Dried mango to be sent to space

Pinoy pride: Dried mangoes are headed for space soon

Karl Jerome M. del Mundo, DOST-STII
Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
October 9, 2026

If we send Filipinos to space, what will they eat?

This is the question the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) and its partners are exploring through the Philippine Space Mango Program.

The program looks at how the iconic Carabao mango—the Philippine national fruit—can be developed into a food product suited for long-duration space missions and other challenging environments.

“We’re taking the Carabao mango and exploring how it can be part of the Filipino story in space,” said Gina B. Abrera of DOST-PNRI, project leader of the program. “We want a product that can travel far, represent our identity, and remind future astronauts of home.”

The initiative brings together DOST-PNRI, the University of the Philippines Diliman for food science expertise, the Philippine Space Agency for alignment with the national space roadmap, and the Batangas Mango High Value Growers Agriculture Cooperative (BAMAHGACO) as mango farmer-partners.

The program is one of the featured DOST initiatives at the 2026 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) to be held in General Santos City from November 25–29, 2026. It is also seen to support broader efforts to strengthen the Philippine dried mango industry and its competitiveness in international markets, as well as to explore food solutions for emergency and disaster-response situations.

“We’re not just thinking about nutrition. We’re thinking about identity, comfort, and home,” Abrera said. “By 2035, the Philippines aims to send its first astronaut to space. That person will need food that reminds them of home.”

New frog species discovered in Southern Philippines

Scientists discover new frog, resurrect two species in Philippines after 106 years

The Star (Malaysia)
06 Oct 2026 

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Filipino and foreign scientists have discovered a new frog species and “resurrected” two others in the southern and central Philippines, all of which were thought to have been the same species over the past 100 years.

Before the discoveries, they were referred to as cryptic species, meaning they look very similar but are genetically and behaviourally distinct.

Filipino wildlife biologist Kier Mitchel Pitogo, one of the authors of the study detailing the three new additions to the Philippine amphibian fauna, explained that these frogs play an important role in the environment, acting as bioindicators of forest habitat quality.

“These frogs are associated with primary forests… From what we’ve observed during our fieldwork, they are typically among the first wildlife to disappear when forests are lost or heavily disturbed. Because of this, they can serve as bioindicators of habitat quality, meaning their presence or absence can tell us something about changes in the forest,” he told the Inquirer on Sunday.

The three latest discoveries are the Platymantis habagatan (Mindanao variable forest frog), a new species from Mindanao Island, except the southern region; and two resurrected species, P. jagorii (Jagor’s variable forest frog) and P. laticeps (Broad-headed variable forest frog).

Habagatan is a Cebuano word for “south” or “southern”, referring to its distribution in the southern Philippines.

“It is the first description of a new ground-dwelling Platymantis from the Mindanao biogeographic region in 106 years,” said Pitogo, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas, USA.

Among the three, the Jagor’s variable forest frog is the smallest, with proportionally smaller eyes and a relatively wider head. It is found across Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Dinagat, and Siargao.

Its close relative, the Mindanao variable forest frog, shares some of these characteristics but is proportionally larger overall and is widely distributed across Mindanao, except for the southern region.

The Broad-headed variable forest frog co-occurs with the Mindanao variable forest frog in northeastern Mindanao but can be readily distinguished by its much larger body size (about 38–41 mm compared with 30–35 mm), tuberculate body, and much narrower space between the eyes.

For a century, Pitogo noted these frogs were treated as a single species, Platymantis dorsalis.

He stressed that for conservation purposes, it becomes extremely important to get their names and identities right.

“Conservation decisions are ultimately made at the species level, so if we don’t recognise the species correctly, we may not even know which species is declining, where it occurs, or what habitat needs to be protected,” Pitogo explained.

It took four years and 230 frog specimens for the authors to officially add the three latest species to the country’s amphibian fauna.

Aside from Pitogo, the authors include Rew Hoskins, Faben Hana Tesfazion, Camila G. Meneses, Hayden W. Cannon, Christian E. Supsup, Syrus Cesar P. Decena, Marites B. Sanguila, and Rafe M. Brown.

