HELIX 23-24 Vol. 5 Issue 2

About the Cover

The cover art shows mock postcards, stamps, and tags from “No Man’s Land”, which all feature biological elements.

The term “No Man’s Land” is commonly used to describe an abandoned or uninhabited area, typically referring to wastelands. In the context of the cover art’s mood, “No Man’s Land” alludes to the concept that earth is a paradise that is warm and inviting. In an optimistic light, a world without humans would mean a world void of man-made inventions and anthropogenic ecological tragedies. The mock postcards and stamps featured imply safe, colorful, and serene environments where various forms of life thrive in their respective habitats. The color palettes of all elements were specifically chosen with color vision deficient individuals in mind. Postcards, stamps, and tags were used, since such souvenirs are usually collected by visitors along their travels, especially when one enjoys the location visited. Finally, a total of three butterflies – one in the front cover, while two in the back – were intentionally added to pay homage to the artist’s three beloved childhood dogs that have all recently passed away at the age of 14. Truly, the earth is literally no man’s land, as we coexist and share our home with other organisms. Although a world uninhabited by humans may be depicted as warm and inviting, this only further challenges us to have other life forms’ best interests at heart.

Cover art designed and conceptualized by

Sophia Dumlao Artist, HELIX

Publications

A Letter from the Editor

Human ingenuity has always been a double-edged sword; we live in a world of convenience at the expense of the rest of the world. The science we think of and uncover is capable of turning what was once myth into reality, fiction into fact. We test the line between the biological and the artificial until it has become interwoven and indistinguishable from one another.

Technology, our finest invention, is a tool that we use to rewrite human limitations. In the wake of its advancement, we neglect to realize that science has the power to destroy our species. So, in the pursuit of a “better” future, have we ever stopped to consider the long-lasting consequences that are born out of innovation? There is, after all, a line that distinguishes innovation from total destruction, and we are blurring that line with each new dawn.

In this issue, HELIX explores the world beyond humanity. With the distant future ahead of us, there is no telling what path the world will take millennia ahead. In truth, the Earth will continue to live without us; life will persist even in our absence. By contemplating a posthuman world, HELIX hopes to decenter ourselves. Only then will we be able to appreciate the diverse and unique planet we call home.

Francesca Danielle Suguitan Associate Editor, HELIX Publications

Ateneo BOx Surges: Sports, Tests, and a Little Bit of Love

Written by Vince Albarillo and Derreck De Leon

Riding the momentum of its successes from the previous semester, the Ateneo Biological Organization (BOx) started the latter half of AY 2023–2024 with increased scaling of projects, both in ambition and execution. The Executive and Central Board (EBCB) took previous feedback in fulfillment of the organization’s core advocacies and the provision of a deeper sense of community among its members.

BOx President Andrea Peñaflor (3 BS BIO) expressed her joy and satisfaction with evaluations from previous events, sending a message that the EBCB was on the right track. “It’s very heartwarming to receive [positive] feedback,” Peñaflor stated. “[We saw] they enjoyed the [events] [and] felt like they were part of a family–which is ultimately the goal of BOx.” Criticisms were also mentioned, which Peñaflor said helped find common ground between members.

An active organization

Echoing the messages of camaraderie and good tidings between BOx members, the Department of Training and Development, spearheaded by its Vice President, Rafael Gonzalez (3 BS BIO), held this year’s iteration of the annual BOx Sportsfest.

Aiming to be bigger than its previous iterations, the fest was held onsite at

the College Covered Courts on a day filled with friendly competition and excitement. It featured sports such as basketball, volleyball, and doubles badminton, as well as traditional parlor games for the spectators to enjoy as well.

Themed “Clash in the Colosseum,” the 500-plus-strong member base was divided into four competing “families”: Hydra, Phoenix, Pegasus, and Wyvern. Representatives from each family squared off against each other in heated games.

The event ended with victors from different families taking the spotlight. The doubles badminton event was dominated by the Pegasus family, while both ball games were won by the Wyvern family.

Gabby Alindogan (3 BS LfSci), the Assistant Vice President-in-Charge of the project, explained that while there were initial bumps during the planning phases, the event was a great success with over 200 attendees and more than 50 sports participants.

“[T]his year, we wanted to achieve a significant turnout as compared to last year by moving the date to early [this] semester,” Alindogan said.

Meanwhile, Peñaflor shared how the Sportsfest, being the first project

to be implemented in the second semester, became the “general assembly” to usher members into the next half of BOx activities.

Peñaflor further remarked that the event served as an avenue for the BOx community to celebrate togetherness, as well as an investment for the welfare and interconnectedness of its members.

Swelling to new heights

Following membership formation activities came the 7th Philippine Biology Olympiad (PBO) which was previously recognized during the 2023 COA-M Awards, having received the Bagong Bakasan Award: External Collaborative Project of the Year

The core team, spearheaded by Olympiad Directors Oona Barnes (4 BS BIO), Isabelle Salazar (4 BS BIO), and Mia Agudo (3 BS LfSci), aimed to surge forward with better outcomes in bioeducation during this year’s PBO, under the theme, SULONG.

The elimination round was held on February 3, 2024, with the campus having accommodated 551 of the 1062 total participants. The Olympiad was held in multiple satellite testing centers across the country, having partnered with other Ateneo campuses to accommodate over 140 registered schools.

“PBO is the biggest it has ever been this year,” Peñaflor stated. She highlighted the importance of providing equal opportunities for young scientists to realize their potential through distributed testing sites and high-quality testing materials.

“[The tests] are really hard and [is] an indicator of trust [in] the Filipino high school students [and] their [testtaking ability],” she explained.

This sentiment was echoed by Theoretical Exams Head Andrew Tumulak (3 BS HS), who stated that Olympiad-level assessments already assume a certain level of difficulty to select IBO-ready participants.

“[However, the questions should] still be within the reasonable range of things we can ask people,” he said.

Having experienced similar moments as a former PBO winner, Tumulak hoped for the participants to remember that the main goal was for the participants’ betterment. “One of the more sobering thoughts is that, in the end, it’s not the awards that you obtain from a certain competition–[it’s] learning about yourself,” he stated.

A night to remember

After the wave of test-taking came the season of love and bioadvocacy for the organization in LoveBOx 2024: Aurora Amore. The concert had increased in scale from its previous iteration—an intimate gathering within the MVP Center of Leadership. Before long, it had become a grand concert-for-a-cause, raising funds for BALYENA.org.

“One of the biggest accomplishments of LoveBOx was its scale,” Peñaflor mentioned. She highlighted the intense amount of coordination between all departments within the organization, showing each member’s tenacity and willingness to boost the project and make it happen.

The project was spearheaded by Project Heads Mia Agudo and Aki Banguis (3 BS LfSci), who expressed pride in their team’s accomplishments.

“Our ambition grew alongside our achievements, such as partnering with O/C Records and expanding our reach beyond the Ateneo community to a potential audience of over a thousand at the Bellarmine Field, one of Ateneo’s largest,” Agudo stated.

“[It’s] not just a concert; it’s a

platform for environmental consciousness, aimed at conserving wildlife, maintaining watersheds, and rehabilitating biodiversity in the Philippines,” she added.

Both Agudo and Banguis felt the mounting pressure due to the increasing scale of the project. Particularly, the acquisition of sponsors, partnerships, and artists necessitated much effort.

“It was about building relationships with sponsors who would want to be part of our journey and stand with us as we grow,” Agudo stated. She followed up by showing appreciation to O/C Records for helping the team lock in an amazing line-up, consisting of Two Stones One Bird, Franz, geiko, Kenaniah, The Ridleys, Maki, and mrld. Moreover, the organization’s very own VoiceBOx and BeatBOx performed during the event.

Agudo hopes that future iterations will have further reach and solidify LoveBOx as a trendsetter, starting a concert tradition in the Ateneo.

Looking onwards

For Peñaflor, these events are just the tip-of-the-iceberg in terms of showing how far the organization has come. Notably, the upcoming celebration

of the Department of Biology’s 60th anniversary will recognize faculty, students, and alumni alike.

“They’re also people who invested so much time and so much effort in their course,” she mentioned. “[It will be] a celebration of previous accomplishments [and is] going to be a full circle moment for everyone in the Department of Biology [and] in BOx,” she expressed.

Beyond the internal accomplishments, Peñaflor also wished for the organization’s visibility in the general Ateneo community and beyond, breaking its identity of just being a home organization. “It’s not just a community that’s dedicated to its three core advocacies but [we are] also investing a lot in the welfare of their members–in cultivating trust and capacities of the people [who make] these great feats possible,” she emphasized, mentioning the organization’s drive to ideate projects that also permeate outside of BOx.

Peñaflor assures members that the dedication of the EBCB and each core team to fulfilling the organization’s core goals and values has only grown stronger.

