Cedric Katigbak By Ma. Angelika Dinglasan, Marianne Jaraplasan, and Cedric Katigbak Inside room D405 of the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ Institute of Mathematical Science and Physics (UPLB-IMSP) building, scientists sit across a long table in front of their working computers. Dr. Ranzivelle Marianne Roxas-Villanueva heads the institute's ...
January 9, 2024 | 8 mins read
Project SARAi By Rainielle Kyle Guison, Amiel Earl Malabanan, John Gherald Navera, and Sophia Romilla Clear skies, humid air -- it’s a bright summer morning, and Mang Apollo Aguilar has just decided that it's that time of the season to plant rice again. Mang Apollo is a 58-year-old farmer ...
August 25, 2023 | 7 mins read
FlipScience.ph In an episode of "The Big Bang Theory," Howard Wolowitz expresses some qualms about developing a quantum guidance system in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force. “Sheldon, we could be contributing to a weapons system that oppresses mankind for the next thousand years,” he says. And indeed, ...
August 9, 2023 | 8 mins read
UPLB National Crop Protection Center Created by researchers from UP Los Baños, the SPIDTECH smartphone app brings crucial information about crop pests and diseases to Pinoy farmers' fingertips. Written by Eunice Dianne Y. Algar and Mark Vincent R. Mercene Crop destruction due to pests and diseases is one of ...
August 26, 2022 | 4 mins read
hazardhunter.georisk.gov.ph Bukod sa COVID-19, halos kumpletos rekados na nga ang mga nagdaang kalamidad nitong 2020: pumutok ang bulkang Taal, BBB (bagyo, bagyo, bagyo), at maraming lindol. Talagang walang pinipiling petsa ang natural hazards, ‘no? (Ang natural hazard ay isang matinding pangyayari o kaganapan sa kalikasan na pwedeng magdulot ...
January 1, 2021 | 3 mins read
Allen Yew/Flickr Fireworks have been around for centuries, and while pyrotechnics experts have used variations of the same basic components to get different hues, the perfectly deep, bright version of one particular hue remains a mystery: blue. Creating fireworks requires putting together an oxygen-rich chemical (an oxidizer) and a ...
December 31, 2020 | 2 mins read
NPL Crafted by the UK's National Physical Laboratory in 2017, this tiny Christmas card is a huge deal. It's said to be the world's smallest seasonal greeting; it's so small, in fact, that you can't even see it without looking through a powerful microscope. Measuring 15 micrometers wide and 20 micrometers tall, the ...
December 27, 2020 | 2 mins read
NASA/Library of Congress On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright accomplished the seemingly impossible: the world's first successful manned, controlled, sustained, engine-powered, and heavier-than-air flight. Quite a mouthful, isn't it? At 10:35 AM and with winds clocking in at 27 miles per hour, the Wright brothers launched their flying machine, the 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘺𝘦𝘳 (sometimes ...
December 17, 2020 | 1 min read
Alfred Edward Chalon To this day, people still dispute whether or not Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer. To get tripped up on semantics, though, would be to miss the forest for the trees, as Lovelace's role in computing history involved much more than simple coding. Born on December 10, 1815, ...
December 10, 2020 | 2 mins read
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0 FR) At the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Neuchâtel in Switzerland are three automated dolls built between 1768 and 1774. A collaborative project by watchmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis, and his partner Jean-Frédéric Leschot, the so-called Jaquet-Droz automata were highly advanced for their ...
December 2, 2020 | 2 mins read
YouTube Imagine you were 15 feet away from a grenade that's about to explode. Now, picture the same uncomfortable scenario, except with both you and the grenade submerged in a big swimming pool. In which situation would you be more likely to survive (and have a really awesome story to tell ...
November 26, 2020 | 2 mins read
Panumas Nikhomkhai/Pexels As avid users of social media, it goes without saying that Filipinos have quite the online presence. And because of the way COVID-19 has changed our day-to-day lives, we've been spending more time than ever online. And while our tastes in memes, political opinions, and favorite online ...