They are affiliated with the University of Kansas, Visayas State University-Alangalang in Leyte, or Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City. Inqurier/ANN

Philippines to position itself as Asia's next clinical research hub

Philippines eyes role as Asia’s clinical research hub

Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta 
Inquirer.net
06 October 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is seeking to position itself as Asia’s next clinical research hub, with a new center of excellence targeted to open in Manila within the year through a partnership with British Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

The planned Clinical Trial Centre of Excellence is being developed by AstraZeneca with De La Salle University (DLSU), the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

t will be established within the DLSU Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology Zone and serve as the first of three planned pillars of a broader health ecosystem, alongside a Cancer Command Centre and a Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Centre.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it would work with AstraZeneca and other government and academic partners to streamline regulatory approvals and explore a one-stop-shop model to support clinical research.

Currently, AstraZeneca supports more than 28 ongoing and planned clinical trials across over 150 sites nationwide, involving more than 1,000 Filipino patients enrolled since 2022.

AstraZeneca has invested more than P3 billion in Philippine clinical trials over the past six years, covering research in areas including oncology, respiratory and immunology, and cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases.

The company has also partnered with AC Health and its Healthway Medical Network to expand clinical trial capabilities to more hospitals, including facilities outside traditional research centers.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said expanding the industry could create higher-value employment for doctors, nurses, researchers and other health professionals while giving more patients access to clinical research.

“Just as we built the IT-BPM industry from call centers into a globally competitive knowledge-services sector, we see clinical research and health information management as the Philippines’ next growth industry,” Roque said.

Separately, AstraZeneca and Peza are developing a proposed Multi-Stakeholder Health Innovation Hub within the economic zone network following an agreement signed in August 2025.

Its flagship Oncology Innovation Center is envisioned to use artificial intelligence for early lung cancer detection while expanding patient-support systems and strengthening health-care workforce capabilities.

The initiatives were discussed during Roque’s visit to AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, United Kingdom. INQ

PH's first engineer analog astronaut takes part in Poland research mission

PH's first engineer analog astronaut takes part in Poland research mission

Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo
GMA News
29 June 2026

Dr. Mark Angelo Purio represented the Philippines in a space research mission in Poland, making him the country’s first engineer analog astronaut and fourth analog astronaut.

In Adamson University’s (AdU) post, it recognized Purio’s participation in the LunAres Analog Astronaut Mission M4.26, where he joined an international crew in advancing research that “supports future lunar and Martian exploration.”

Purio is an associate professor at AdU’s Electronics Engineering Department and the head of its very own Space Technologies and Applications Research Laboratory (STARLab).

“This remarkable milestone reflects Adamson University's commitment to research, innovation, and global engagement, inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and space explorers,” the university said Monday.

"During the mission, he also contributes to Adobo4Space, a collaborative initiative with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), and UPD Department of Food Science and Nutrition, bringing Filipino innovation—and even Filipino flavors—to space research."

An Analog Mission is a research method focused on investigating one or several aspects of crewed space missions using earthly real-life situations as an analogue to an off-world scenario, the LunAres Research Station Director said.

According to the research station, joining the research program as an analog astronaut is open to individuals from all fields — whether they are an artist, researcher, journalist, engineer, student, or even a person with disabilities.

The Philippines’ first and second analog astronauts are Kristine Jane Atienza and Dr. Marvic Alcantara, who joined the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) in 2024.

Meanwhile, the third analog astronaut is Florence Pauline Basubas, according to the Philippine Space Agency. — BAP, GMA News

Pinoy scientists testing volcanic materials for shield against radiation

Filipino scientists turn volcanic ash into radiation-resistant building material

While more tests are needed, the discovery can offer a practical way to manage waste from natural disasters.

Jason Gutierrez
Benar News (Indonesia)
25 February 2025

Small cement cubes made of volcanic ash are spread throughout Joel Maquiling’s lab as the Filipino scientist excitedly explains potential practical uses for the concrete material. 