A Question of Survival: Climate Crises in Recent Times

Written by Annika Laude and Vince Albarillo/ Illustrated by Florence Nualla

Humanity is known for constantly adapting in response to need. However, in recent times, we have been adapting to more than need—convenience and want. Consequently, this unsustainable progress has led to climate change exacerbation over the past century, with temperatures rising and glacial areas shrinking yearly

An era of change

Climate change creates stronger natural disasters and accelerates global warming. Bizarre events such as the sardine surge in Sarangani this January, were surmised as a consequence of water upsurges, intensified solar radiation, and subsequently, land warming. The recent cold spells from Amihan might also be considered extreme weather caused by climate change.

According to NASA, there has been an overall increase in temperature and carbon dioxide levels worldwide. In the Philippines, natural disasters are on the rise, with increased storm and flood occurrences. According to biologist Albert Lazatin, MS (cand)., being a tropical country increases vulnerabilities to climate change, especially in low-lying areas.

“It’s incredibly frustrating how developing and tropical countries like ours feel the worst effects while not even being in the top ten carbon-emitting countries worldwide,” he expressed.

The Philippines is one of the most typhoon-impacted8and risk-prone countries, with a disaster experience rate of 62.4%. In earlier parts of the year, El Niño affects the country, with the Department of Health vigilant for cases of heatstroke, diarrhea, and dengue

With statistics worsening, there is inevitably an increase in concerns regarding humanity’s capabilities to adapt to change and the consequences of possible failure.

A possibility of collapse

Several events could lead to the extinction of humans and other species—some in a few decades, others over centuries. Increased deaths due to extreme weather are already observable. For Lazatin, an overlooked issue of changing climate patterns is their effects on organisms, particularly on displaced extremophiles.

These effects extend to the agricultural sector, with stronger disasters and fluctuations in temperature disrupting food systems, potentially causing famine

Variable weather conditions may also induce pest and weed vulnerabilities in crops, implicating trade and labor productivity

Similarly, the disease infection range may expand. Zoonotic pathogens, in particular, acquire better living conditions that affect their spread. Concerns of permafrost degradation reviving ancient disease vectors are also implied.

Another consequence of cliimate change is seen in widespread poor air quality which disrupts natural breathing. Data shows that this is contributed by deforestation and its consequent greenhouse effect.

These problems do not account for alarming perceptions of climate change. Lazatin mentioned climate change denial as detrimental to survival. “Many people continue to believe that climate change is not real or not a result of anthropogenic actions,” he mentioned.

A path towards transcendence

Despite these events, humanity should ask, “What if it is not too late?” Potential solutions to mitigate effects and adapt to a dynamic planet are still being sought after. For instance, buildings can incorporate renewable energy sources. Using public transportation can reduce harmful emissions. Composting food and purchasing local produce can lower waste and carbon footprint from importation

Lazatin reminds the need for higher-level action. “World governments need to take decisive action to shift to renewable energy if we want future generations to still have a habitable world to live in,” he expressed.

Paralysis due to overwhelming data can contribute to increasingly pessimistic mindsets. However, this may only cause delays in solutions as agency is lost. Scientists, teachers, and politicians need to present pragmatic actions to tackle this complex problem.

At present, apart from establishments incorporating climate-friendly assets, positive climate stories have frequently been documented to instill hope in today’s generation. Climate change, while daunting, can be combatable—it takes hope and drive to change.

Garden Z: When Plants Become the Zombies

Written by Jhazzel Timothy Dumlao/ Illustrated by Kayla Baang

In a crumbling world where humanity’s reign fades, a new era emerges. Once gentle flora now turn sinister, slinking deserted roads on a post-human planet. No longer nurturers of life, they cannibalize for survival, transforming botanically into the walking dead. In this otherworldly twist driven by chlorophyll-fueled hunger, it’s not Plants versus Zombies anymore. Welcome to plants becoming zombies, an unprecedented apocalypse as nature itself becomes the insatiable mob!

A Rooted Reality

First, let’s set the implications of the plant still being a “plant” and consequently a “zombie”. To classify a plant as a plant, it must retain fundamental characteristics such as the ability to photosynthesize and utilize sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce energy needed for its survival. Additionally, a plant must maintain its structural integrity and its genetic information should also

remain intact to facilitate the growth, reproduction, and propagation of the species

Conversely, to classify a plant as a zombie, it must biologically lose normal physiological functions or portray aberrant behavior. This loss of function could impact its growth, development, and response to stimuli, distinguishing it from healthy plants. Additionally, a “zombie” plant may lose its natural defense mechanisms against pests and diseases, leaving it vulnerable to external threats and contributing to its classification as a “zombie” rather than a healthy, functioning plant.

In a sense, the “zombie plant” must be a balance of these sets of characteristics. So, as a plant transitions into a zombie-like state, it must retain its “photosynthetic” characteristic to remain classified as a plant. Parasitic bacteria like phytoplasmas should induce

abnormal growth patterns such as ‘witches brooms’, redirecting nutrients from reproduction to support the parasite’s growth. In effect, this disruption creates a ‘zombie-like’ state where the parasite needs to override the plant’s survival and reproductive processes.

Admittedly, the line between “zombie” and “plant” is thin, thus, to further understand the hypothetical scenario of plants turning into zombies, it is important to delve into the various aspects of what can be classified as a plant, these characteristics including being eukaryotic, multicellular, and mostly photosynthetic, according to botanist Janlo Robil, PhD.

Robil considers the possibility of plants becoming carnivorous as realistic, discussing the parallels with existing parasitic plant behavior.

to classify a plant as a plant even in a zombified state, which touched upon the potential loss of autotrophic nutrition and the acquisition of heterotrophic traits as plants mutate into zombies.

Robil further states that existing research on plant responses to stimuli and the release of hormones in response to danger or pathogen attacks could genetically lead to plants actively preying on other organisms, potentially involving changes in movement and response to stimuli. “If they develop something like that they can move, maybe they can start to gain the ability to capture prey actively,” he explained.

Who Runs the World? Plants

In such a shadowy realm, a type of protein reigns supreme, transforming plants into botanical zombies. Phytoplasmas, a parasitic bacteria, may bewitch diverse plants and morph them into eerie creatures. SAP54, the insidious culprit, infiltrates the plant’s control center, partnering with MADS-domain proteins to orchestrate a sinister metamorphosis, birthing botanical zombies

Phytoplasmas attack angiosperms or flowering plants as well as gymnosperms or non-flowering plants, inducing leaf-like organ formation instead of flowers through SAP54 and mimicking its structure with MADS-domain proteins to reprogram flower development These leaf-like structures transform plants into sterile “zombies” that breed and propagate phytoplasmas.

Plants that succumb to Phytoplasma may also be affected by transformation via the SAP05, a proteinaceous robber targeting the breakdown of growth regulators within plant cells via the proteasome. As a result, abnormal growth occurs as the vegetative shoots entwine and tissues are twisted, subsequently turning plants into puppets for Phytoplasma, haunting metamorphosis into

botanical zombies, and surrendering reproduction

In addition to parasites, induced mutations, spurred by radiation and chemicals, also trigger genetic alterations in plants, culminating in zombie-like traits. These disrupt normal growth, leading to uncontrollable proliferation and traits resembling undead characteristics. This aberrant behavior mirrors zombie-like vitality and altered physiology, serving as a genetic gateway to transform plants into botanical zombies.

Rotten Roots of Symbiosis

More than the virus behind the botanical zombie apocalypse, another lurking criminal lies behind. In nature, plants engage in various symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia bacteria, and endophytic fungi. Symbiotic connections are typically mutually beneficial for plants and organisms, but disruptions or imbalances can lead to unexpected outcomes.

Symbiotic relationships between plants and other organisms often involve an intricate balance of give-and-take. However, if this balance is disrupted, it could then lead to a breakdown of mutualistic interactions. For instance, if a normally beneficial symbiont starts overexploiting the plant or becomes parasitic, it could trigger abnormal plant behavior, hence driving a zombie prototyped plant species

Furthermore, selected symbiotic organisms have evolved mechanisms to manipulate their hosts’ behavior for their benefit. This means that symbiotic organisms might manipulate a plant’s signaling pathways or hormones to induce unusual behaviors, like zombielike responses, abnormal growth, or changes in response to various stimuli

In addition to behaviors, chemicals from symbiotic organisms can

cause “zombie-like” behaviors in plants, such as hormone imbalances and altered responses to the environment. In an evolutionary arms race, plants and symbionts evolve traits that let symbionts manipulate the host plant, possibly leading to symbiotic relationships where the symbiont significantly influences the plant’s behavior, resembling traits seen in “zombie” stories

Though with these natural occurrences, what species could possibly be the most fearsome botanical creatures with terrifying zombie moves against a post-human world?

