UP MSI to Establish PH's First Coral Cryobank Facility for Coral Restoration

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea," are vital ecosystems facing unprecedented threats from climate change and human activities. The Philippines, a country at the heart of marine biodiversity, is now home to a new, dramatic effort to save its coral reefs from the brink. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) is establishing the nation's very first coral larvae cryobank facility, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at boosting coral restoration.

This project is not a solitary effort but part of a larger regional collaboration. Dubbed "Coral Conservation Capacity Development in the Coral Triangle: A Cryorepository Network for Coral Larvae," this initiative unites research institutions from the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Together, they are creating the first-ever network of coral larval cryobanks in the Coral Triangle, a region renowned for its rich marine life.

At the heart of the Philippine team is Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez, the lead researcher from the Interactions of Marine Bionts and Benthic Ecosystems Laboratory (IMBIBE). Dr. Baria-Rodriguez emphasizes the long-term vision of this endeavor: "It's not just about preserving corals today, it's about building a foundation for future research and reef restoration that can benefit generations to come". Her laboratory's mission is to strengthen the country's ability to protect its coral biodiversity.

The project's initial focus is on pocilloporid corals, which are known for their fast growth and quick reproductive cycles. These "weedy species" are often the first to recolonize damaged reefs, making them crucial for accelerating reef recovery. However, their sensitivity to climate stress, such as coral bleaching, threatens their long-term survival.

The cryopreservation process involves collecting larvae from hatchery-monitored pocilloporid colonies and storing them in liquid nitrogen for future use in restoration efforts. To prepare for this monumental task, a capacity-building training session on cryopreservation techniques like vitrification and cryobanking was held in December 2024 at the UP MSI Bolinao Marine Laboratory. The training, led by Dr. Chiahsin Lin from Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA), equipped the IMBIBE lab's research assistants with essential skills. A follow-up training was conducted in February 2025 at the NMMBA to further enhance technical skills and regional cooperation.

One of the research assistants, Ryan Carl De Juan, has already achieved a significant milestone, successfully cryopreserving early-stage coral larvae during initial trials. The team is now working to increase the number of cryopreserved larvae from various target coral species. The ultimate goal is for the IMBIBE laboratory to establish the first coral larval cryobank at the Bolinao Marine Laboratory, led by Dr. Baria-Rodriguez.

This project extends beyond pocilloporid corals. The team plans to adapt cryopreservation protocols for other coral species and develop advanced tools, including a fourth-generation laser-assisted warming device and cryojig system. This ambitious undertaking is a race against time, a desperate bid to preserve the genetic heritage of the Philippines' coral reefs before it's too late. The establishment of this cryobank is not just a scientific achievement; it is a beacon of hope for the future of the oceans, a tangible step toward ensuring that these vital ecosystems can be restored for generations to come.

Plastics Treaty Negotiations at a Crossroads: The Fight to Put Human Health First

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Geneva, Switzerland – In the glass-walled conference halls of the United Nations complex, the future of our planet—and our bodies—is being debated sentence by sentence. The Plastics Treaty negotiations, scheduled to conclude this Thursday, August 14, have reached a pivotal moment. While more than 80 countries have thrown their weight behind a groundbreaking proposal to protect human health from the toxic chemicals embedded in plastics, a small but powerful bloc of oil-producing nations is using procedural maneuvers to slow progress to a crawl.

The stakes could not be higher. Plastic production is projected to triple in the coming decades. Without bold, binding measures, the invisible chemical threats leaching from plastics will continue infiltrating our water, food, air, and even our bloodstreams.

A Proposal with Teeth—And Global Backing

The proposal—championed by Switzerland and Mexico—calls for nothing less than global controls on hazardous plastic chemicals. It envisions a dedicated article in the treaty (Article 3) that would:

Establish a list of “chemicals of concern” in plastics, updated as science evolves;

Ensure transparency and traceability, so manufacturers and consumers know exactly what toxic substances lurk in plastic products;

Create legally binding global obligations, ensuring that commitments aren’t just promises but enforceable requirements.

This approach mirrors the successful models of the Stockholm Convention and Basel Convention, which have proven that international cooperation can indeed tackle dangerous chemicals.

For the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), which has been a constant presence in the negotiations, this proposal is a lifeline—not just for ecosystems, but for human health. Yet, they stress it must go further, regulating plastics throughout their entire life cycle, not just in the final products.

Obstruction in the Halls of Power

While most nations agree that protecting human health is non-negotiable, a handful of oil-producing countries see the treaty as a threat to their petrochemical-driven economies. Using the consensus rule as a weapon, they have stalled discussions, forcing delays that could water down or derail ambitious measures.

IPEN has called for procedural reforms—already used in other global environmental agreements—that would allow voting when consensus proves impossible. Without these changes, a minority can continue to block the will of the majority.

Voices Left Outside

Equally troubling is the exclusion of vital perspectives. Scientists, Indigenous Peoples, labor advocates, and community leaders—many from regions already suffering the worst impacts of plastic pollution—have been denied meaningful participation due to closed-door sessions and inadequate facilities.