A sample of cement cube made from ash from the Taal volcano is seen in this photo during an interview at the Ateneo de manila University in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Feb 19, 2025

Along with two other researchers, Maquiling is spearheading a study on tons of ash expelled by the Taal volcano south of Manila during a huge eruption five years ago that posed challenges on how to dispose of this waste. 

Instead of treating the pyroclastic material as mere waste, the scientists have been studying whether volcanic ash could be used in construction applications.

The results, so far, have been astonishing: By mixing the material with cement, the researchers have created construction blocks which, they say, can be used as a shield against harmful radiation.

This material could then be used in hospitals, industrial sites and nuclear facilities. More importantly, it could be an alternative to other more expensive construction materials such as concrete and lead, which can be less friendly to the environment.

“We’re not here just to build materials. It’s not just ‘build, build, build,’” said Maquiling, referring to a much-touted infrastructure initiative of the previous Philippine administration.

“We want it to be ‘build, build, build’ but anchored on good science and engineering,” the scientist, who heads the physics department at the Ateneo de Manila University, told BenarNews.

He and his team set out to develop “geopolymers,” or rare geomaterials from waste products of natural cataclysmic events, such as volcanic eruptions.

The January 2020 eruption of Taal volcano, located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Manila, provided Maquiling with a challenge of what to do with the tons of waste it had emitted.

Three men, surrounded by ash and dead trees on the Taal volcano, look for items to salvage, Jan. 14, 2020. (Jojo Riñoza/BenarNews)

In the wake of the eruption, reporters and photographers from BenarNews traveled to the disaster site. Their cameras captured apocalyptic scenes of devastation, including one picture of a slope of the volcano buried in ash. 

“One thing that we wanted to do was to create materials which have greater compressive strength, that could withstand greater pressure, greater forces,” Maquiling told BenarNews

Maquiling said his team also experimented with whether mixing the concrete with other materials would change its properties.

“For example, what if they could shield you from a natural or cataclysmic radiation meltdown, or something like a nuclear event? The next question is, what if there are other properties from that strong infrastructure material that would protect us from nuclear warfare, for example, a nuclear meltdown, or radiation exposure? And that’s what we found in this,” he said.

Dr. Joel Maquiling shows a sample of cement cube made from Taal volcanic ash during an interview with BenarNews at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jojo Riñoza/BenarNews)

They discovered that combining volcanic ash from Taal with other aggregates created a concrete material that is stronger and has enhanced “shielding capacity” for radiation.

Practical applications include using the material in hospitals and research institutes, Maquiling said. Or in the future, it can be used as materials for buildings or houses in a disaster-prone country such as the Philippines, he also said.

A news release earlier this month from Ateneo University also highlighted the material’s possible benefits.

“Radiation shielding is essential for hospitals, industrial sites, and nuclear facilities. These places use ionizing radiation for beneficial purposes such as in helping doctors treat sick organs and broken bones; looking for structural weaknesses in buildings; or helping sterilize food for longer shelf life,” it said.  

“Though useful, exposure to ionizing radiation can be harmful for prolonged periods – hence the need for shielding. However, currently available materials like concrete and lead can be expensive and environmentally hazardous. Construction materials made from volcanic ash offer a [potentially] sustainable and lightweight alternative,” it also said.

The Taal volcano as seen from a canoe, Jan. 14, 2020. (Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews)

While Maquiling admits that completing the research for this is still far off, the initial results of their groundbreaking study are promising, said the scientist, who also heads the geodynamics and research laboratory at the Manila Observatory hosted by Ateneo.

His laboratory is also collecting ash from other volcanoes that dot the Philippines, which sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are frequent due to shifting tectonic plates in the ocean’s basin.

There are 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines, including Taal. When Taal erupted without warning in January 2020, the eruption caught disaster experts by surprise, shutting down Manila’s airports and causing mass evacuations. 

A year later, the volcano spewed ash and debris a kilometer into the sky, darkening the skies above nearby areas such as Manila.