Closer to Reality

In a world where the line between flora and fiend could be blurred, botanist Luigi Barroga, MSc suggested numerous plant species with the greatest potential of devouring the floral ecosystem, with these five terrifying botanical entities transpiring: Dodders (Cuscuta spp.), corpse lilies (Rafflesia spp.), mistletoe (Viscum spp.), Venus flytraps (Dionaea spp.), and witchweed (Striga spp.).

Of the five, Dodders or Cuscuta is the “vampirical counterpart” of the plant kingdom, transforming into ominous botanical zombies when infected with pathogens like SAP05. Genetically, they will exploit their thin, twining stems to latch onto host plants, draining their host’s resources. As zombies, they may further reinforce stem elongation and attachment genes, allowing for more rapid spread and parasitization of hosts if they become zombies

Meanwhile, Corpse lilies or Rafflesia, renowned for having gigantic flowers emitting a foul odor reminiscent of rotting flesh, will gruesomely metamorphose into a botanical zombie when infected with SAP54, targeting floral development pathways. Genetically, infected Rafflesia enhances the production of its enormous, reeking flowers to optimize transmission potential

and dominance in its botanical environment

Similarly, Mistletoe or Viscum, a cultural symbol of love, is a hemiparasitic, chlorophyllic plant that still parasitizes nearby organisms. They notably form dense clusters of green foliage on host trees and shrubs. Under evolutionary pressure, mistletoe undergoes genetic selection, developing traits like excessive branching and dense foliage to enhance its virulence

The historically infamous Venus flytrap or Dionaea is perhaps the most iconic carnivorous plant, notorious for its specialized leaves that snap shut on prey, but when they undergo a haunting zombie transformation through SAP05, it affects their trap closure mechanisms. Genetic alterations in effect enhance trap closure efficiency and size, leading to the emergence of snapping zombies

Rounding up the fearsome five is the witchweed, a root-parasitic plant menacing agricultural productivity by attaching to host crop roots. When infected with SAP54, it targets root development, strengthening the crop by enhancing attachment and nutrient extraction efficiency which subsequently threatens agricultural productivity and food security in its zombified state

With these fearsome five, Barroga emphasized how these can economically impact the post-human world. These plantoids exhibit such zombified traits regardless of the type of parasitism they exhibit.

In an almost post-human world, botanical zombies could trigger economic collapse and food insecurity. The dodder zombies’ imperious spread would devastate natural ecosystems, while those wandering witchweed would worsen agricultural losses by depleting crop nutrients. Corpse lily zombies could start emitting foul odors, venus flytrap zombies could disrupt food webs, and mistletoe zombies may

displace ecologically important native plant species, hastening ecosystem collapse.

Deadheading Dollars and Diseases

Fortunately, these zombie plantoids can revert to their natural, functional botanical forms. Despite the absence of human forms, artificial intelligence could still exist and function during this apocalyptic era, potentially leading to the healing of these plants via modern biogenetic and biotechnological tools.

First, genome editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9, Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), and Zinc-Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) can correct genetic traits in zombie plants given how they target and introduce precise modifications to their DNA sequences. These tools act like molecular scissors, cutting the DNA at targeted locations, and then the cell’s natural repair mechanisms kick in, correcting the genes and reverting the zombie plants to normal plants.

Moreover, gene silencing through RNAi may fix the infected genomes of the plant. For instance, RNAi is a natural cellular process for regulating gene expression. Synthetic small RNA molecules are introduced into the cell, and these molecules bind to the target mRNA, preventing its translation into a functional protein. This can be used to downregulate the expression of genes causing undesired traits in plants.

In addition, genetic modification techniques such as Agrobacteriummediated gene transfer and biolistic transformation provide solutions for addressing plant atrocities. The former introduces normal genes into zombie plants, potentially restoring their normal state, meanwhile the latter delivers genetic material into plant cells to reverse zombie-like traits. Paired with next-generation sequencing and specialized bioinformatics software that predict gene functions and interventions, zombies, it seems, aren’t as terrifying

as thought to be

That being the case, as humanity wanes, Garden Z does become the setting for a frightening “what if” as real-life botanical zombies become emergent. While modern biogenetic and biotechnological tools offer promising and solid ways to correct plant genetic abnormalities, the alternative of zombie plants ruling this world can still be unsettling, especially with our “over-evolving world”. By searching nature’s mysteries further, Garden Z’s secrets will be revealed, leading to a more resilient and sustainable future for these creeping botanical communities worldwide.

One Small Step for Extremophiles, One Giant Leap for Mankind

Written by Riz Balaga / Illustrated by Aki Banguis

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to carry the weight of the world in your hands? No one surely wishes to know that feeling. Extremophiles, however, face something of the sort daily, perhaps even while sipping their minuscule cups of tea!

Keeping Up With the Extremophiles

Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in environments that humans and other terrestrial life forms would, quite frankly, rather not find themselves in. These include areas of extreme temperature, pressure, acidity, and alkalinity. Consequently, extremophiles are classified based on the environments of their preference. The majority of extremophiles are dubbed “polyextremophiles” because of their adaptation to habitats that include multiple extreme physicochemical parameters.

Extremophiles can be extremophilic or extremotolerant. The main difference between the two classifications is that extremotolerants survive both normal and extreme conditions. This is a result of growth within “normal” conditions. On the other hand, extremophilics will always require the extremes. Talk about thrill-seekers!

Beware of the Water Bears

It is usually thought that extremophiles are solely of Archaean ancestry. This is true to an extent as most of these tiny daredevils originate from Archaea, but they are present in all domains of life. One memorable and famous example is

the tardigrade, a microscopic animal that has been referred to as the primitive arthropod.

Despite their not-so-distant relation to creepy crawlies, tardigrades have been endearingly called “water bears” and “moss piglets”. The term “tardigrade” itself describes the little animal’s lumbering gait. However, these slow-walkers are not merely cuddly bears of the microscopic world. Just like any extremophile, they are capable of remarkable feats

It is said that tardigrades have survived all five mass extinctions and are even predicted to outlive humans. This is no surprise because while they nestle themselves in water environments and the moss of a backyard garden wall, they can brave extreme altitudes or depths—19,600 feet in the Himalayas to 15,000 feet below the ocean surface.2,3 Tardigrades have successfully dealt with freezing temperatures—as low as -200 degrees Celsius—as well as exposure to solar ultraviolet rays and space vacuums

If they seek an unconventional yet efficient mode of transportation, water bears could choose to hitch rides on bullets. In fact, a study by a group of researchers at the University of Kent found that tardigrades could withstand being shot from a gun, traveling 3,000 feet per second, and surviving an impact worth approximately 1.14 gigapascals of pressure

The study as a whole focused on the tardigrade’s ability to live through various impact exposures. The results have pointed to the viability of panspermia, a theory suggesting life can travel to planets or moons through meteorites. While difficult, the study said that panspermia can be possible.

A tardigrade’s durability can be mainly attributed to its adaptation of a dormant tun state, a form of cryptobiosis. In this state, each of the 1,300 tardigrade species has cells that eject proteins unique to tardigrades, and these proteins are then self-assembled into fibers that support cell membranes and other proteins that prevent breaking or unfolding.

Cryptobiosis is a phenomenon which horror films could take inspiration from. Organisms that undergo the process enter a state where no signs of life are detectable as metabolic activities drastically decrease, and yet, this process is reversible. In the case of tardigrades, it is usually triggered by drying, freezing, lack of oxygen, and excess salt. Here, metabolic activity is decreased to 0.01% of normal levels. It’s surely enough to turn Frankenstein on his head!

With that, the possibility of these small beings could be endless! Though just like any other usual superhero, tardigrades do bear a kryptonite—wilting under heat. A recent study found that tardigrades

submerged in water can die within a day if the temperature increases to 37.8 degrees Celsius

Tardigrades and their Little Capes

In recent years, tardigrades have slowly been making a name for themselves in biotechnology. Scientists have been trying to engineer tardigrade proteins into food crops, yeast, and insects. If they are successful, these organisms may survive growth in spacecraft, despite the elevated levels of radiation compared to that on Earth.

Dsup, which is short for damage suppressor, is a protein unique to at least two species of tardigrades. Its value comes from its ability to bind to DNA, even physically shielding it from reactive forms of oxygen. In the laboratory, Dsup was inserted into human cells where it was found that those modified cells survived levels of fatal X-rays or peroxide chemicals that would have ordinarily killed them in the first place.

In another experiment, human cells were modified to produce the tardigrade’s “packing peanut” protein. These cells, by inhibiting apoptosis—cell death—became resistant to camptothecin which is a cell-killing chemotherapy agent.