October 16, 2020 | 3 mins read
Wikimedia Commons Through the years, the Philippines consistently ranks among the top Asian countries with the highest electricity rates. In fact, it’s quite common to hear Filipino household owners jestingly share a terrifying tale about "Judith" (due date), who scrupulously haunts them with something completely unheard of in any ...
October 11, 2020 | 3 mins read
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September 18, 2020 | 13 mins read
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect Having grown up as someone with a sense of direction that constantly needs... well, direction, I definitely appreciate accurate, well-made maps. Until the pandemic that has forced all of us to stay indoors, I've been reliant on digital navigation tools to make sure ...
September 9, 2020 | 4 mins read
Suparerg Suksai/Pexels Due to its geographical location, the Philippines is among the countries that are most prone to tropical cyclones, particularly in the second half of the year. Based on the monthly tropical cyclone forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST PAGASA), we can expect ...
August 10, 2020 | 2 mins read
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières •Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will hold its first-ever Southeast Asia Missing Maps Mapathon on August 1. •During the mapathon, volunteers will focus on Nigeria, enabling medical teams to deliver much-needed aid to the area's isolated communities. •Mapping initiatives ...
July 29, 2020 | 3 mins read
•In a recent virtual press conference, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shared the design of the government-approved specimen collection booth for COVID-19 testing. •Created by the Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise (FAME), the design is available for download via DOST's official website. •Interested manufacters may use the design ...
May 2, 2020 | 2 mins read
Got nothing to do during this extended quarantine? Assemble a team of thinkers and use Azure technologies to come up with solutions to today's business problems. Your idea just might win your team USD 3,000 from Microsoft! Microsoft, ride-hailing app Grab, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and AngelHack have launched ...
April 13, 2020 | 2 mins read
•Using nanopore sequencing technology, researchers from NYU created "genetic blueprints" of two basmati rice varieties, Basmati 334 and Dom Sufid. •The genome sequences, by far the most comprehensive and complete for these varieties, are available for download online at no cost. •The researchers hope that breeders all over the world can ...
March 28, 2020 | 4 mins read
•Launched in 2017, Battle in the Blood (#BitB) is the first HIV gaming, engaging, and testing app in the Philippines. •#BitB combines puzzle-solving and turn-based combat to educate gamers on HIV testing and prevention. •Novel, technology-empowered approaches such as #BitB can significantly contribute to improving public health awareness. Oftentimes, I’d ...
February 12, 2020 | 3 mins read
•Modern treatment methods exist for leprosy (ketong), making it easier to cure a disease that used to turn patients into social pariahs. •However, despite being declared "leprosy-free" in 1997, the Philippines continues to register about 2,000 new cases each year. •To help fight the spread of the disease, local experts developed the ...
February 5, 2020 | 3 mins read
•With 3D printing, one can create a three-dimensional object by adding layer upon layer of material until it is fully formed. •3D printing has the potential to change entire industries and challenge existing manufacturing monopolies. •Both in the public and private sectors, the Philippines has been preparing to embrace this ...
January 16, 2020 | 3 mins read
•Industrial revolutions mark periods of time in which technological advancements bring about radical shifts in society. •The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which brings innovations that push physical, biological, and digital boundaries, will be well underway by 2030. •To prepare for this, the Philippines must invest in R&D and STEM education, ...
January 12, 2020 | 3 mins read
•The problem of organ donor shortage remains a serious issue, with more patients requiring transplants yearly. •A possible answer lies in human-animal hybrid research, though it raises a number of medical and ethical concerns. •Scientists have proposed solutions to these dilemmas, though time will tell if they truly can solve ...