The 1,020-foot (311-meter) Taal, located on an island inside a lake, is also regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. An eruption in 1754 was said to have lasted seven months, experts said.

Melvin Ocampo washes ash from his horse, Princess, as smoke spews from the Taal volcano, in Balete town, Philippines, Jan. 13, 2020. (Jojo Riñoza/BenarNews)

Since volcanic materials are abundant in the Philippines, the discovery of Maquiling’s team can offer a practical way to manage disaster waste while also enhancing safety in critical areas, although he said further studies were still needed.

The breakthrough only shows that while cataclysmic events of biblical proportions cannot be avoided, life-saving innovations can be derived from them, Maquiling said.

“What is important is that there are many waste materials we can use in our composites, to make sturdier materials that can withstand whatever strength in space and time, and it saves us a lot of resources,” Maquiling said. “And all of these things become waste materials in our environment.”

“Why don’t we use these waste materials that were created anyway as by-products of our human activities to be able to come up with sturdier materials that can be useful in infrastructure, that can protect us from radiation and at the same time enhance our well-being.”

UST students develop apps to detect colorectal cancer

AI To Detect Cancer? Filipino Students Develop AI-Powered App for Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment

Medical students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application that helps doctors assess a person’s risk for colorectal cancer through a simple blood test.

Srishti Mukherjee
NewsX (India)
February 18, 2025 

Medical students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application that helps doctors assess a person’s risk for colorectal cancer through a simple blood test. This breakthrough provides a less invasive alternative to traditional colonoscopy, which many patients often avoid due to discomfort and fear.

A Non-Invasive Approach to Cancer Detection

The initiative is led by UST medical students Aamer Sultan and Austin De Asa, who aim to make early detection of colorectal cancer more accessible and less intimidating.

“Many patients fear undergoing colonoscopy. Our app aims to predict the probability of colorectal cancer based on molecular results,” said Dr. Pia Albano, the project leader from the UST College of Science.

The innovative AI-based solution was highlighted on Game Changer, a segment aired on Manila-based GMA Network’s 24 Oras.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. In 2022, more than 1.9 million cases were diagnosed globally. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, resulting in over 900,000 deaths per year.

In the Philippines, colorectal cancer ranked fourth among cancer-related deaths in 2022, emphasizing the need for better diagnostic tools and early detection methods.

Using MicroRNA as Cancer Biomarkers

The study focuses on six specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that have been identified as potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer in Filipino patients.

“When a person has cancer, certain miRNA levels increase while others decrease,” Sultan explained.

“Fortunately, previous research has already collected substantial clinical trial data. Our role was to integrate and train the AI model,” added De Asa.

Recognition and Future Plans

The project won the BPI Innovation Awards in 2022, recognizing its potential in revolutionizing cancer diagnostics. Moving forward, the research team plans to expand testing across multiple regions to further enhance the app’s accuracy and reliability.

UST has a history of innovation in cancer research. In 2016, UST researchers won the International Innovation Grant by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for their mobile-based cancer monitoring app, iComPass (Internet-based Computerized Patient Assessment System), designed for iOS and Android devices.

How the AI-Based App Works

The AI-powered application utilizes a blood test that undergoes a qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) analysis to measure the levels of the six miRNAs associated with colorectal cancer.

Once the test results are processed, the AI model provides an instant risk assessment at the click of a button labeled “Predict.” The app also offers an option for users to request additional data analysis for a more in-depth evaluation.

A Step Toward More Accessible Cancer Screening

This AI-powered application represents a significant step forward in colorectal cancer detection, offering a non-invasive, accurate, and user-friendly alternative to traditional screening methods. As research and testing expand, this innovation could potentially save lives by encouraging early detection and timely medical intervention.

Filipino innovations to the world

What happens in Vegas: PH tech on global stage

Ian Raphael Lopez
Inquirer.net
16 February 2024

It can all happen in the so-called Sin City—a South Korean company suddenly wanting to order 120,000 units of adhesive and sealants, or the possibility of the water system in the city of Athens, Ohio, being enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI).

