, 2025

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: Venomous Jellyfish Found in PH Waters, Biologists Confirm

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Box jellyfishes are known for their distinctive box-like appearance and their potent venom, which can cause severe stings and fatalities. In the Philippines, many coastal communities are well aware of the dangers posed by box jellyfishes, but Filipino scientists noted that the government does not have a systematic plan to address this issue.

Preserved specimen of C. yamaguchii. (Photo credit: Boco et al., 2025)

Based on previous studies by marine researchers, a team of biologists hypothesized that Chironex yamaguchii, a dangerous species of box jellyfish known from Japan, is also present in Philippine waters. This box jellyfish was found to cause severe stings and even fatalities in the Indo-Pacific and Western Pacific regions. Their tentacles can inflict extreme pain, cause skin injuries with welts, and even trigger heart attacks and death.

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: UPD Experts Determine the Optimal Model for Predicting Algal Blooms

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By Harvey Sapigao

Graphical abstract of the study (Photo credit: Pilario et. al. 2024).

Algal blooms, which occur when algae overgrow in bodies of water, can not only turn the water green but also kill fish and contaminate the water supply of nearby communities. Laguna Lake, one of Metro Manila’s major sources of bangus and tilapia, as well as drinking water, is particularly prone to algal blooms, especially during El Niño.

Newsletter: UPMV K9 Dog Obedience Workshop Open to the Public

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The University of the Philippines - Metro Manila Development Authority - Vanguard K9 Corps (UPMV K9 Corps) invites all dog owners to our Dog Obedience Workshop, happening on January 25 and February 1, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This two-day event aims to foster stronger bonds between owners and their canine companions while promoting responsible pet ownership as part of our disaster preparedness initiatives.