December 28, 2019 | 3 mins read
According to foreign exchange (forex) broker Alpari Philippines, mobile apps that let you track your day-to-day expenses play a crucial role in ensuring success at forex trading. What used to be a tedious activity done manually can now be completed with a few taps on your smartphone. That’s not ...
December 16, 2019 | 3 mins read
•The misidentification of Scylla (mud crab) species presents a major problem for Filipino fishers, as it severely affects their livelihood. •To address this, researchers from De La Salle University developed Crabifier, a smartphone app for correctly identifying juvenile mud crabs. •The app has the potential to positively impact the overall ...
November 15, 2019 | 4 mins read
The late and much lamented showbiz personality Inday Badiday makes a surprise comeback in an '80s-inspired music video--and it's all thanks to deepfake technology. The likeness is uncanny, the voice unmistakable to any Filipino who owned a television two or three decades ago. "Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat," says ...
October 31, 2019 | 5 mins read
•A newly invented photometer could help Filipino farmers and government agencies check the eligibility of crops for export. •The portable, inexpensive device detects the primary active ingredients of pesticides through chemiluminescence to determine if crops exceed maximum residue level (MRL) standards. •While the device is still undergoing tests and optimization ...
September 21, 2019 | 3 mins read
Five months after launching its partnership with Smart, tech giant Google has officially activated over 400 Google Stations in the Philippines. Under Google's Next Billion Users initiative, the partnership aims to deliver high-speed, reliable, open public Wi-Fi for Filipinos across the country. Last February, Google Stations were set up in 50 sites, ...
July 26, 2019 | 7 mins read
•The urban heat island effect raises temperatures in highly urbanized areas, causing negative environmental and health effects. •Local experts are working with the government on Project GUHeat, an initiative to monitor urban heat islands in the Philippines. •With satellite data, the team aims to create helpful, easy-to-use maps to improve ...
July 15, 2019 | 3 mins read
•Right now, the Philippines remains heavily reliant on coal-burning power plants to address its energy needs. •Aside from energy generation, power transmission is another issue the country faces, due to its archipelagic nature. •Renewable energy is a tantalizing option for solving the looming energy crisis, but isn't without its own ...
June 18, 2019 | 4 mins read
If you owned a Lego set growing up, you probably have fond memories of building colorful houses, planes, or cars. (Of course, odds are you're also familiar with the indescribable pain of stepping on a stray Lego brick.) But what if you could use Lego to turn your creativity into ...
May 17, 2019 | 2 mins read
•A team of U.S. researchers created four "cathartic objects" for anger release. •These robots are designed to be stabbed, hit, smashed, or cursed at. •While the science supporting catharsis theory is weak, the team believes that these robots may prevent angry individuals from harming other people. We've all been ...
May 9, 2019 | 2 mins read
•The Rochester cloak is a system of lenses that can bend light around an object, rendering it invisible under certain conditions. •A team of researchers from the University of the Philippines improved the design using a mathematical approach to tracing light's path. •Now, even students can obtain the necessary items ...
March 26, 2019 | 3 mins read
Before I began writing this article, I made a promise to myself: I swore I'd keep my smartphone out of reach until either two hours pass or I finish writing (whichever happens last). Now, I admit that my challenge might not seem very, er, challenging. After all, I use my ...
March 19, 2019 | 4 mins read
•Facebook, Instagram, and other Facebook-owned platforms encountered massive system problems for over 14 hours. •In a Twitter thread, Facebook assured its fans that hackers were not responsible for the worldwide technical issue. •Services appear to have been restored already, but not before users took to Twitter to vent their frustration. For ...
March 14, 2019 | 2 mins read
•Dr. Mengu Cho and Dr. Sangkyun Kim from Japan's Kyushu Institute of Technology recently discussed lean satellite technology at the University of the Philippines Diliman. •Adopting the "lean" philosophy in satellite creation may prove to be advantageous for the Philippines, in terms of both practicality and market. •Despite the inherent ...