Just by being there in what has been billed as the “most powerful tech event in the world” can promising Filipino startups, along with technological innovations from government agencies and university researchers, be exposed to opportunities they never thought possible.

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) brought a contingent that aimed to show the best of Filipino innovations that could solve real-world problems.

“Our goal is to showcase homegrown technologies that address global challenges, demonstrating how Philippine innovations are not only viable but also capable of providing tested and scalable solutions to industries and markets worldwide,” says Marion Ivy Decena, director of the DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).

At the center stage of the trip to the CES last Jan. 7 to Jan. 10 are five startups, namely CHRG EV Technologies Inc., Hiraya Technology Solutions Inc., Usher Technologies Inc., Tekton Geometrix Inc. and Pili AdheSeal Inc.

CHRG showcased its Charging in Minutes or CharM, a technology for fast-charging electric vehicles; Usher brought its building structural health observation system, helpful for disaster risk reduction; and Tekton GeoMetrix presented monitoring technologies for seismology, geology and geophysics.

They were joined by delegates from Batangas State University and the DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute, Metals Industry Research and Development Center and Advanced Science and Technology Institute.

Sustainable sealant

One of the startup delegates was Mark Kennedy Bantugon, who in 2019 invented Pili Seal, a sealant made from the waste of the pili tree resin and geared for applications in the aviation industry. It was more sustainable than traditional sealants commercially available.

“What makes people interested in the product is its performance, and also because the natural smell of pili resin is fragrant,” Bantugon says in Filipino. “One of the usual comments [about] the product (aside from it being sustainable) is this is better; the commercial sealants smell like rubber.”

The invention bagged the James Dyson National award in the Philippines in 2021 and a slew of awards in the past years. During his postgraduate studies, he was able to develop the product into a two-in-one sealant and adhesive.

Bantugon is one of the cofounders of Pili AdheSeal Inc. As the product is being opened to different industries, they made sure that it was sustainable and could contribute to the circular economy.

“Aside from upcycling agricultural waste from the pili tree resin as our raw ingredients, after it [had been] utilized by our product, its residuals could be used into safe fertilizers. From the beginning of the process until the end life of the product, nothing goes to waste,” Bantugon explains.

The opportunity to be at the CES was an unexpected one. “Our product is not related to CES; even if I scroll through, it’s more on AI (artificial intelligence), electronic gadgets. We are far from it,” Bantugon narrates.

But all the cards fell into place, as the invention is already patented in the United States and Bantugon also happened to have a US visa. The trade show, Bantugon says, has now become more inclusive toward technologies and innovations that are not necessarily consumer-oriented.

“There has been many changes at the [CES] that it is not only an electronic-related show, but it has become a wide spectrum. It’s more on the sustainability, diversity and inclusivity of all the technologies. There I felt that I became part of this because it’s the right platform for [our product] that can address real-world issues and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

‘Outside the box’ solutions

Similarly, Jan Russell Diolata, head of technical operations at Hiraya Technology Solutions Inc., did not imagine himself going abroad to showcase Filipino innovations. “I am so happy because, personally, I grew up from a poor family, and I did not expect that I would travel to different countries because of this, that I would have a chance to go to the United States,” he says in Filipino.

Hiraya, from an old Filipino word for “imagine,” helps its clients imagine solutions, Diolata says. Originally catering to water distribution companies, Hiraya Tech proved that its solutions and system can work anywhere regarding the supply of fluid and its distribution—may it be water, oil, gas, air, electricity or even traffic flow.

“We will go to our clients; they will tell us their problems; we will help them imagine a solution, and that solution will always be outside the box— outside the box in terms of what technologies could we bring, could we integrate to Hiraya’s systems,” Diolata narrates.

At their centerpiece is AI-powered Hiraya Intelligent Modular Optimization or HIMO, which was derived from the Cebuano word for “make.” It is a semiautonomous system that could help power and optimize fluid distribution. “So what Hiraya could imagine, it will be HIMO that would carry it out.”

