Category Archives: Latest News

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. 

Thankfully, forests have built-in processes to regenerate or heal if we let them be. Reforestation activities can work with natural systems to accelerate natural forest recovery through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR). One strategy under the ANR approach targets the increase of the seed supply to the degraded areas. 

The idea is simple: add bird perches to degraded areas near the forest and attract the fruit-eating birds. While on the perch, they poop out seeds and plant the future forest! Easy, but is it really effective? 

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.

This piqued the interest of Cris Gino Mesias and Dr. Gerry Bagtasa of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM), who developed an AI model that links past TC tracks to recorded rainfall. The AI model still uses the same information about Philippine typhoons, but can spot patterns more quickly and efficiently.

“Most predictions of TC rainfall rely on dynamic models, which are very difficult to run as they take a lot of computational resources and require high-performance computing,” Dr. Bagtasa shared.

Compared to previous models, the AI model developed by the UP scientists can run within minutes on a laptop. “When we assessed the AI model, its predictive skill was comparable to a dynamic model that we regularly use. The AI model had better skills for extreme rainfall from tropical cyclones,” he added.

Dr. Bagtasa explained that the distance of the TC and its duration are the parameters that most influenced the AI model’s rainfall predictions, and these mainly determine who will be affected by heavy rains and how much rain the country will experience. For instance, a typhoon near Batanes would not be expected to cause heavy rains in Mindanao. Slow-moving TCs that spend more time over land also tend to bring more rainfall overall.

“This AI model, admittedly, is not perfect. But it can add to the suite of rainfall forecast models available to equip our disaster managers with more information on impending hazards,” he said. The model can also be updated with fresh data, allowing it to relearn and improve its accuracy.

The AI model developed by Mesias and Dr. Bagtasa is different from AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are known as large language models (LLMs). Dr. Bagtasa emphasized that not all AI systems are the same, making AI literacy an absolute necessity. “Some AI models, such as those for weather forecasting, can be useful and more efficient than conventional methods. But there are also some, like LLMs, that consume so much energy, leading to environmental impacts that are harmful to the planet,” he cautioned.

The study, titled “AI-Based Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Forecasting in the Philippines Using Machine Learning,” is published in Meteorological Applications. The research was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology–Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) and the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

References:

Mesias, C. G., & Bagtasa, G. (2025). AI‐based tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting in the Philippines using machine learning. Meteorological Applications, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70083

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.

Simulating Copper LPP Behavior

Using the DSMC method, the researchers modeled how the plasma plume—a cloud of hot, charged particles that rapidly expands from the target surface, similar to a tiny, high-speed explosion—behaves in a vacuum and in noble gases used for film deposition. They also simulated how shock waves form and propagate under different background gas pressures.

Collisions between the shock wave and the plume significantly affected the energy and shape of the LPP even before it reached the substrate—the surface where the thin film is formed—sparking the researchers’ interest. “When the shock wave collides with the plume that produced it, I only expected the plume energy to further decline when it loses energy to collisions,” Emperado said. “It’s surprising how the effect of plume-shock collisions also depends on the choice of background gas species.”

Emperado shared that, in the simulation, collisions between the copper plume and the shock wave in argon slightly increased the plume’s mean kinetic energy, while the opposite effect was observed when the plume collided with the shock wave in helium. This shows that reflected shock waves impact the LPP’s behavior.

Real-world Applications of LPP

LPP has interesting applications, from fabricating superconducting thin films to detecting trace elements on Mars. While many experiments have explored laser-produced shock waves in surrounding gas, this is the first study to ask: What if these shock waves reflect off a substrate? What happens when the reflected shock collides with the very plume that created it? This research also opens up more possibilities for real-world applications of LPP.

“Our findings could help improve how nanofoams and nanoparticles are created using pulsed laser deposition. Knowing how the plume interacts with reflected shock waves would help predict the plume’s behavior even before it reaches the surface to form nanostructures,” Emperado added. This could lead to more precise control over the size, shape, and quality of nanomaterials used in advanced technologies.

References:

Emperado, R. B., Allen, M., Dasallas, L. L., & Garcia, W. O. (2025). Direct simulation Monte Carlo modeling of shock-plume interactions during laser-produced plasma expansion in a background gas. Physics of Fluids, 37(3). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0256724

Bamboo and corn are known to harbor PGPB in their roots. “Corn is one of the most in-demand grains in the world and the second most valuable staple in the Philippines. Bamboo is an economically significant and high-value crop in the country, with the Philippines being the 5th leading exporter of bamboo globally. Increasing the yield of these crops could boost our economy,” Relucio-San Diego said.