Upon the insertion of Dsup into tobacco plants, the plants were found to be protected from ethyl methanesulfonate, a DNA-damaging chemical. The plants also grew more quickly in comparison to those without the gene and received less DNA damage from ultraviolet radiation.3

Beyond all this fancy science, of course, the rest of the tardigrade’s extremophile pals have scientific contributions to show for all of this too! Their superhuman abilities have proven to assist people as well, with applications sprouting from biotechnology and medicine.

Notably, extremophiles have been used to advance Polymerase Chain

Reactions (PCR’s), biofuels, and polyesters for bioplastics. They have blood-clotting functions as well as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor properties. Interestingly, extremophiles have also been tested as an alternative vaccine delivery system

As time passes, humanity has been breaking barriers through scientific advancements. What was previously thought to be limited behind the canopy of science fiction has manifested into our realities. In the distant future, we may even see ourselves reaching marvelous heights that are as of now, impossible for us to imagine. When that day comes, may we perhaps remember the very little hands that guided us along the way? We must certainly hope so.

Regardless, when the dust settles and there’s “no one left”, our tiny friends will merely remember us in a blink of an eye in their rather extreme way of living.

More Than Man’s Best Friend

Written by Jacob Pagulayan / Illustrated by Lynelle Ringor

Centuries from now, humans may no longer be around. Yet, amid our achievements and towering monuments lie—-Bark bark!—is humanity’s best friend, one of the most abundant mammals because our time loved them so much. With humanity’s demise, what will the world look like if dogs “took over”?

Strength in Numbers

First, a common misconception is that abundance and dominance are the same. Abundance is key to dominance; however, dominance entails the capacity of a species to have significant effects on environmental conditions or ecosystem function.

Meanwhile, the abundance of a species is a good indicator of its capacity not just to persist but to co-exist with other species — a trait indicative of a dominant species.1 In this way, dominance is not necessarily about overpowering other species or about its abundance but rather about its ability to effectively co-exist with other species.

Additionally, this co-existence implies that a dominant species doesn’t necessarily compromise diversity, allowing rare species to persist. Thus, a dominant species complies with this natural mechanism of diversity maintenance.

It seems that there is strength in numbers, but research indicates that there seems to be even more strength in the ability to co-exist and collaborate. Now, do dogs have what it takes to do so?

Scientifically, Man’s Best Friend

To know if dogs possess the traits needed to persist and co-exist, we must first analyze their ability to be dominant. Historically, when studying the dominance of a species, data spreads are used. However, in reality, a holistic view, notably inclusive of behavior needs to be analyzed

For instance, many consider dogs as “Man’s Best Friend”, a title almost undisputed globally. We often get dogs as companions, assistants for the disabled, and some even as workers such as in farming. All of this boils down to their behavior.

The trait at the helm of many of a dog’s traits is its attachment to its pack. Even before its domestication and evolution, its ancestors, the wolves, possessed this trait that allowed them to persist together. In dogs, this attachment exists not only with humans but also with other species. In fact, dogs can also create new attachments later in life multiple times. In this way, it seems that dogs naturally favor coexistence and codependency with other species.

Dogs are also information sponges, especially at a young age. Dogs are altricial species, depending on care, primarily by the mother or parents, in the first few months of their life. It is during this period that a dog’s behavior

It appears that dogs easily adapt to their environment, whether this is living in the countryside in rural areas or big homes. This is thanks to the selective breeding that allowed for a diversity of environments that dogs can be a part of. Even in a world without humans, human influence, such as human infrastructure, on the environment will remain, which dogs may find advantageous.

Canine Revolution

With how they behave, what then will happen if our companions are without us? Before being able to answer that, we must take note of the limitations of this prediction as true ecological and behavioral effects can be analyzed only through historical data

Focusing on a dog’s behavior lets us see if they are beneficial in making them dominant. It is only through this we can truly picture a world full of fluffiness! Specifically, this wolf trait provides advantages that promote the persistence of the species such as defending territory, hunting, breeding, and protecting food. This can be observed in dogs today that bark at strangers who pass outside houses.

This has benefitted wolves as they have persisted for over 1 million years. It may serve as proof of the adaptability

that protect them; however, these traits inherited from wolves may be beneficial after we are gone.

Though having their benefits, being in a park can be disadvantageous as well. Species with functional traits that are similar to other species promote competition This may put a species at risk as said competitor may have more favorable traits that will favor natural selection more. For example, lions also live in packs which give them similar functional traits as dogs.

Another disadvantage of being in a pack would be the intraspecific competition within a species. It is known that, in a pack, an alpha pair exists. This pair consists of the mates who are the leaders of a pack who, for example, get to eat first. This system may be counterproductive to the propagation of wolves as it may hinder reproduction

Then again, dogs pick up information quickly. The ability to learn is particularly important not just in an animal’s survival but also in its ability to socialize within and beyond its species. Through learning, adaptive behaviors can yield new skills to survive in environments

This means that the previously mentioned coexistence paired with this learning is key to a dog’s overall survival and dominance as they learn to benefit from their surroundings and other organisms. Effectively, this means that dogs dominating the world after us may be more than just an imaginative idea.

Being Dogs With Others

We tackled the behavioral traits of dogs as well as how these traits will benefit the persistence and, hopefully, the dominance of dogs. Though, can these traits be picked up by other organisms? If so, how? Can dogs be more than man’s best friend? Can they be Earth’s mightiest heroes? Animals, even non-mammals, are capable of learning. Observational learning is the most abundant of these, and as the name suggests, it occurs when other animals observe behavior from other species. For instance, in a study, it was observed that birds can learn foraging techniques from other bird species or even from

Another mechanism of learning would be interspecies communication. In some cases, animals from different species can communicate and learn from each other. Dolphins have been known to learn behaviors from humans in captivity, such as performing tricks or following . Dogs may be able to use barking as a means of communicating with other organisms thanks to selective breeding that allowed for human-dog communication that may serve as proof for a dog’s capacity to communicate .

Environmental influence may play a major role in learning. Animals living close to other organisms may pick up behaviors through environmental exposure. For example,

animals sharing habitats may observe and adopt certain behaviors from neighboring species to enhance their survival

Because dogs are now the most abundant mammal in this theoretical world, many animals will live near dogs, which may promote behavior-sharing between species. It is important to note that limitations in the cognitive abilities of many species may hinder this type of learning

Mammals specifically depend on particular parts of the brain responsible for the cognitive capacity to learn, which aren’t present in other animals such as birds and fish. That is why the mechanism of how birds and fish learn is less understood by the scientific community; however, they still are capable of learning, maybe not to the degree mammals do.

Of course, the implications of this learning system aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. As mentioned, species with similar functional traits promote competition. Dogs may become more predatorial, and because of their abundance, may lead to possible endangerment of other species.

Let’s assume that the abundance of dogs overcomes competition, and their behavior is learned by organisms capable of picking these up. What would the world look like? Would other animals learn to perform tricks?

Dogtopia Unleashed

Given that behavior can socially be passed on from species to species, we can foresee what kind of world will exist if the influence of dogs takes over the world. Can it be said that in a world without humans, the world will become a better place?

Dogs are known for their social nature and ability to learn from each other through observation and imitation. If dogs ruled the world, we might see a society based on cooperation, where individuals learn from one another to navigate their environment, solve problems, and coexist. With dogs at the helm of abundance, coexistence will be emphasized throughout different species.

We may see animals, formerly, who did not follow a pack-like structure adapting to it. Possibly, these animals picked up the advantages of this social structure through the mechanisms of learning mentioned may lead to more resiliency within a single species as proven by the resiliency of wolves for

Communication and social bonds are traits very crucial on the ecological scale. Dogs are natural learners, able

to communicate with other species. We might then see a society that values learning, innovation, and flexibility in response to changing circumstances. In a world tainted with human waste and infrastructure, adaptability will be key to the collective survival of all other organisms.

It may all be speculation, but a world ruled by dogs may be a world of collective survival and coexistence, aligned with what it truly means to be dominant. We learned that coexistence entails collaboration, and hopefully, the natural traits of dogs further propagate this kind of living. Coexistence and cooperation within a habitat benefit the entire ecosystem, not just the dominant species

With that, more than the success of dogs’ survival, we discover that, consequently their behaviors could promote a more diverse ecosystem. A diverse ecosystem is indicated by faster growth rates of various species. The abundance, therefore, of a certain species is an indicator of an ecosystem that promotes coexistence as well as diversity

The Fur-tunate World

Perhaps, the world would be better without us humans. Even without humans, the world will remain fortunate to have a species that can promote diversity and collective growth, a dream we humans strive to achieve. Though hypothetical, it can be safe to say that the world will be in good hands, or paws, if dogs remain the most abundant mammal instead of us humans.