Many water distribution systems in different cities and municipalities in the Philippines now use Hiraya’s technology. Diolata observes that losses from nonrevenue water, or water that is lost en route to the consumers due to leaks or other reasons, could be tackled through HIMO. It can also lessen energy consumption, push water supply to previously hard-to-reach areas and protect water companies from pilferage.

At the CES, Hiraya’s technology was unique from those on offer, and that says a lot about Filipino ingenuity in solving problems, Diolata notes. “We are at par with other countries. Most of the other applications of AI (at the trade show) are more descriptive; it would suggest possible solutions, but it will still rest on an individual on what they would adjust in their system.”

“But Hiraya is more on autonomous control. It would be the one to come up with [how a system should operate]. It will predict and it will operate itself, then it will study the output of the operation to see what it could still improve on. It is self-learning. I did not see anything like that except in cars,” he explains.

‘Tremendous opportunity’

These innovations may seem out of place at a consumer-oriented show such as CES, but the DOST sees it as a distinguishing point. “The DOST Philippines [delegation] distinguished itself through the presentation of unique technologies and innovations designed to address its own challenges and potentially offer solutions to other nations facing similar challenges,” says TAPI’s Decena.

More importantly, Decena adds, it was a tremendous opportunity for these startups to expand. “By leveraging the exposure, networking opportunities and feedback, they can accelerate their growth and achieve international recognition and success.”

And expand they did, based on high-value leads gained from the CES experience. Pili Adheseal’s Bantugon got that bulk order from a South Korean battery innovation company of 100,000 units for 2025 and additional 120,000 in 2026. Bantugon will return to New York soon to meet with another client.

“Even as an ‘unexpected’ delegate, I did not expect because my mindset was, ‘This is an electronic technology show, people would not flock to my booth.’ But surprisingly … our product had many inquiries. That’s when I realized that people today, business and companies, they’re all into sustainability.”

For Hiraya, there’s the potential of its solution being used by the water system in Athens, Ohio. Its leaders just finished follow-up meetings on this project and are in talks for potential partnerships with other local executives under the US National League of Cities.

“The Philippines is an archipelago. We are surrounded by bodies of water but not everyone has access to water. If we were able to solve problems here in our country using our AI software, what more in other countries that may only have small things to improve (in their water management systems) but there would still be a large impact if they use our system?” Diolata asks.

The trade show opened the doors for collaboration with global companies.

Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, for instance, met with Karan Bhatia, head of government affairs and public policy at Google. Aside from capacity-building initiatives involving AI, Google discussed applicable technologies, such as pothole detection that could work with infrastructure projects, or hazard finder and disaster recovery tools that are handy in times of natural disasters.

“Both parties recognized opportunities for joint ventures to address real-world challenges through innovative solutions,” Decena comments.

PH advances in nuclear infrastructure development

IAEA: PH advances in nuclear infrastructure development

Power Philippines News
December 9, 2024

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded its review mission on the country’s nuclear power program, saying that the Philippines has already advanced a comprehensive nuclear law.

“The Philippines expanded the composition of its Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) to 24 organizations, and all sub-committees of NEPIO are actively engaged to implement relevant activities. This indicates the level of commitment of the Philippines to proceed with their nuclear power programme,” said IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section Technical Lead mission team leader Mehmet Ceyhan.

To support the Philippines’ infrastructure development, the mission team reviewed the country’s progress in implementing recommendations from the initial 2018 INIR mission. 

Using the Phase 1 criteria of the IAEA Milestones Approach, the assessment focused on determining the country’s preparedness to make an informed decision on pursuing a nuclear power program.

The mission acknowledged the Philippines’ progress in advancing its nuclear energy program, including the drafting of a comprehensive nuclear law, assessments in key areas such as human resources, regulatory frameworks, radiation protection, and waste management, as well as the development of related policies and strategies.

Despite these advancements, the team emphasized the importance of finalizing the country’s nuclear power strategy and conducting additional studies on the electrical grid, industrial participation, and national legislation to pave the way for future initiatives.