A total of 27 bacterial strains were collected and identified through DNA analysis. These bacteria were tested in the laboratory to determine their plant-growth promoting abilities. Results showed that all the strains exhibited at least two beneficial traits. Four had genes for nitrogen fixation, including dinitrogenase reductase (nifH); 11 could solubilize phosphate in the soil, helping plants absorb it more effectively; all 27 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a natural plant hormone that promotes growth; and 24 produced siderophores, which help plants absorb iron.

Notably, two standout strains—Enterobacter roggenkampii B1-01 and Klebsiella oxytoca B1-04—exhibited all of the beneficial traits tested, demonstrating that bamboo and corn roots can host diverse bacteria capable of promoting plant growth, with potential applications in agriculture.

“If these microorganisms can be developed into a biofertilizer, they could help farmers improve the yield and quality of their crops,” Relucio-San Diego added. She noted, however, that this would require a long process involving additional funding, manpower, and appropriate facilities.

The first step in developing these strains into commercial biofertilizers is ensuring that the microorganisms used do not pose a threat to any form of life, especially humans and the environment. This involves checking whether they carry genes associated with human diseases or antimicrobial resistance. “Next is determining whether the microorganisms can improve plant growth, as observed in our in vitro tests and predicted by their genomic features. The best way to do this is through in planta or pot experiments,” Relucio-San Diego explained.

During pot experiments, the microorganisms are introduced to a specific plant model to assess their effects on plant growth (e.g., root elongation, increased biomass, stem elongation, etc.). These experiments must then be verified through appropriate tests before progressing to field trials. Only after successful field trials can these strains be developed into commercial biofertilizers.

The paper, titled “Multiple Plant Growth–Promoting Activities Exhibited by Root-Associated Bacteria Isolated From Bamboo and Corn,” was included in the International Journal of Microbiology, an open access journal publishing papers on microorganisms and their interaction with hosts and the environment. The research was also funded by NSRI, and the whole-genome sequencing was supported by Project 4, Probing Microbial Diversity in Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

References:

Flores, C. A., Siringan, M. A., & Relucio-San Diego, M. A. (2025). Multiple plant growth–promoting activities exhibited by root‐associated bacteria isolated from bamboo and corn. International Journal of Microbiology, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/ijm/6374935

Siniyasat nina Maria Sabrina Tabeta at Simeon Gabriel Bejar ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) ang mga pampublikong post at group post sa Facebook na nagbanggit ng mga Philippine tarsier.

Pagkatapos mangalap ng kabuuang 1,125 post na nai-publish sa pagitan ng 2006 at 2024, nag-mapa ang mga mananaliksik ng mga lokasyon kung saan naka-engkuwentro ng mga tao ang mga tarsier at natukoy kung ang mga lugar na ito ay nasa loob ng Protected Areas o Key Biodiversity Areas.

“Nagulat kami sa aming natuklasan—nag-ulat ang mga tao ng mga engkuwentro ng mga tarsier sa 29 na lalawigan, na higit sa dalawang beses ang bilang na nakalista sa mga opisyal na conservation records tulad ng Red List ng International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) o kahit na ng citizen science platform na iNaturalist,” ibinahagi ng mga biologist sa isang email interview.

Marami sa mga engkuwentro sa pagitan ng mga tao at mga tarsier ay naganap sa labas ng mga protected areas, kadalasan sa mga lugar na apektado ng mga aktibidad ng tao. Batay sa mga resulta ng pag-aaral, tila ang mga tarsier ay madaling masanay sa mga kapaligirang binago ng tao, na taliwas sa mga naunang haka-haka.

“Habang ang karamihan sa mga post ay nagpapakita ng mga tarsier sa konteksto ng ecotourism, ang iba ay nagtatampok ng wild sightings ng naturang primate, mga indibidwal sa pangangalaga ng mga tao, mga handover sa mga awtoridad, rescues, at kahit na mga kaso ng mga nasaktan o namatay,” dagdag pa nila.

Sa pamamagitan ng ilan sa mga post sa Facebook na kanilang sinuri, natukoy din ng mga biologist ang mga umuusbong na banta sa mga tarsier, tulad ng mga pag-atake ng mga alagang aso at pusa, sunog sa kagubatan, at mga proyekto sa imprastraktura. Ang mga ito ay nagpapatunay sa pagtaas ng engkuwentro ng mga tao at mga tarsier, na maaaring ilagay sa panganib ang naturang species.