So, maybe the next time we look at our dogs, let’s give a smile and say thank you, not just for what they’ve done for us, but for what they may be able to do for the entire world. Dogs aren’t simply our pets, they are our allies in preserving diversity. Let’s work hand-in-paw with them so

Written by Andew Tumulak / Illustrated by Jeremy Eviota

Humanity has domineered over nature, violently wrangling its inescapable vastness into discrete pieces of material by which to enrich our lives. It is too easy to unscrupulously claim nature without a driving force for reflection beyond the immediate and material.

What I humbly submit, with the help of continental philosophy and my newfound pastime in birdwatching, is a process of revisiting our relationship with nature. Before any consideration of meeting our basic needs, playing into our organization of the economy, or entering into realms of cultural importance, I hope to treat nature as a primary locus to which we can direct genuine love by treating its wonders as a Derridan gift for us to receive.

The Unbothered Little Egret

“For there to be a gift, there must be no reciprocity, return, exchange, countergift, or debt.” -Jacques Derrida

One of my recent lifers (read: first-time spots) is a little egret (Egretta garzetta) in the creek across the Tanging Yaman Foundation’s talipapa. The spot was the terminal area of the wastewater collected from Gonzaga, the runoff from the LS Swimming Pool showers. The landscape accouterment was a volleyball, probably from the nearby court, and a Gatorade bottle now half-filled with the turbid water in which it was submerged. The water had a thin sheen of film glinting from its surface, an immiscible layer from the hitherto collected detergents.

The place was barely the kind that initiates excitement, and yet there it was. Long slender neck on a sleek body, supported by black stilts for legs. True to its name, it was smaller than the other egrets that frequent fields on campus. Instead, it is tucked away here, sifting through murky water, ready to escape once it notices the intruder peeking just beyond the ledge.

To me, this bird’s presence is a gift. It was not a lifer I intentionally sought out; it was happenstance that brought me into its presence. In this precise moment, I am struck with wonder, of a kind not dissimilar to finding genuine love, friendship, connectedness.

Just as immediately, I feel the human impulse to claim the moment. I take my phone out to snap photos and share them with my birder friends. I find myself prioritizing future considerations and taking myself out of the present moment. The wonder and joy that called to me first has now been reduced to a mere plaything that I consume for myself, without consideration for the nature that enabled it.

Being a birder gives me a new lens with which to interact with places I thought I already knew. What had previously been an easily dismissible path of land, cordoned off by barbed wire, had become a new nexus upon which to direct my energy. However, this precise lens deludes me

into owning the moment for myself, admitting to myself what makes me happy by crystallizing it as an absolute expectation. Dangerously, this rejects the possibility of failure and despair.

The egret’s presence was a gift to which I could not respond. In arrogance, I allowed myself to be the center of the scenario—as if I was in control of a blessing merely given, as if I machinated my surprise and I mastered my joy from experiencing the Other.

I returned the following morning. The little egret was no longer there.

The Inevitable Brown Shrike

“For there to be [a] gift, it is necessary that the gift not even appear, that it not be perceived or received as [a] gift.”

One of the birds I have grown a fondness for over the last six months is the brown shrike (Lanius cristatus). Like the little egret, it is a migratory bird, temporarily residing in the tropics for winter. Unlike its contemporary, however, the shrike knows no subtlety.

Its shrill call is unmistakable once you have committed it to memory. No sooner than when I first heard it in SOM Forest did I begin hearing it at SEC Field, then Bellarmine Field, then the Arboretum, then the Manila Observatory. These were all different individuals, seemingly having claimed pockets of the campus as their territories, their calls demarcating their boundaries. For a species so small, they are immediately striking.

This auditory familiarity in a bird that often stays on low branches when seeking prey made shrikes easy to photograph. Unlike other birds, they do not immediately escape when I approach, perhaps entertaining the thought that I might be possible prey. So, whenever I walk, brown shrikes are often the most reliable birds I encounter. They call to me, I come closer, and I share a moment with them. Though the excitement fades away under repetition. The human boundedness to the expectation I have forged for myself has turned on itself, creating repetitive dullness from the same elation that I had only recently discovered. As pictures stockpile in my gallery, the shrikes’ calls register more as noise that crowds out other sources of excitement.

Again, I find myself reducing the shrike to an object that serves only my desire, forgetting the myriad circumstances that allow them to even be here. They take a long, arduous journey from the upper latitudes if only to seek warmth here. They find spots to settle, prey to catch, and water to bathe in, all in an urban area that can change at any moment.

Who am I to forego this instance of natural design persisting against abruptness? Have I so deeply lost myself in expected regularity that I discount the uniqueness of each encounter I have with the shrikes?

The shrikes’ presence is a gift that existed long before I did—one crafted alongside the development of continents, the tilt of the earth, and the behavioral maturation that arises from natural selection. I see its reflections now, but I doubt whether this clarity will ever resolve the magnanimity of a gift so grand that I struggle to perceive it even as it is taken away.

I am reminded of the finitude of their stay soon after. As the tropical summer kicks in, they become reminded of their instinct to breed in the colder climes of their home country. I still see them around, but I hear less of their calls

. The Free Collared Kingfisher

“For there to be [a] gift, not only must the donor or donee not perceive or receive the gift as such, have no consciousness of it, no memory, no recognition…we are speaking here of an absolute forgetting—a forgetting that also absolves, that unbinds absolutely and infinitely more, therefore than excuse, forgiveness, or acquittal.”

One of the birds that made me fall in love with birdwatching is the collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris). For

something so spectacularly colored, one would think that the bright blue bird was rare, that it is only by luck that one may encounter it even in urban green spaces.

Yet it is always reliable. There is a collared kingfisher that frequents the electrical lines near the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center. 5 PM, standing at the correct spot on the hill upon which our Arboretum of Endangered Trees is built, I know I will find it preening, getting its last prey of the day, before retiring to a nest not too far away. I have grown quite fond of this kingfisher, and I always hope for it to be there whenever my classes end.

This hope is different from expectation. I do not find myself frustrated when I arrive at the arboretum—body aching from four classes, mind drained from daily stresses—only to see bare electrical lines with no shade of blue in sight. Perhaps it is because the kingfisher is a resident bird that I could rely on, or perhaps because I meet it at one of the most beautiful spots on campus anyway, but not seeing it has never bothered me.

Certainly, I go to the promontory with the desire to see the kingfisher, but I also recognize the ridiculous temerity that comes with demanding nature to conform to my will out of its own accord. We are merely subjects of its transcendence, and the rightful response is gratitude in the presence of a world that immensely precedes and unfathomably succeeds us.

The kingfisher does not follow my timetable, but it is precisely this surprising nature of our interactions that dispose me to enter the moment fully when it comes. I preserve the excitement, the joy, of seeing it for the first time by never claiming to fully own the moment and never treating it like a box to be checked. After all, it is not mine to hold, and attempting to grasp it imperils the beauty that drew me close to it in the first place.

Expectation breeds contempt, hope invites love. This authentic love pushes me, even at the boundaries of my experience, to ultimately hope not for my fulfillment but that of my beloved. This love, I submit, is the kind that we need for the living world we have ungraciously and violently stripped. In pursuing human ambition, we have ruled over nature; in fulfilling our capacity to love, we return to it all we have taken.

When I see the kingfisher, it seems to call me into responsibility. I feel decentered, as if its singular presence bears the heavy reminder of the unimaginably expansive world to which I belong. I find this humility, albeit imposing, to be precisely what draws me into continued interaction. The kingfisher’s presence is a gift I hope for—one borne of love, faith, and responsibility in the natural world in which I am inextricably situated. It is a gift that recedes as soon as it appears, grasping me for a moment before leaving me to seek its fulfillment out of my own volition. It expects of me nothing, and yet to it, I owe everything.

Then, maybe, as the sun sets, I will see them again tomorrow.

Development for Whom?

Written by Derreck De Leon / Illustrated by Anya Dimanlig

Picture this: the year is 2124, and all semblance of modern society has ceased to exist. Where green fields used to exist now stand tall, monochromatic buildings, heavily equipped with air conditioning and thick heatproof windows to withstand the toxic and scalding atmosphere outside. The planet’s ability to support life is on dangerously low levels, barely held together by machines that emit the very same things that have led to this predicament. Amid it all, there are advertisements for products that appear by the dozen, people are but shells of their former selves, mindlessly consuming to their heart’s content.

This may sound similar to a dystopian science fiction film, but the parallels to our modern world just plant the question in your mind: how is fiction turning into our everyday reality? Who are we developing for? Dehumanizing the actors

Since ushering into the Agricultural Revolution, people have always been given a taste of civilized living. This experience has captivated us so much that we have and continue to spend the last three centuries pursuing better ways to make things easier, faster, and more efficient. Even in the present day where almost anything is ondemand and quick, our relationship with development has fostered an insatiable desire to keep wanting more. Evidently, our development for an easier life is driven by our evolution as a species. After all, as the only species on Earth with consciousness, it is our prime directive to adapt and adjust to changing times to rationally ensure the survival of our kind.