The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Missions are guided by the IAEA Milestones Approach, addressing 19 key infrastructure issues across three phases: consider, prepare, and construct, with milestones set at decide, contract, and commission/operate. 

These missions provide a platform for IAEA Member States to engage with international experts, fostering knowledge exchange and sharing best practices from global nuclear programs.

Pinoy scientists creates fire exterminator

Filipino researchers use sound waves to extinguish fire

Bryan Ke
Netshark (United Kingdom)
16 October 2024

A group of researchers from the Philippines is making headlines for creating a “fire exterminator” device that uses sound waves.

The device was created by University of Mindanao engineering graduates Francis Bagol, Franco Bellera and Chris John Pogoy, along with their adviser Stephen Paul Alagao. 

The project was designed to extinguish fires on electrical wiring or gadgets that would otherwise be dangerous to put out with water. 

It incorporates a sensor that automatically detects and stops fire from a maximum range of two meters, making it an ideal home safety device. 

Not only is the device chemical-free; it is also safe for the human ears as it produces only around 80 decibels, the approximate equivalent of the sound produced by a vacuum cleaner.

Winning second place at the 2022 National Invention Contest and Exhibit of the Department of Science and Technology, the group has patented the project, which was registered on March 13, 2023.

Scientists in Philippines develop new rice variety aimed at combatting diabetes

Scientists in Philippines develop new rice variety aimed at combatting diabetes

Statistics Canada reports that as of 2020-21, there were 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes — almost 10 per cent of the population

Stewart Lewis
National Post (Canada)
Sep 26, 2024

Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines have developed a new variety of rice that could help reduce the growing worldwide burden of diabetes.

An estimated 537 million adults on the planet are living with the disease. And that number is expected to grow to 783 million in the next 20 years.

Statistics Canada reports that as of 2020-21, there were 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes – almost 10 per cent of the population.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that develops when a person’s body doesn’t produce or effectively use insulin, which it needs to turn sugar into energy. If a person’s blood sugar is excessively high, symptoms such as thirst, blurred vision, and headaches can arise. The worst-case scenario driven by consistently high blood sugar can involve blindness or amputation of the toes or feet.

There are essentially two types of diabetes. Type 1 is an auto-immune condition that is not preventable. Those sufferers must take insulin daily.

However, Type 2 diabetes can be combatted to some extent by changes in lifestyle and eating, sometimes preventing the need for diabetes medication. People with Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes can benefit from a diet of food low on the glycemic index (GI).

GI measures how fast a food item raises blood sugar levels and contributes to diabetes. According to Diabetes Canada, GI is a scale from 1-100 that ranks a carbohydrate-containing food or drink by how much it raises blood sugar levels after it is consumed. Foods with a high GI (70 or more) increase blood sugar higher and faster than foods with a low GI (55 or less).

Most available rice varieties have GI levels between 70 and 72. White rice is notable for having a high glycemic count.

The good news is that the IRRI has developed a rice variety that has a GI as low as 25. Also high in protein, the new rice variety looks like white rice but has smaller grains.

The IRRI researchers have been working with the University of California, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany, and Bulgaria’s Centre of Plant Systems Biology, reports the Guardian.

Using the IRRI’s extensive rice gene bank, the world’s largest, researchers screened 380 seed samples over 10 years to identify genes with a lower glycemic index and higher protein content. Then they combined them, creating a diabetes-friendly, healthier rice option.

Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, the principal scientist at the IRRI’s grain quality and nutrition centre, told the Guardian: “We thought that if we could come up with a diet with low glycemic index properties (and) that could be considered healthier, not only to those subjects who are diabetic and pre-diabetic … then it could be a very good intervention to counter growing incidences (of diabetes).”

The rice has yet to be grown outside IRRI’s laboratories, but the IRRI plan is to start growing the new varieties in India and the Philippines as part of the IRRI’s aim to combat hunger in countries where rice is the staple food, reports Philippines-based website wionnews.com.

The IRRI project is currently undergoing multi-location trials in over 10 Philippines provinces. It is hoping the new rice variety will be ready for market within two years.