Newsletter: Bird poop to the rescue: Using bird perches for forest regeneration

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By: Dr. Jelaine L. Gan

Reforestation activities typically involve planting trees in degraded areas. However, tree planting is resource-intensive, requiring labor for the planting and more importantly nurturing of the seedlings, and may be expensive and limited by seedling supply. Moreover, there is always a question of whether the right plant species (i.e., native rather than non-native economically important species) are being planted to benefit biodiversity. 

Newsletter: UPD Study Uses AI Model to Predict Tropical Cyclone Rainfall

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Graphical abstract of the AI-based accumulated tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall model.

(Photo credit: Mesias & Bagtasa, 2025)

The Philippines is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), which bring heavy rainfall that can cause floods and landslides. More often than not, the patterns of TCs repeat. For instance, if a typhoon with a certain amount of rainfall passes through Central Luzon, a similar typhoon that will pass through Central Luzon again in the future is likely to have the same amount and distribution of rainfall.

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: Scientists warn vs. ‘indirect’ effect of tropical cyclones during the monsoon season

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Tropical cyclones hundreds of kilometers away from the Philippines are often more responsible for heavy rainfall than those that hit the country directly during the annual “Habagat” or southwest monsoon season from July to September, according to new research.

Newsletter: UP Study Reveals Insights on the Probiotic and Antifungal Benefits of Bacteria in Burong Isda

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By Harvey Sapigao

Limosilactobacillus fermentum colonies on agar, derived from burong isda. (Photo credit: Joshua Veluz)

Filipino fermented foods have long been known to contain bacteria that offer health benefits, also known as probiotics. Burong isda, a traditional fermented fish from Pampanga, contains a bacterium called Limosilactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), which is closely related to the well-known Lactobacillus probiotics.

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: Filipino scientists develop low-cost liquid lenses

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Water droplets maintain their spherical shape and optical properties when placed on a hydrophobic surface made by coating a glass slide with electrospun PVC fibers. The optical properties can be changed by simply adjusting the volume of water in the droplet. (SOURCE: Budlayan et al., 2025)

Filipino scientists have discovered a simple, affordable way to make dynamically adjustable water-based lenses that have a wide variety of potential future applications—from classrooms and research labs to cameras and even wearable gadgets. 

Newsletter: UP Scientists Explore Alanine’s Effect on Spider Venom Antimicrobial Peptide

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue, making the search for a new generation of antibiotics imperative. Scientists investigate various compounds to discover new antibiotics, one class of which is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), produced by organisms in response to bacterial infections.

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: Pinoy scientists make aluminum transparent by using tiny acid droplets

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Transparent aluminum oxide (TAlOx), a real material despite its sci-fi name, is incredibly hard and resistant to scratches, making it perfect for protective coatings on electronics, optical sensors, and solar panels. On the sci-fi show Star Trek, it is even used for starship windows and spacefaring aquariums. 

Newsletter: Memes improve learning and attitude towards science, Ateneo study finds

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Ateneo de Manila University researchers have found that using internet memes to teach science can significantly improve learning outcomes for senior high school students.

Sample memes that were successfully used to teach biology to Grade 11 high school students. The students not only scored better in tests, they also said they felt more confident in their newfound ability to grasp and use scientific concepts. SOURCES: Reddit.com, Twimg.com, Imgflip.com, and Pinimg.com

Over 200 Filipino private high school students in Grade 11 were involved in the study, which specifically focused on kids in non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) tracks who are required to take biology as part of their curriculum. The students were divided into two groups: the experimental classes, where teachers gave biology lessons infused with memes; and the control classes, which received traditional teaching materials without any meme content.

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: Ateneo scientists investigate bangus milkfish skin for treating severe burns

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Pioneering research from the Ateneo de Manila University could turn bangus fish skin—a common byproduct of the Philippine fishing industry, often discarded as waste—into an invaluable medical resource.