Though, amid all this development, I’d argue that we have lost our way—we have dehumanized our evolution. Humans are, of course, still the driving force behind all these breakthroughs, but they are no longer seen as their

unconditional masters. Instead, humans are considered collaterals, easily reduced to statistics and data, a means to an end as opposed to being the end.

Over time, our society has increasingly adopted this utilitarian thinking where we take the side of development without considering its long-term consequences. This continued prioritization of efficiency over humanity is something that has translated to a lot of unethical practices that have serious repercussions for the environment, wildlife, and the quality of human life.

What happens, then, when the Doomsday Clock reaches midnight? Will we finally start acting when our window sills are nothing more than metal sheets, blocking us from the consequences of our own actions?

Feigning ignorance, blindly on stage

Yet, despite everything, we still support our own dehumanization. Technology and development have coevolved with us so much that it has reached the point where we find ourselves even struggling to stand on our own when the other is absent. Even so, we still struggle to catch up with how fast it evolves, and, like God, we don’t even question it.

Like a dystopian society, we have reinstated slavery— our own slavery—without having to abolish any laws. As sociologist George Ritzer coins it, we have and continue to be “McDonaldized.” We, humans, mirror a fast food restaurant, always hurrying to be productive and costefficient without considering anything. It is as if we do not know anything but being productive; like we have been designed for efficiency. Of course, while being efficient and developed may entail significant benefits to the status quo, there are so many more unseen consequences.

For instance, despite laws and requirements of keeping and making businesses “green”, big corporations continue to cut costs and engage in shortcuts that step on living societies to meet their quotas.

Mostly based in first-world countries, these corporations choose to outsource their labor and factories to developing countries in the guise of promising employment and greater opportunities. However, past the fine print, these corporations capitalize on cheap labor, poor employment practices, and even poorer working conditions. Apart from this, these corporations would prefer equipment that, while cost-efficient and faster, pollutes the seas and skies of the host country.

It is ironic to see that the countries that are chained to cheaper, risky options and with the least resources to fight against climate change’s effects are the most affected in this situation. These are also the countries at the far end of the development race — the karinderia to a McDonaldsdominated world.

While the third-worlds could cease hosting these multinational companies, they lack the resources and economy to do so. I mean, from any country’s standpoint, especially those with volatile economies, allocating funds from the national budget to green alternatives is easier said than done. More often than not, they must look to acquiring the basic necessities of their constituents which just so happen to be with these companies—they are chained to this cycle.

This puts the burden of breaking the cycle on the companies. Despite them having the resources to enact and initiate alternatives, they have their hands tied behind excessive layers of red tape and international economic pressures. Aside from this, it also presents itself to be a disadvantageous position for the company as this move means negative profit—something that can mean a lot in a fast-paced market.

From noise to symphonies

By now, two things are apparent: capitalism has a strong influence on the pressures of development and pollution, and despite its initial inspirations, development has increasingly been dehumanized. Seeing how deeply rooted the consequences and their causes are in the different microcosms of a globalized society, it would be impossible and unrealistic to instigate a sudden and instant revolution.

What, then, is realistic? As paradoxical as it is, we have to take a step back and move forward. We must first hear and then face the noise that we have brought into the world. Then, through all that gobbled-up noise, we start creating

symphonies. By that, I mean, we already have sustainable options that emphasize reusability and biodegradability. So, people must begin to see through the cycle and know that there is something wrong.

We must also acknowledge unfixable things. We are irreversibly utilitarian. We cannot change the fact that we cannot just be pulled off from technology. This is something we must embrace as being part of ourselves now but not basing our whole being on it.

Unlike development and changes, fixing our systems must be slow and incremental. This means that no single party should act on it alone—it is a joint effort. As both companies and third-world countries engage in a mutualistic relationship in the cycle, they must work together towards finding alternatives and solutions that accrue improvements not at the thoughtless expense of the poorer country.

There is also merit in moving away from profit-driven planning and refocusing towards people-centric production. We must recognize that, at its very core, everything on the market is intrinsically intended by people and for people. Stepping away from the pressures of catching up with modernization brings back humanity in development and relieves the pressure on the production lines operated by humans.

By doing these small things, humans are no longer treated as mere commodities, but as actual stakeholders. By beginning to invite a system that is by the people and for the people, we begin to realize the consequences, as well as its effects on our society. This also levels the cycle, empowering consumers to have better choices and hold bigger power over corporations. Capitalism-centered development will cease to be the norm, making important conversations about the environment better heard.

I remain hopeful that if we all collectively find ways to appease our human condition, then just maybe we don’t have to fear the monochromatic future that could await us a century from now. If we do this, then maybe by then we’ll still have the lush green that surrounds us today and maybe we can continue to bring back the “human” in our humanity.

So, to answer the question: For whom do we develop? The answer is simple: it’s for every one of us. Development for you, me, the tree in your backyard, the tweeting bird, and the swimming turtle—all life. It’s time we realize that our actions aren’t for our mere advancement but for all of us. Our small actions and voices for good fight back our current society’s dystopic disposition.

When SparkS Fly: love, li Fe, and r obotS

Written by Vince Albarillo / Illustrated by Aki Banguis

Humans are funny. The frantic pacing of our current lives forces us to slot twenty-five hours worth of work into just twenty-four, not counting sleep. In the Philippines, we compound that with excessive bureaucracy, a depressing economy, and a corrupt government, among other things. The typical working Filipino has to deal with so much to sustain themselves, not even counting their households. Surely, the indomitable human spirit manifests itself most in Filipino veins, where “resiliency” reigns eternal.

However, even the most chiseled of people crumble under short-term contact with their crush. We all know it—the classic signs of kilig—the flushed face, the shortness of breath, the buckling of knees, the inability to make eye contact, the failed attempts to form complete sentences. What power that person must have, to activate the sympathetic nervous system’s fight-or-flight response and treat attraction, perhaps love, as a stress inducer? In the future, however, that person may mark the transition to another era of your life.

From whence cometh love? More importantly, by what means does it transform and give color to the banality of everyday life?

Love in all its forms

One definition of love describes it as a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties,” or an “attraction based on sexual desire.” It can also be a “warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion.” In essence, love is affection, with varying degrees of intensity, towards a broadly defined range of people. Though try as we might define it, the nature of love’s broad expanse had baffled even the wisest of Ancient Greeks thousands of years ago. Fundamentally, love is a fluid concept attuned to its recipient that also manifests physically through actions

But how does love work, and for what purpose does it serve? Helen Fisher and her team described human love systems as evolved from ancient behavioral attraction systems associated with dopamine reward pathways in the brain. A cocktail of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters harmonize the distinct processes that direct lust, attachment, and attraction into what we now know is love.

All of this seems so complex. However, this underlying complexity does not prevent the subject of love from making the simplest, most mundane parts of life seem like the most vivid of paintings. Love is so powerful that it allows people to carry on conversations in silence—a millennia’s worth of evolution allowed me to view a quiet afternoon of watching my partner crochet as one of my most treasured memories.

Meaningful quietude is but one manifestation of ideal love—constituted by mutual openness, loyalty, and patience. The paragon of romantic couples in fiction, for me, is EVE and WALL-E, whose spark transformed into a blossoming flame that tore down their status quo, breathing life anew into a world lost to unsustainable growth.

A conduit for change, a recipe for evolution WALL-E and EVE are the unlikeliest of pairs. One is a trash compactor bot, working not for directive’s sake but for learned pleasure while the other is a mass-produced robot that is programmed to seek out any remaining life. Though both are robots, human-like characteristics are etched into WALL-E’s mannerisms in contrast with EVE’s initially cold and clinical demeanor. It was WALLE’s enthusiasm in sharing his passions that made him loveable. It was only when EVE was deactivated after finding a plant that we see his most human traits: perseverance and loyalty.

Those are what drove him to maintain contact with EVE and go with her to space. It was his prerogative to do what made her happy and fulfill her goal after having botched it. That is love right there. Thus, after he finds it, her happiness is so unabashed, so open, that hugging him and making contact with his face forms a literal spark— as close to a kissing scene that can be between two nonhumanoid robots.

Define dancing

What follows is one of the most romantic scenes ever put into animation. WALL-E, with his fire extinguisher, glides with EVE among the stars in a fashion, not unlike that of Aphro and Butch, two Southern Right whales in Argentina, whose courtship was described as an intimate touching of flippers before swimming off, side-by-side. This formed intimacy as shared between the parties involved is so

beautiful and transcendent that it can no longer be limited to humanity.

Can it be said that love is a purely human characteristic when animals and robots show off very clear acts of love? We designate specific traits and characteristics as “human”, but is it not the same for non-humans? I would argue that humans being exempt from love and reproduction as solely instinctual functions is moot, especially considering the recent coverage of the first observed male-on-male action between two humpback whales. Even then, sexual attraction and acts now go beyond purely survival functions.