March 12, 2019 | 4 mins read
•iNON, a team of Filipino creatives and IT professionals, won the Galactic Impact Award at the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2018 for their community app project, ISDApp. •ISDApp is an app that communicates vital weather information and updates to fishermen using analog phones. •Technology startup incubator Animo Labs is currently helping ...
February 26, 2019 | 3 mins read
•Researchers created a new type of sensor by wrapping copper wire around a silicone tube filled with iron oxide nanoparticles. •The sensor can restore lost skin sensitivity for burn victims, amputees, and other patients. •However, it can also detect vibrations, magnetic fields, and similar disturbances, effectively serving as an early ...
February 6, 2019 | 2 mins read
Over the decades, innovations in science and technology have advanced society in impressive ways. In some cases, we've even turned the science fiction marvels of yesteryear into today's reality. Here are 5 examples of things that used to occupy the imaginary worlds of science fiction writers, but have now become rather ...
January 2, 2019 | 4 mins read
•DOST-PCIEERD has partnered with several institutions to build the Philippines' first hybrid trimaran. •This passenger cargo ship will use energy from ocean waves to generate electricity and power itself. •The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2020. (Updated on March 4, 2020) A joint project from the Department ...
December 19, 2018 | 2 mins read
•Born on November 27, 1911, National Scientist Dr. Fe del Mundo was a Filipina of many firsts. •Dr. del Mundo fought gender inequality through academic excellence, and brought much-needed medical care to women and children during World War II. •She also made significant contributions to our knowledge and treatment of lethal diseases ...
November 27, 2018 | 4 mins read
Despite having received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration last May, the Golden Rice project is still about to do field tests to ensure quality and safety in the Philippines. Written and researched by Czareina Mae Espiritu, Michael Jay Trapse, Analyn Cabote, Cecilia Angoluan, Agnes Lagat, Efraim Michael ...
November 20, 2018 | 3 mins read
A report from MIT Technology Review Insights indicates that digital transformation is "heavily underway" in the Philippines. At the rate the country is going, will it truly be ready to embrace 5G technology come 2020? Mobile internet connectivity is a perpetually relevant concern in the Philippines. In a country that, as ...
November 18, 2018 | 3 mins read
While the yo-yo has been around for centuries, it was a Filipino named Pedro Flores who, through an innovative stringing method, transformed it into the iconic toy we know and love today. (Updated on March 2, 2020) Strictly speaking, the answer to the question "Who invented the yo-yo?" is "Nobody knows." It's ...
November 15, 2018 | 4 mins read
Researchers predict that if more energy-efficient measures are not put into place soon, Bitcoin mining will push us over the recommended global temperature limit in as early as 11 years. Ten years ago, the Bitcoin concept seemed too good to be true to the general public. Many couldn't believe that such ...
November 5, 2018 | 3 mins read
Two hundred and twenty-six years ago in London, Robert Barker paused, set his brush down, and wiped the sweat off his brow. The Irish painter took a step backwards to admire his own work. One step was not enough, though. He took one more step, and another, and another. A ...
October 10, 2018 | 4 mins read
A landslide happens in a mining town, covering several houses under cubic tonnes of rubble. With virtually no trace of where the houses used to stand, how can disaster responders efficiently target their search for those buried structures? On the morning of September 20, 2018, a portion of a mountain in Naga ...
October 2, 2018 | 3 mins read
It's a concept straight out of a science fiction novel: skins that can wrap around any inanimate object, transforming it into a robot that can help you conquer the world, make you a cup of coffee, or even just run around in circles aimlessly for your amusement. Led by Rebecca ...
September 25, 2018 | 2 mins read
Ever seen those tiny flies hovering annoyingly around your food, your drinks, or even your face? Notice how difficult it is to catch or swat them? These fruit flies are particularly adept at making swift turns mid-flight, allowing them to avoid incoming threats with ease. And with the help of ...