Skin samples from tilapia (top) and bangus (bottom) immersed in silver nanoparticle (AgNP) solution for sterilization in the laboratory. CREDIT: Bianca Patrice Go

The Ateneo scientists found that milkfish (Chanos chanos, better known as “bangus” in the Philippines) could give doctors an economical way to treat patients with massive burns and other major injuries.

Newsletter: Ateneo student builds chemical purity tester from LEGO

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Using simple circuitry, polarizing film, and LEGO® toy bricks, an undergraduate physics student from the Ateneo de Manila University recently built an improvised polarimeter that can optically assess the purity of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other chiral substances. The device has potential applications in classrooms as a learning tool, and may pave the way for more cost-effective means to monitor the quality of some consumer products.

The Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s polarimeter setup, built mostly out of LEGO® toy bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components. SOURCE: Felicidario and delos Santos.

Polarimeters are invaluable laboratory instruments that can help infer the purity of a chemical by measuring the angle of rotation of polarized light that passed through the test sample. However, laboratory-grade polarimeters are prohibitively expensive, with a high-end model costing over $11,500 and a commercial manual polarimeter priced at over $1,200. This makes their acquisition and use difficult if not impossible for small laboratories and classrooms in developing countries like the Philippines. 

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.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Create Thermoresponsive Polymers for Potential Biomedical Use

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

Thermoresponsive polymers are molecules that undergo significant changes in their properties in response to temperature changes and are widely used in biomedicine, such as drug delivery, tissue growth, and gene transfer, as noted by researchers Ward and Georgiou in their 2011 study.

Newsletter: How do ordinary people ‘sense’ water quality?

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Seeing—and tasting—is believing: a qualitative study of communities living along the Philippines’ bustling Marikina River underscores the importance of taking into account local peoples’ everyday experiences, practices, and perceptions in establishing water quality.

Newsletter: Ingredients in chewing gum help tilapia survive cold climates

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Researchers inspect blue vats containing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed with varying levels of Arabic gum and lecithin to see what effect these have on the fishes' survivability in cold climates. Photo credit: Benha University / National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt 

Two common ingredients in ordinary chewing gum – Arabic gum and lecithin – have been found to help improve the overall health of tilapia, helping these fish survive better even in cold climates. This discovery paves the way for raising tilapia for food outside of the tropical regions where they are commonly farmed.

Newsletter: Scientists Confirm Two Domesticated Buffalo Species in PH

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

A Philippine native carabao (Bubalus kerabau Fitzinger, 1860) dam and her calf grazing in Pitogo Island, Bohol. (Photo credit: Lilian P. Villamor, from Ruane et al., 2023)

Domesticated buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the country have traditionally been classified into two subspecies: swamp buffaloes and riverine buffaloes. A recent study, however, provides evidence that these two are not subspecies, but are instead distinct from each other.

Newsletter: Driving a Low-Carbon Future: How the Philippines is Leading the Charge in Carbon Emission Reduction

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The Philippines faces significant challenges in reducing carbon emissions, particularly from high-emission sectors like electricity, transport, and industry. In 2023, the country introduced the Low Carbon Economy Investment Act, which establishes a framework to help businesses reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through mandatory decarbonization plans, a carbon pricing mechanism, and access to carbon markets. This Act emphasizes the importance of encouraging businesses to develop long-term strategies aligned with global climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement. Companies that exceed their emissions limits must contribute to a Decarbonisation Fund, while those who go beyond their targets can earn carbon credits for trade in national and international markets. In the Philippines, electricity and heat production are the largest sources of CO2 emissions, followed by transport. The transport sector alone emits over 29 million tons of CO2 annually, while aviation and shipping add more than 2 million tons. Reducing emissions in these sectors will be crucial for the Philippines to meet its climate targets. Fuel-efficient technologies, like Aderco 2055G, offer practical solutions by improving fuel consumption and reducing emissions by 5.26%. If applied in the transport and shipping sectors, this technology could reduce emissions by over 1.6 million tons of CO2 annually.