The love between WALL-E and EVE, two machines, was not formed out of instinct. One may say that their personalities are derivatives of human invention. However, their love is no less valid due to their non-humanness. Freedom is, no doubt, an integral part of love, as Jean-Paul Sartre would argue. Consent is attractive. Would these robots be considered free, though? Sure, I would say so, given that they gained the capacity to ignore their directives and move for a cause much bigger than they had initially anticipated.

However, another importance is that love is shared. It can transform the individuals involved into something greater than themselves. It is through love that someone can evolve beyond their original capacities to make their partner the happiest they can be. Working a nine-to-five can be worth it if I came home to a loving spouse and my two kids, lounging in the living room before telling me about their days during dinner. Seeing them fulfilled after, smiling and asleep in their beds, would invigorate any haggard person.

Love enduring

Of course, life goes on and we get older. Young love shifts from its passionate drive into a quiet but intense affection. If love transforms people, time transforms love. This voyage to the end is, no doubt, filled with conflicts. As romantic partners, facing life and even the world together goes without saying.

Even if there are nights when the last words shared at the end of the day are anger, it only takes time, patience, and openness for these storms to pass. Communication is

key. After all, when our children have families of their own, we will only have each other—at least, immediately that is. It is only when this final line of security is cut that love transforms at its apex, as despair makes way to fill the void that my partner would have left.

There are two equally valid and understandable paths: one transformative and another destructive. EVE, after WALL-E’s death, is the former. He was crushed under a machine in his attempts to, not just make EVE happy, but bring humanity back to Earth. EVE’s scream of anguish is something that still haunts me to this day. However, she was able to divert that energy into restoring WALLE’s internals and saving him, overwriting his original programming to bring back her loveable dork of a trash compactor.

The latter is done when trying to fill that void with vices, or when somebody gives up to ultimately join their other half in a place further than here. God of War’s Faye (or perhaps WandaVision’s Vision) said it best: “To grieve deeply is to have loved fully.” Regardless of the path traveled, there is an acknowledgment of the gaping void left behind, which existed solely due to having someone so important filling it. To see the scars left behind by that ordeal is a reminder that there was a life well-lived and a person well-loved. No amount of time will ever change the memories made. Erected boundaries

At the end of the day, the question remains, “What are the limits of love?” Romantically speaking, people say that you cannot choose who you love. That is true to some extent, as it depends on a multitude of factors. Coincidence is probably the most unpredictable one—there is a chance that you have met the ‘one,’ but have not become friends with them yet.

However, there is still a choice. Aside from the media consumed and the people talked to, the choice remains whether to give attraction what it needs to bloom into a full-blown love or just let it stagnate within your heart until it eventually fades away.

There are a lot of things to consider when one is to be practical. Societal factors like religion and culture play a part in choosing a partner. Geographical factors are crucial in deciding whether a relationship is still worth

pursuing. Economic factors are taken into account to see whether financial burden would dampen the passion people have for each other.

All this is not said to be purely utilitarian but rather to say that carrying that initial spark and protecting its engendered flame from the battlefield we call life is not a voyage for everyone. It takes time, commitment, effort, and resources. Not just anyone can love freely.

An invitation

Love is simple and complex in how it manifests itself, transforms others, and is transformed by time. It is an individual experience insofar as the circumstances it forms vary. Simultaneously, it is a collective one as everyone has the potential to love and be loved. The feelings experienced are likely enough to encompass the full spectrum of human emotion. Without love, the world would be quite drab and dull.

Knowing that some children grow up without love in their homes is a sad thought. Children deserve proper childhoods, and the first step towards that is for their parents to provide them with the love and care they deserve. It is from families that children learn what it means to love and who deserves their love.

Relationships take time to form. Eventually, beyond home and school, it becomes harder to come across opportunities for relationships, whether platonic or romantic. It becomes an active pursuit and it might be too much for people who have a lot going on. Some would prefer not to, and that is completely valid. However, for those who wish to but are finding it difficult to persevere, go at your own pace. There is no shame in resting.

Love is not something to be rushed. It matters more that what blossoms is something equally meaningful for all parties involved, and that both are willing to communicate and commit.

A Question of Survival: Climate Crises in Recent Times

1. Chan D, Wu Q. 2015. Significant Anthropogenic-Induced Changes of Climate Classes since 1950. Scientific Reports. 5(1). doi:https://doi. org/10.1038/srep13487.

2. Palawan News. 2024 Jan 10. Sarangani fish surge, a phenomenon also occurring in Palawan. Palawan News. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://palawan-news.com/sarangani-fish-surge-a-phenomenon-alsooccurring-in-palawan/.

3. Satar MN, Akhir MF, Zainol Z, Chung JX. 2023. Upwelling in Marginal Seas and Its Association with Climate Change Scenario—A Comparative Review. Climate. 11(7):151. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ cli11070151.

4. Locus S. 2024 Feb 26. PAGASA: Cold Weather to Continue Due to Amihan. GMA News Online. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://www. gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/weather/898679/pagasa-coldweather-to-continue-due-to-amihan/story/.

5. NASA. 2019 Feb 19. Global Temperature. Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://climate.nasa.gov/vitalsigns/global-temperature/.

6. NASA. 2023 Oct. Carbon Dioxide Concentration | NASA Global Climate Change. Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/.

7. Garcia MEJN, Hernandez AA. 2018 Nov 9. Pattern Analysis of Natural Disasters in the Philippines. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.:74–83. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98752-1_9.

8. Holden WN, Marshall SJ. 2018 May 11. Climate Change and Typhoons in the Philippines: Extreme Weather Events in the Anthropocene. Integrating Disaster Science and Management.:407–421. doi:https:// doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-812056-9.00024-5.

9. Dela Pena K. 2023 Mar 14. Worry about Severe Weather Events Highest in the Philippines. Asia News Network. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://asianews.network/worry-about-severe-weather-eventshighest-in-philippines/.

10. Bosano R. 2024 Feb 7. El Niño in Mature stage; DOH on the Lookout for Diseases. ABS-CBN News. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://news. abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/7/el-ni-o-in-mature-stage-doh-on-thelookout-for-diseases-2302.

11. Pappas S. 2023 Mar 21. Will Humans Ever Go Extinct? Scientific American. [accessed 2024 Feb 28]. https://www.scientificamerican. com/article/will-humans-ever-go-extinct/.

12. E360 Digest. 2020 Oct 13. Extreme Weather Events Have Increased Significantly in the Last 20 Years. Yale E360. [accessed 2024 Feb 28]. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/extreme-weather-events-have-increasedsignificantly-in-the-last-20-years.

13. Owino V, Kumwenda C, Ekesa B, Parker ME, Ewoldt L, Roos N, Lee WT, Tome D. 2022. The Impact of Climate Change on Food Systems, Diet Quality, Nutrition, and Health Outcomes: a Narrative Review. Frontiers in Climate. 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.941842.

14. Ramesh K, Matloob A, Aslam F, Florentine SK, Chauhan BS. 2017. Weeds in a Changing Climate: Vulnerabilities, Consequences, and Implications for Future Weed Management. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00095.

15. Filho WL, Ternova L, Parasnis SA, Kovaleva M, Nagy GJ. 2022. Climate Change and Zoonoses: a Review of Concepts, Definitions, and Bibliometrics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19(2):893. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020893.

16. World Health Organization. Climate Impacts of Air Pollution. World Health Organization. [accessed 2024 Feb 28]. https://www.who.int/ teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-energy-andhealth/health-impacts/climate-impacts-of-air-pollution.

17. NASA. 2019. Is it Too Late to Prevent Climate Change? Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https:// climate.nasa.gov/faq/16/is-it-too-late-to-prevent-climate-change/.

18. WWF. 2021. Our Planet is Warming. Here’s What’s at Stake if we Don’t Act Now. World Wildlife Fund. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://www. worldwildlife.org/stories/our-planet-is-warming-here-s-what-s-at-stakeif-we-don-t-act-now.

19. Broom D. 2023 Jun 19. Too Late to Save the planet? Why this Climate Crisis Myth is so Prevalent—and Problematic. World Economic Forum. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/06/ too-late-climate-crisis-myth/.

20. Symons A, Euronews Green. 2024 Feb 13. Positive Environmental Stories From 2024 So Far. Euronews. [accessed 2024 Feb 27]. https:// www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/13/positive-environmentalstories-from-2024.

Explorer

Garden Z: When Plants Become the Zombies

1. Smithsonian Science Education Center. 2013. What is photosynthesis? https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-photosynthesis.

2. Fernando WGD. 2012. Plants: An International Scientific Open Access Journal to Publish All Facets of Plants, Their Functions and Interactions with the Environment and Other Living Organisms. Plants. 1(1): 1–5. 10.3390/plants1010001.

