SCI-TECH

Discovered by Filipino entomologist Cristian C. Lucanas and Singaporean entomologist Foo Maosheng, “The similarities between Pheromosa and the cockroach that we found were astonishing. We are fans of Pokemon so we decided to name it one”, Maosheng said in an interview with the Straits Times.

Pheromosa is a Bug-type Fighting Pokemon, and according to the in-universe Pokemon encyclopedia called the “Pokedex”, it is alien in origin, and is said to have great power. The real-life version however, does not have any otherworldly abilities, and is brown and black rather than white, but shares the small body and huge hood-like wings and head organs like its counterpart.

With slender bodies, large wings, and long antennae, Pheromosa and Nocticola pheromosa are perfectly named, and an example of science making dreams a reality, from cards and TV to the real world. Never before have cockroaches been so exciting! From being terrors in households, to being scientific discoveries, who knew that vermins have the power to change the way we look at nature?

The discovery of Nocticola pheromosa has already caused volumes of interest and curiosity among biologists. To think that this is just a single species upon thousands of undiscovered fauna waiting to be found by scientists around the globe gives us hope for the future of biology itself.

not so

fun fact?

Cockroaches have been around for

260 million years!

Yes, older than dinos!

Miguel Datiles, Kriz Rubias, Josh Salcedon, and Trisha Jerafusco were the junior high school quiz team from Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS), who won first place.

“It was worth mentioning that the questions had errors, so some concerns were raised to the coordinators,” they reported.

After a brief break, the awarding ceremony commenced, and the LPCNSHS emerged as the top winner, securing the majority of the awards.

The team composed of Joshua Santos, Dante Joshua Cabungcal, and Jemuel Clyde Lemence stood out in the Life Science Team - Senior High School Category and were honored with the prestigious Best Presenter Award.

He says their goal was to bring an impact not only in the field of science but also on their fellow students so that they will be reminded that everything is all worth it if they keep on striving and believing in what they do best.

Pinoy Scientist Studies Phenomenon That Has Baffled Nobel Laureates

WALTER MORSIQUILLO

UPD-CS physicist Dr. Miguel Sulangi defies expectations as he studies superconductors, a scientific phenomenon that has baffled Nobel Prize Laureates.

Along with his thesis advisor Dr. Jan Zaanen, they studied the removal of electrons in a process called doping, or the scientific process of introducing impurities into conductors to modify its electric capabilities. Although creation and replication of semiconductors have existed since World War 2, the actual process is still scientifically mysterious.

No one knows how these electrons get removed. Countless theories have been made even since Joseph John Thomson discovered the electron, even the scientists who got a Nobel Prize for discovering superconductors tried and failed to explain it, but it was only now that a viable hypothesis has been formulated about the peculiar phenomenon.

Instead of the original theory, where “overdoping” superconductors would lead to a predictable state of excitement, some superconductors would not follow the usual state, and become unpredictable. This would also challenge the very fundamentals of superconductor physics.

Dr. Sulangi says that he hopes his study would provide insight into the nature of superconductors, and wishes that more Filipino scientists would stand at the forefront of physics and science.