Newsletter: New Study Finds Alarmingly Low Genetic Diversity in Philippine Eagle

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

This figure illustrates the exceptionally low genetic diversity of the Philippine eagle across threatened species (Panel A), compared with other raptors (Panel B), and at the individual level (Panel C). (Photo credit: Perdon et al., 2026)

The Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird, is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. Susceptible to habitat destruction and fragmentation, it is currently listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making it one of the most threatened birds globally. To help ensure its survival, scientists have carried out a captive breeding program in protected facilities for over 30 years as part of conservation efforts.

Newsletter: Diliman Entrepreneurs Learn to Create, Connect, and Stay CyberSmart

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Entrepreneurs from across sectors gathered at the University of the Philippines in Diliman for a learning session held during the 8th BUYanihan sa Diliman, organized by the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – E-Commerce Bureau and supported by PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart)

Newsletter: UP MSI and Partners Launch Kalalawdan Fellowship Program Batch 2 to Strengthen Science-Based Maritime Governance in the Philippines

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By Sofia Guanzon, Microbial Oceanography Laboratory, UP MSI

A new cohort of researchers, government professionals, and local policymakers from across the Philippines will soon convene under the Kalalawdan Fellowship Program as Project NEXUS 2.0 expands efforts to strengthen the connection between marine science and policymaking in the country. As an archipelagic and maritime nation, pursuing and strengthening science-based development is not only needed but necessary. However, attaining this will require policy reforms that are both science-enabling and science-enabled. These are the challenges faced by the Lawod Fellows as they embark on a seven-month training under the Fellowship program.

Newsletter: New Science-Themed Children’s Book Spotlights Filipina Scientist

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The Sulong Agham children’s book series on Filipino scientists has recently published its newest book featuring Dr. Gay Jane Perez, Director General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and professor at the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM).

Newsletter: How Land Use Shapes the Viruses Mosquitoes Carry, UP Study Finds

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Virome sequencing performed on Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus used in the study in 2018 revealed

sequences belonging to vertebrate-associated and insect-specific viruses (Asin et al,. 2025).

Mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are known to transmit diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, may carry more than just viruses that affect humans. They also host insect-specific viruses that do not infect people, some of which may even inhibit the multiplication of disease-causing viruses. This implies that mosquitoes can serve as valuable tools for detecting both known and emerging viruses that may impact public health.

Newsletter: Filipino Scientists Develop Novel Method to Refine Mathematical Models and Identify Drug Targets

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Biological processes like the Wnt signaling pathway—which regulates crucial development and helps keep the body’s tissues functioning normally and in balance—are often described by scientists using mathematical maps called reaction networks, which serve as the foundation of mathematical models. These allow scientists to examine and compare models based on their structure alone without needing or with minimal specific parameter values. Although several Wnt models exist, they differ in how they represent the same underlying biological system. To address this, Filipino mathematicians introduced a new method to find the common ground between these different maps.

Newsletter: UP Study Maps Riverbank Plants in Occidental Mindoro

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Riparian vegetation, or the plants that grow along riverbanks, is crucial for healthy river ecosystems but is sensitive to changes in river flow, sediment, and land disturbance.

Newsletter: UP Study Traces Extreme Waves through Ancient Coastal Boulders

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Large boulders, some weighing as much as a large truck, are scattered along the rocky coastline of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Apply Green Method to Produce Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Applications

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Scientists from the University of the Philippines–Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have advanced a greener approach to silver nanoparticle (AgNP) synthesis by using gamma irradiation in combination with the natural seaweed-derived biopolymer ι-carrageenan. While gamma-radiolytic routes for AgNP formation have been reported previously, the specific role of ι-carrageenan in stabilizing and influencing nanoparticle formation during radiolysis has remained largely underexplored.

Newsletter: “From Cradle To Grave”: UP Chemist Explains Chemistry’s Role in Global Treaties

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Chemistry has long driven progress in fields ranging from agriculture and healthcare to energy and infrastructure. Its innovations fuel economic growth, improve quality of life, and help countries meet their fundamental societal needs. Yet chemistry’s dual nature—capable of producing both beneficial and harmful substances—means it can be used for both good and nefarious purposes.