3. Yong E. 2014. Bacteria Turn Plants and Insects into Zombies. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ bacteria-turn-plants-and-insects-into-zombies/

4. Maclean AM, Orlovskis Z, Kowitwanich K, Zdziarska AM, Angenent GC, Immink RGH, Hogenhout SA. 2014. Phytoplasma Effector SAP54 Hijacks Plant Reproduction by Degrading MADS-box Proteins and Promotes Insect Colonization in a RAD23-Dependent Manner. PLoS Biology. 12(4): e1001835. 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001835.

5. Maclean AM, Sugio A, Makarova OV, Findlay KC, Grieve KC, Toth R, Nicolaisen M, Hogenhout SA. 2011. Phytoplasma Effector SAP54 Induces Indeterminate Leaf-Like Flower Development in Arabidopsis Plants. Plant Physiology. 157(2): 831–841. 10.1104/pp.111.181586.

6. Hogenhout SA, Oshima K, Ammar E, Kakizawa S, Kingdom HN, Namba S. 2008. Phytoplasmas: bacteria that manipulate plants and insects. Molecular Plant Pathology. 9(4): 403–423. 10.1111/j.13643703.2008.00472.x.

7. Ulukapi K, Nasircilar AG. 2018. Induced Mutation: Creating Genetic Diversity in Plants. In: El-Esawi MA, editor. Genetic Diversity in Plant Species - Characterization and Conservation. London (GB): IntechOpen.

8. Brusowankin A. 2022. What is Symbiosis? The Green Planet. https:// www.pbs.org/articles/what-is-symbiosis

9. OpenStax Biology 2nd. 2018. Community Ecology. https://courses. lumenlearning.com/suny-osbiology2e/chapter/community-ecology/

10. Pieterse CMJ, Van der Does D, Zamioudis C, Leon-Reyes A, Van Wees SCM. 2012. Hormonal modulation of plant immunity. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 28(1): 489–521. 10.1146/annurevcellbio-092910-154055.

11. Sugio A, Dubreuill G, Giron D, Simon J. 2014. Plant-insect interactions under bacterial influence: Ecological implications and underlying mechanisms. Journal of Experimental Botany. 66(2): 1–12. 10.1093/ jxb/eru435.

12. Kaiser B, Vogg G, Furst UB, Albert M. 2015. Parasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta and their interaction with susceptible and resistant host plants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 6(1): 45. 10.3389/ fpls.2015.00045.

13. Pelser PB, Nickrent DL, van Ee BW, Barcelona JF. 201. phylogenetic and biogeographic study of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) in the Philippines: Limited dispersal and high island endemism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 139(1): 106555. 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106555.

14. Muche M, Muasya AM, Tsegay BA. 2022. Biology and resource acquisition of mistletoes, and the defense responses of host plants. Ecological Processes. 11(1): 24. 10.1186/s13717-021-00355-9.

15. Hedrich R, Neher E. 2018. Venus Flytrap: How an Excitable, Carnivorous Plant Works. Trends in Plant Science. 3(1): 220–234. 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.12.004.

16. Yamaguchi I, Cohen JD, Culler AH, Quint M, Slovin JP, Nakajima M, Yamaguchi S, Sakakibara H, Kuroha T, Hirai N, et al. 2010. Plant Hormones. In: Liu H, Mander L, editors. Comprehensive Natural Products. London (GB): Elsevier. pp. 9–125.

17. Redman M, King A, Watson C, King D. 2016. What is CRISPR/Cas9? Archives of Disease in Childhood. 101(4): 213–215. 10.1136/ archdischild-2016-310459.

18. National Library of Medicine. 2016. RNA Interference (RNAi). https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/probe/docs/techrnai/

19. Gelvin SB. 2003. Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation: the Biology behind the “Gene-Jockeying” Tool. Microbiology and olecular Biology Reviews. 67(1): 16–37. 10.1128/MMBR.67.1.16-37.2003.

20. Kikkert JR, Vidal JR, Reisch BI. 2005. Stable transformation of plant cells by particle bombardment/biolistics. Methods in Molecular Biology. 286(1): 61-78. 10.1385/1-59259-827-7:061.

21. Qin D. 2019. Next-generation sequencing and its clinical application. Cancer Biology & Medicine. 16(1): 4–10. 10.20892/j.issn.20953941.2018.0055.

One Small Step for Extremophiles, One Giant Leap for Mankind

1. Rampelotto P. 2013. Extremophiles and extreme environments. Life. 3(3): 482–485. 10.3390/life3030482.

2. Romano III FA. 2003. On water bears. Florida Entomologist. 86(2): 134–137 10.1653/0015-4040(2003)086[0134:OWB]2.0.CO;2.

3. radford A, Weisberger M. 2024. What are Tardigrades and why are they nearly indestructible? LiveScience. https://www.livescience. com/57985-tardigrade-facts.html

4. Saplakoglu Y. 2021. Tardigrades can survive being shot out of a highspeed gun. LiveScience. https://www.livescience.com/tardigradessurvive-being-shot-gun.html

5. Fox D. 2022. What makes tardigrades so tough? Science News https:// www.sciencenews.org/article/tardigrades-space-travel-survivalhumans

6. Clegg JS. 2001. Cryptobiosis — a peculiar state of biological organization. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 128(4): 613–624. 10.1016/s10964959(01)00300-1.

7. Coker JA. 2016. Extremophiles and biotechnology: Current uses and prospects. F1000 Research. 5(1): 396. 10.12688/ f1000research.7432.1

More Than Man’s Best Friend

1. Rampelotto P. 2013. Extremophiles and extreme environments. Life. 3(3): 482–485. 10.3390/life3030482.

2. Avolio ML, Forrestel EJ, Chang CC, La Pierre KJ, Burghardt KT, Smith MD. 2019. Demystifying dominant species. New Phytologist. 223(3):1106–1126. 10.1111/nph.15789.

3. Hecht J & Horowitz A. 2015. Introduction to dog behavior. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. http://www.antoniogoliveira.com/site/assets/files/1529/ animal_behavior_for_shelter_veterinarians_and_staff.pdf

4. Tallian A, Ciucci P, Milleret C, Smith DW, Stahler DR, Wikenros C, Ordiz A. 2023. Wolves in a Human World: Social Dynamics of the Northern Hemisphere’s Most Iconic Social Carnivore. In: Srinivasan M, Würsig B, editors. Social Strategies of Carnivorous Mammalian Predators. Berlin (DE): Springer. 10.1007//978-3-031-29803-5_4. 89–138.

5. Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. 2014. About Wolves. https:// northernlightswildlife.com/learn-about-wolves/

6. Mouillot D, Mason NWH, Wilson JB. 2007. Is the abundance of species determined by their functional traits? A new method with a test using plant communities. Oecologia. 152(4): 729–37. 10.1007/s00442-0070688-0.

7. Galef BG. 2003. Animal Social Learning. In: Nadel L, editor. Encyclopedia of cognitive sciences, Vol 4. New York (NY): Macmillan Publishers. 74–80.

8. Siniscalchi M, d’Ingeo S, Minunno M, Quaranta A. 2018. Communication in Dogs. Animals. 8(8): 131. 10.3390/ani8080131

9. Gariépy J, Watson KK, Du E, Xie DL, Erb J, Amasino D, Platt ML. 2014. Social learning in humans and other animals. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 8(1): 58. 10.3389/fnins.2014.00058.

10. Hallett LM, Aoyama L, György Barabás, Gilbert B, Larios L, Shackelford N, Werner CM, Godoy O, Ladouceur ER, Lucero JE, et al. 2023. Restoration ecology through the lens of coexistence theory. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 38(11): 1085–1096. 10.1016/j. tree.2023.06.004.

Opinion

When Sparks Fly: Love, Life, and Robots

1. Merriam-Webster. Love. Merriam-Webster.com [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love

2. Moseley A. Philosophy of Love. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]. Available from: https://iep.utm.edu/ love/

3. Fisher HE, Aron A, Brown LL. 2006. Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2];. 361(1476):2173–2186. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1098/ rstb.2006.1938.

4. Seshadri KG. 2016. The neuroendocrinology of love. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]; 20(4):558–563. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4103/22308210.183479.

5. Bekoff M. 2000. Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures. BioScience [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]; 50(10):861. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:aeepn]2.0.co;2.

6. Milman O. 2024. Humpback sex photographed for first time - and both whales were male. The Guardian [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/ feb/28/humpback-whales-sex-photographed-homosexual-behavior

7. Sartre JP. 1946. Existentialism is a Humanism. New Haven: Yale University Press.

8. Golabchi A, Sarrafzadegan N. 2011. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

or broken heart syndrome: A review article. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences [Internet]. [cited 2024 March 2]; 16(3):340–5. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3214344/.

HELIX 2024