“Ipinapakita ng pag-aaral na ito kung paano ang mga post sa social media ay maaaring makapagdulot ng mga makabuluhang pananaw tungkol sa mga mailap na species tulad ng Philippine tarsier at tumulong na punan ang mga di pa nasasagot na katanungang iniwan ng traditional research,” paliwanag ng mga biologist. “Higit pa rito, itinatampok nito kung paano ang lahat ay maaaring makapag-ambag sa conservation sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagbabahagi ng kanilang mga obserbasyon sa wildlife.”

Upang mapanatili ang momentum, inilunsad ng mga biologist ang Philippine Tarsier Conservation and Research Initiative sa Facebook—isang plataporma para sa pagbabahagi ng kaalaman, pagpapataas ng kamalayan, at pagpapasigla ng pagkilos upang protektahan ang mga tarsier.

Ang kanilang pag-aaral, na pinamagatang “Improving Our Understanding of a Cryptic Primate, the Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta), Through Social Media,” ay inilathala sa International Journal of Primatology, isang multidisciplinary forum na nakatuon sa mga pinakabagong pananaliksik ukol sa mga bagay tungkol sa pag-aaral ng mga primate.

References:

Tabeta, M. S. G., & Bejar, S. G. F. (2025). Improving Our Understanding of a Cryptic Primate, the Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta), Through Social Media. International Journal of Primatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-025-00495-1

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.

After gathering a total of 1,125 posts published between 2006 and 2024, the researchers mapped out the locations where people encountered tarsiers and identified whether these places were within Protected Areas or Key Biodiversity Areas.

“What we found was astonishing—people reported encountering tarsiers in 29 provinces, which is more than twice the number listed in official conservation records like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List or even the citizen science platform iNaturalist,” the biologists shared in an email interview.

Many of the encounters between humans and tarsiers took place outside protected areas, often in environments altered by human activity. The results of the study suggest that tarsiers may be more adaptable to human-altered environments than what was initially thought.

“While most posts showed tarsiers in the context of ecotourism, others featured wild sightings of the primate, individuals kept in captivity, handovers to authorities, rescues, and even cases involving injury or death,” they added.

Through some of the Facebook posts they analyzed, the biologists also identified emerging threats to tarsiers, such as attacks by pet dogs and cats, forest fires, and infrastructure projects. These trends point to increasing contact between people and tarsiers, which could put the species at risk.

“This study shows how social media posts can offer meaningful insights about elusive species like the Philippine tarsier and help fill in gaps left by traditional research,” the biologists explained. “Furthermore, it highlights how everyone can play a part in conservation just by sharing their observations of wildlife.”

To keep the momentum going, the biologists launched the Philippine Tarsier Conservation and Research Initiative on Facebook—a platform for sharing knowledge, raising awareness, and sparking action to protect tarsiers.

Their study, titled “Improving Our Understanding of a Cryptic Primate, the Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta), Through Social Media,” is published in the International Journal of Primatology, a multidisciplinary forum devoted to current research in fundamental primatology.

References:

Tabeta, M. S. G., & Bejar, S. G. F. (2025). Improving Our Understanding of a Cryptic Primate, the Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta), Through Social Media. International Journal of Primatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-025-00495-1

Sina Vince Angelo Gicaraya mula sa Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) at Institute of Biology (IB) sa UPD-CS, Dr. Carmela Española mula rin sa IB at Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), at mga biologist mula sa Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at iba pang kawani ng DENR mula sa Pampanga, kasama ng mga lokal na guide at volunteer, ay nagsagawa ng isang survey ng mga established at off-trail route sa Subic mula Pebrero hanggang Hunyo 2022.

Nakahanap ang grupo ng mga pugad ng 10 species ng mga ibong namumugad sa butas sa kapwa buhay at patay na mga katutubong puno, kabilang na ang kupang (Parkia timoriana) at puting lauan (Shorea contorta). Gamit ang multinomial logistic regression modeling, natuklasan nila na ang mga katangian ng butas—gaya ng lalim, volume, at entrance area—ay may mahalagang ginagampanan sa kung paano pinipili ng mga species ng ibon ang kanilang mga pugad. Ang pananaliksik ay hindi lamang dinidiin ang kahalagahan ng pag-aalaga at pagtatanim ng mga katutubong puno upang suportahang mamugad ang mga ibong ito; nagbibigay din ito ng baseline data (mga sukat) para sa pagbuo ng mga conservation tool (tulad halimbawa ng mga artipisyal na pugad na hugis kahon at naaayon sa bawat species) lalo na para sa Philippine Red Listed na Critically Endangered Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus) at Vulnerable na Lupinellas (Tanygnathus).