Newsletter: UP Meteorologists Study How Storms Evolve Near PH Coasts, Highlighting Urgent Preparedness Needs

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Landfall distribution according to latitude. (Photo credit: Racoma & Bagtasa, 2025)

An analysis of 45 years’ worth of Philippine tropical cyclone (TC) data reveals insights into how storms behave as they approach and make landfall in the country—considered as one of the world’s most cyclone-prone regions.

Newsletter: Scientists Document New Box Jellyfish Species in PH Waters

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The Philippines, located within the Coral Triangle, is recognized as one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. Yet, many marine species—such as carybdeid box jellyfish—remain poorly documented. Their potent venom and ecological significance underline the importance of conducting accurate taxonomic studies on box jellyfish.

Newsletter: UP Chemists Synthesize New Hybrid Molecules That Limit Cancer Cell Spread

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Graphical abstract of the study. (Photo credit: Concio et. al., 2025)

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Philippines recorded nearly 189,000 new cancer cases and more than 113,000 cancer-related deaths in 2022. Globally, IARC also projects that the number of new cases will rise to over 35 million by 2050, which is a 77% increase from 2022 figures. Meanwhile, the 2025 Philippine National Cancer Summit reports that more than 180,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and cancer is estimated to cause over 300 Filipino deaths daily. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for continued research and innovation in cancer treatment.

Newsletter: ‘Forged in Mentorship and Innovation’: New UPD-CS Dean Outlines Future Plans

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma was recently affirmed as the new Dean of UPD-CS last October 20.

As the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) enters a new era driven by guidance and innovation, one of the country’s leading molecular biologists now takes the helm to steer the college towards excellence.

Newsletter: UP Researchers Record First Measurement of Elusive Light Shift in Low-Loss Dielectric Materials

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

A laser reflecting off glass looks like it follows the mirror rule—angle in equals angle out. But with sensitive tools, the spot shifts slightly, no bigger than a strand of hair. This elusive effect, called the Goos–Hänchen (GH) shift, was recently explored by scientists from the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) in materials that barely absorb light—such as those used in semiconductors and photonics.

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 Uncover Influence of Reflected Shock Waves on Plasma Behavior

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

Scientists around the world have extensively studied the expansion of laser-produced plasma (LPP) and the shock waves it generates in a background gas. However, little attention has been given to how the reflected shock wave—one that bounces back from a surface—affects the expanding plasma, despite its potential impact on LPP behavior.

Number density maps of copper and background gas species (helium and argon) at maximum plume compression under different background gas pressures. The times at which maximum plume compression occurs are indicated in the maps. (Photo credit: Emperado et al., 2025).

Dr. Rommil Emperado, Dr. Myles Allen Zosa, and Dr. Wilson Garcia of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP), together with Dr. Lean Dasallas of the UPD-CS Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), analyzed the interaction of copper LPP with surrounding gas through the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, which simulates particle behavior using random numbers.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Identify Plant Boosting Bacteria in Bamboo and Corn

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Farmers usually use chemical fertilizers to grow their crops, but these can be expensive and may harm the environment. A more efficient and cheaper alternative is the use of specific microorganisms called plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). PGPB help plants absorb more nutrients and produce growth hormones that boost crop production. Using PGPB as biofertilizers can provide the same benefits as chemical fertilizers—without the harmful effects.

Newsletter: Recent UP Study Finds Social Media a Valuable Tool for Understanding Philippine Tarsiers

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The world of social media has become an increasingly important source of data for biodiversity and conservation, especially for rare or little-known species such as the Philippine tarsier. However, despite its popularity, there is still limited information about where it lives and how it behaves in the wild.

Distribution of Philippine tarsiers within the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region based on Facebook data between 2006 and 2024. (Photo credit: Tabeta & Bejar, 2025).

Maria Sabrina Tabeta and Simeon Gabriel Bejar of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) explored public posts and group posts on Facebook that mentioned Philippine tarsiers.