A haven of biodiversity, the Philippines is home to 645 endangered and threatened species—like the Philippine eagle or the Mindoro dwarf buffalo, whose population numbers are dwindling rapidly—due to various factors such as habitat loss and human exploitation. Wildlife sanctuaries are vital in carrying out animal conservation and preservation efforts. These serve as a refuge…
Tag: Breaking the Surface
Soon, the night sky could be blanketed by an immense array of satellites streaking through the dark. These satellites would comprise Starlink, a satellite mega-constellation envisioned to provide global high-speed internet access. There are 480 Starlink satellites currently in orbit around the Earth—60 of which are from the latest launch in early June. SpaceX, the…
As we continue to explore the evolutionary puzzle of human origins, we often unearth previously unknown facts and develop theories about how modern humans came to be. One such study—co-authored by Dr. Alan Rogers, Dr. Nathan Harris, and Alan Achenbach of the University of Utah—has recently documented the earliest known interbreeding event between ancient human…
Outer space is home to many fascinating things; many have naturally been formed there, like the Moon, and others sent out by mankind, such as artificial satellites. Satellites are defined as objects orbiting around a larger object like a planet, with some of the most popular examples being the International Space Station and Sputnik 1—aiding…
In December 2019, a newly identified disease from Wuhan, China caused an outbreak. The epidemic has since spread across other locations, including, Macau, Taiwan, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, The Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, and the Philippines. Now, 7,824 are…
Every year, approximately a third of the world’s food is lost or thrown away, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In the Philippines, efforts to reduce food waste have been initiated but not all have been successful. Although Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,…
“The only protection [a] community can have is [through] vaccination,” pushes Assistant Regional Director III Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales, from the Department of Health’s (DOH) National Capital Region Office, referencing the last September’s poliomyelitis outbreak. The Philippines had been polio-free for 19 years—until a new case suddenly emerged in 2019. Now, with eight confirmed cases…
When hot liquefied rocks called magma emerge out of an opening on the earth’s crust, this phenomenon becomes known as lava as it rises to the surface. Seeping to the outer reaches of the landmass, it cools off into the surrounding area, dries up, and forms a new landmass. The creation of volcanoes belies their…
Every year, innovations, breakthroughs, and discoveries are recognized in different fields of Science and Technology. This year has been bountiful in terms of scientific achievements—both at the international and local level—that further bolster our grasp of the world and our ability to solve various problems like world hunger, climate change, and sustainability. This year marks…
A caldera, which means cauldron in Spanish, refers to a hollow volcanic feature formed by the collapse of a volcano’s peak. While a caldera may only be viewed as an aftermath of a volcanic eruption, it has become the topic of widespread research—primarily to determine the possibility for these structures to cause natural disasters like…