Ipinakita rin ng pag-aaral na 63% ng mga ginagamit na pugad ng mga non-excavator na ibon ay ginawa ng mga woodpecker, na nagbibigay-diin sa kahalagahan ng mga woodpecker sa pagbibigay ng mga pugad sa maraming species ng ibon.

“Ang uri ng pag-aaral na ito ay ang pangalawa lamang sa Asya—at ang una sa Pilipinas—na sumusuri sa nest web interactions sa level ng ecological community,” paliwanag ng grupo ng mga biologist. Ang web nest interactions ay tumutukoy sa paraan ng pagkonekta ng iba’t ibang hayop, lalo na ng mga ibon, batay sa paggamit ng mga butas ng puno bilang mga pugad. “Hindi tulad sa Europa na di hamak na mas malamig at maging sa Timog Amerika na may klimang subtropikal, na kung saan ang mga woodpecker sa mga lugar na ito ay hindi itinuturing na keystone species—o mga hayop na may malaking ginagampanan sa kanilang kapaligiran—ang pag-aaral na ito sa Subic ay nagpapatunay sa mahalagang ginagampanan ng mga woodpecker sa mga tropikal na kagubatan, na maihahambing sa mga resulta ng ibang pag-aaral sa India at Canada.”

Vince Angelo Gicaraya from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) and the Institute of Biology (IB) at UPD-CS, Dr. Carmela Española from UPD-CS’s IB and the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), and biologists from the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and from Pampanga, together with local guides and volunteers, conducted a tree cavity survey along established and off-trail routes in Subic from February to June 2022.

The group found nests of 10 species of cavity-nesting birds in both living and dead native trees, primarily belonging to kupang trees (Parkia timoriana) and white lauan trees (Shorea contorta). Using multinomial logistic regression modeling, they discovered that cavity characteristics—such as depth, volume, and entrance area—play an important role in how bird species choose their nesting sites. The research not only underscores the importance of conserving and planting native trees to support the nesting opportunities of cavity-nesting species but also provides baseline data (measurements) for developing conservation tools (e.g., species-specific nest boxes) for the Philippine Red List Critically Endangered and Vulnerable species Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) and Luzon Hornbill (Penelopides manillae), respectively.

The study also showed that 63% of nests used by non-excavator birds were made by woodpeckers, highlighting the importance of woodpeckers in providing nest sites for many  bird species.

“This study is the second of its kind in Asia—and the first in the Philippines—that examines nest web interactions at the community level,” the team of biologists explained. Nest web interactions refer to the way different animals, especially birds, are connected through their use of tree cavities for nesting. “Unlike in temperate Europe and subtropical South America, where woodpeckers are not considered keystone species—or animals that have a particularly large impact on their environment—this study provides evidence of their keystone role in tropical forests, similar to findings in India and Canada.”

Dr. Cyril Salang of the UPD-CS Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), together with Dr. Arnel Salvador, Dr. Armando Somintac, and Dr. Elmer Estacio of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (NIP), and Dr. Joselito Muldera of RIKEN—a national scientific research institute in Japan—have introduced a new design for semiconductor components. It features a substrate, a buffer layer, and an epitaxial layer— a thin crystal layer grown on top.

What makes their design unique is the use of a mismatched buffer layer—a material whose atomic structure (called lattice constant) differs significantly from both the substrate below and the epitaxial layer above. While such mismatches typically lead to defects or poor performance, the scientists’ invention surprisingly results in high-quality layers that perform just as well as, or even better than, traditional materials used in THz emitters.

The team added a growth-interrupted region and a superlattice—a structure made of alternating thin layers—to strengthen the adhesion between components despite the lattice mismatch. The p-type indium arsenide (p-InAs) layer was grown on top of a superlattice which was deposited on top of a main buffer layer over a growth-interrupted region over a more affordable gallium antimonide (n-GaSb) substrate. When tested, the invention delivered impressive results.

Its performance was comparable to traditional bulk materials when using a 0.80 μm laser, and even better with a 1.55 μm fiber laser—which is cheaper and more practical for mainstream use—making this invention a potential game-changer for THz-TDS systems.

Dr. Salang shared that it took 11 years from the initial idea in 2013 to the patent approval in 2024. “My paper was published in 2015, followed by an invention disclosure later that year. With support from the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD), the patent application was filed in February 2016 and was officially granted in 2024,” she said.

With their newly granted patent, Dr. Salang and her team are in a much stronger position to contribute to the growing terahertz industry. “Receiving a national patent means that the originality of our work is recognized. It encourages me to do further innovation,” she added.