Pamela Miller, IPEN Co-chair and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, is unequivocal:

“The Treaty deliberations must be open and accessible to include these voices who know first-hand how toxic plastics can affect human health and the right to a healthy environment we all deserve. We stand committed to hold negotiators accountable for a Plastics Treaty that achieves the health protections we all need and deserve.”

The Mandate Is Clear

As negotiations enter their final days, IPEN’s message to delegates is sharp and urgent: Remember the mandate—to end plastic pollution and protect human health and the environment throughout the full life cycle of plastics.

Yuyun Ismawati, IPEN Co-chair and Co-founder of Nexus3 Foundation in Indonesia, warned that without decisive action, the crisis will only deepen:

“As plastic production is forecast to triple in the coming decades, the only way to meet this goal is through limiting plastic production and controlling toxic plastic chemicals. A meaningful Plastic Treaty is urgently needed to resolve the plastics crisis.”

The World Watches

The coming days will decide whether this treaty becomes a historic turning point—or a missed opportunity. Will the health of billions outweigh the interests of a few? Will transparency and accountability prevail over secrecy and obstruction?

If negotiators rise to the challenge, the Plastics Treaty could become one of the most significant public health and environmental victories of our generation. If they fail, the cost will be measured not just in polluted rivers and dying wildlife, but in the silent, accumulating poisons inside every human body.

The clock is ticking in Geneva.

When Plasma Meets Its Own Echo: UP Scientists Reveal Shock Wave Secrets in Copper LPP

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In the vast realm of physics, where forces invisible to the naked eye dictate the behavior of matter, a team of University of the Philippines (UP) scientists has ventured into uncharted territory—investigating what happens when a laser-produced plasma collides with the very shock wave it created.

It sounds like science fiction—a cloud of charged particles, born from the violent kiss of a laser and a copper surface, racing outward like a miniature supernova. Around it, an unseen wave of compressed gas barrels forward, only to slam into a wall, rebound, and hurtle back toward its own creator. The collision, until now, was a mystery barely touched by scientific literature. But thanks to a groundbreaking study, that mystery is unraveling.

The Overlooked “Reflected Shock”

Scientists have long studied the outward expansion of laser-produced plasma (LPP) and its primary shock wave in surrounding gases. But the returning wave—the reflected shock—remained an afterthought, a secondary ripple in the grand explosion.

“Most research focuses on the first expansion,” explains Dr. Rommil Emperado of the UP Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Physics (NIP). “But when that shock wave hits a surface and bounces back, it can dramatically change the plasma’s journey. We wanted to see exactly how.”

Simulating the Collision of Energy and Matter

To unlock the answer, Dr. Emperado joined forces with Dr. Myles Allen Zosa, Dr. Wilson Garcia of NIP, and Dr. Lean Dasallas from the Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP). Their tool of choice? The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method—a sophisticated numerical approach that models particles using random number simulations, mimicking the chaos of nature at the atomic level.

The team simulated copper LPP behavior in a vacuum and in noble gases like helium and argon—common environments in pulsed laser deposition, where thin films and nanostructures are crafted. Their models traced how the plasma plume expands, how shock waves ripple outward, and how those waves transform after striking a boundary and returning.

A Tale of Two Gases

The results were as fascinating as they were counterintuitive.

In argon, the collision between the reflected shock and the copper plume actually boosted the plume’s mean kinetic energy—a surprising outcome for a process expected to drain energy through collisions.

In helium, however, the opposite occurred—the plume lost energy upon meeting its reflected shock.

This unexpected duality revealed that the background gas species plays a critical role in shaping plasma behavior, offering a new layer of control for scientists and engineers working with LPP.

Why It Matters

Laser-produced plasma isn’t just a laboratory curiosity—it’s a powerful tool with applications ranging from fabricating superconducting thin films to detecting trace elements on Mars. By understanding how reflected shock waves influence plasma before it reaches a substrate, scientists could revolutionize how nanomaterials are made.

The implications are enormous:

Nanofoams could be engineered with more precision.

Nanoparticles could be tailored for specific shapes, sizes, and functions.

The efficiency of pulsed laser deposition could leap forward, fueling advances in electronics, energy storage, and even space exploration.

“This research opens the door to predicting and controlling nanostructure formation before the plasma even touches the surface,” says Emperado. “That level of foresight is a game-changer.”

Beyond the Lab

In essence, the UP team’s work reframes a long-ignored phenomenon as a key player in plasma physics. By turning their focus on the echo of a shock wave, they have illuminated a subtle yet powerful interaction that could ripple through multiple industries.

The next time a laser pulse hits metal and a plume bursts forth into a chamber of noble gas, it won’t just be a spectacle of light and energy—it will be a carefully choreographed dance between creation and reflection, guided by the physics that UP scientists have begun to master.

In the universe of plasma, sometimes the loudest revelations come from listening to the echoes.