September 14, 2018 | 2 mins read
In terms of innovativeness, ingenuity, and sheer resourcefulness, Filipinos can easily give everyone else in the world a run for their money. From turning janitor fish skin into usable leather to making toys out of flip-flops, we can speedily make the most out of any given situation. Sadly, we tend ...
September 3, 2018 | 5 mins read
From under the sea to outer space, the art of paper folding continues to inspire scientists, as origami principles are applied in exploration technology. Sciencemag.org recently reported about the prototype “fish grabber” developed by researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Upon command, the ...
July 20, 2018 | 2 mins read
Admit it: At least one point in your life, you dreamed of being a superhero. Perhaps you wore a DIY cape to emulate Superman, practiced the signature leaping and web-shooting gestures of Spider-Man, or even just stood in front of a mirror to do Iron Man’s open-palm repulsor pose. ...
July 10, 2018 | 5 mins read
(Updated on November 27, 2019) Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, Pia Wurtzbach: These are but a few of the names that come to mind when we are asked about the Philippines' contributions to the international scene. We tend to value our celebrities tremendously. For many of us, they offer an escape from the ...
June 26, 2018 | 7 mins read
If you receive a message from your friend via Facebook with an attachment labelled 'video_xxxx.zip', do not click it. If the name of the file weren't already enough to tip you off, here's what it really is. Digmine is a cryptocurrency-mining malware that, once accessed via your desktop ...
December 27, 2017 | 2 mins read
When Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma visited the Philippines last month, he did not mince words about the country's internet speed. Calling it "no good," Ma, who founded e-commerce site Alibaba, emphasized the importance of a fast and reliable internet connection. Fortunately, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) took ...
November 22, 2017 | 2 mins read
Not all scientists started their quest for knowledge looking like Albert Einstein. They weren’t wearing lab coats, spewing theorems and equations, or wielding flasks and beakers when they started. Most of them were just precocious little boys and girls with an insatiable thirst for knowledge about the natural world ...
October 10, 2017 | 4 mins read
The Internet of Things (IoT) is indeed a promising concept. We've seen how it can translate what used to be mere science fiction into reality, and the practical possibilities are certainly exciting, if not endless. However, it also comes with a host of issues and challenges that still require solving. ...
September 27, 2017 | 3 mins read
What if your refrigerator could tell when you're already running out of food AND notify your phone to order more? What if your watch could instruct your television to turn itself off right before bedtime? Or what if your car could receive advance warnings about road hazards and tell you ...
September 20, 2017 | 3 mins read
It could be any minimalist’s dream: One identification (ID) for seamless transactions with all public and private agencies. Or it could be any private citizen’s nightmare: all your personal data conveniently packaged in a single ID -- one that could easily fall into the hands of unscrupulous people. ...
September 17, 2017 | 4 mins read
Do you own a tablet or smartphone and live with your mother? Chances are you’ve already heard her complain about your supposed "excessive" gadget use. “Kaka-computer mo yan!” It’s both an accusation and a warning, often blurted out by any well-meaning mother at the first signs of discomfort ...
September 9, 2017 | 3 mins read
Earlier today, a story made the rounds across various news sites and tech blogs that made the internet groan in agony. Reports claimed that Google will stop supporting Google Drive, the popular cloud storage service, come December this year. Furthermore, some of these articles claimed that Google Drive will be ...
September 8, 2017 | 2 mins read
Thinking of picking up your smartphone to play Everwing? This study might make you think again. A recent study coming out of the University of Texas' McCombs School of Business says that as long as your smartphone is within reach, it can actually reduce your cognitive power significantly. McCombs Assistant ...
August 22, 2017 | 2 mins read
If a recent study from the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters is any indication, humanity has hit yet another snag in its journey towards using solar panels to harness renewable energy: air pollution. How air pollution inhibits solar panels' energy output Led by Duke University's Michael Bergin, the researchers ...
July 31, 2017 | 2 mins read
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