DepEd RXII Science Today

23/09/2026

In support of the Revised K to 10 Curriculum’s emphasis on contextualization, interdisciplinary learning, and the development of lifelong competencies, and aligned with the Five-Point Reform Agenda, particularly Agenda 1: Invest in Teacher Quality and Equip Them with Skills and Resources, the Office of the Undersecretary for Learning Systems (OULS), through the Bureau of Learning Delivery (BLD)–Teaching and Learning Division (TLD), is currently conducting series of Workshop Activities on the Development of Environmental Education Integration Lesson Guides in Cebu.

The workshop serves as a strategic initiative to empower teachers in contextualizing learning experiences and meaningfully embedding environmental concepts within curriculum competencies. Subject matter experts from across the country are collaborating to design, review, and refine lesson guides aligned with the Revised K to 10 Curriculum standards, integrating environmental themes into instruction, assessment, literacy and numeracy development, and performance-based learning tasks.

Representing SOX in this important national undertaking are:

🎯 Key Stage 1

Sir Antonio Pasigado, EPS–Science, SDO Kidapawan City

🎯 Key Stage 2

Ma’am Marlou De Arce, EPS, SDO Sarangani
Ma’am Lovella Atup, Principal I, SDO Koronadal City

🎯 Key Stage 3

Ma’am Miraflor Albios, Principal I, SDO Cotabato
Sir Dantly S. Villanueva, EPS–CLMD, Regional Office XII

21/09/2026

How fast do other planets spin?
Have you ever wondered how fast other planets spin. While Earth takes 24 hours to rotate Jupiter does it in less than ten hours. But Mercury takes over 176 days just to spin once.

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How fast do other planets spin?

Have you ever wondered how fast other planets spin. While Earth takes 24 hours to rotate Jupiter does it in less than ten hours. But Mercury takes over 176 days just to spin once.

Which planet would you want to live on? 🤔

20/09/2026

Thank you, Dr. Edilbert A. Reyes, Education Program Supervisor in Science of SDO General Santos, for your remarkable and exemplary contributions to Science education in the Region.

Your leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing Science are truly commendable and exemplary. You made history by helping produce the Region’s first-ever ISEF qualifier, a milestone that will forever be part of the Science community’s journey in Region XII.

As you embark on a new chapter in your career, may you continue to inspire, lead, and make a meaningful difference wherever your journey takes you.

Best of luck on your new journey, Dok Edil! We are happy and proud to have crossed paths with you and to have been part of a journey where your leadership and passion have positively impacted so many of us.

Your legacy in Science will continue to inspire us. Thank you, Dok Edil, and God bless your next adventure!

20/09/2026

The four newest officially recognized elements on the periodic table are nihonium (Nh, 113), moscovium (Mc, 115), tennessine (Ts, 117) and oganesson (Og, 118). Their discoveries were formally recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, or IUPAC, in 2015, completing the seventh row of the periodic table. Their permanent names were officially approved in November 2016. Unlike familiar elements such as carbon, iron or gold, these superheavy elements are synthetic. Scientists create them by accelerating atomic nuclei to extremely high speeds and attempting to fuse them with heavier target nuclei. The probability of successful fusion is extraordinarily small, meaning researchers may conduct experiments for months while producing only a few atoms of the desired element.

Each name tells part of the story behind its discovery. Nihonium (113) comes from Nihon, a Japanese name for Japan, and honors the RIKEN research team responsible for the discovery recognized by IUPAC. It became the first element discovered in an Asian country to receive an official name. Moscovium (115) honors the Moscow region, home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, whose scientists collaborated with researchers in the United States. Tennessine (117) recognizes Tennessee and the contributions of institutions in the state, particularly Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee. Finally, oganesson (118) honors Russian-Armenian nuclear physicist Yuri Oganessian, whose pioneering research transformed the study of superheavy nuclei. He was still alive when the element was named, making this an exceptionally rare honor in the history of chemistry.

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The four newest officially recognized elements on the periodic table are nihonium (Nh, 113), moscovium (Mc, 115), tennessine (Ts, 117) and oganesson (Og, 118). Their discoveries were formally recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, or IUPAC, in 2015, completing the seventh row of the periodic table. Their permanent names were officially approved in November 2016. Unlike familiar elements such as carbon, iron or gold, these superheavy elements are synthetic. Scientists create them by accelerating atomic nuclei to extremely high speeds and attempting to fuse them with heavier target nuclei. The probability of successful fusion is extraordinarily small, meaning researchers may conduct experiments for months while producing only a few atoms of the desired element.

Each name tells part of the story behind its discovery. Nihonium (113) comes from Nihon, a Japanese name for Japan, and honors the RIKEN research team responsible for the discovery recognized by IUPAC. It became the first element discovered in an Asian country to receive an official name. Moscovium (115) honors the Moscow region, home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, whose scientists collaborated with researchers in the United States. Tennessine (117) recognizes Tennessee and the contributions of institutions in the state, particularly Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee. Finally, oganesson (118) honors Russian-Armenian nuclear physicist Yuri Oganessian, whose pioneering research transformed the study of superheavy nuclei. He was still alive when the element was named, making this an exceptionally rare honor in the history of chemistry.

The periodic table may not end at element 118. Scientists are now attempting to create elements 119 and 120, which would begin an entirely new eighth period if successfully synthesized and independently confirmed. These experiments are also connected to the theoretical “island of stability,” a predicted region of superheavy nuclei whose particular combinations of protons and neutrons could make them significantly more stable than many neighboring superheavy isotopes. Finding such nuclei would allow scientists to investigate previously inaccessible nuclear structures and test the limits of our understanding of atomic matter. More than 150 years after Mendeleev developed his periodic system, scientists are still trying to discover what comes next.

Science Department |

18/09/2026

2026 RSTF Post-Evaluation and Planning Conference

The second day of the 2026 RSTF Post-Evaluation and Planning Conference highlighted the courtesy call and presentation to the local executive officials of the LGU Kidapawan, reaffirming the local government’s support and commitment to the successful conduct of the Regional Science and Technology Fair (RSTF) 2026.

The team also conducted school site visits to assess the proposed billeting quarters and display rooms as well as the proposed venue for the RSTF 2026 Opening Program was likewise inspected as part of the preparations.

These activities are integral to ensuring a systematic, organized, and seamless implementation of RSTF 2026, scheduled for December 12–13, 2026, in Kidapawan City.

16/09/2026

Preparing the Groundwork for RSTF 2026!

To ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the 2026 Regional Science and Technology Fair (RSTF), the EPS for Science from the eight Schools Division Offices of DepEd SOCCSKSARGEN converged in Kidapawan City for the 2025 RSTF Post-Evaluation and 2026 Planning Conference.

The activity provided an avenue to reflect on the implementation of the 2025 RSTF, identify areas for improvement, and lay down strategic actions for the upcoming regional fair scheduled on December 12–13, 2026.

Among the key agenda discussed were the review of RSTF guidelines, ISEF forms and checklists, finalization of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Board of Judges (BOJ), and other critical preparations necessary to ensure a systematic, organized, and meaningful conduct of the event.

With shared insights, strengthened collaboration, and clear directions, the SOX Science Team continues to work behind the scenes—because a successful RSTF begins long before the young scientists take the stage.

15/09/2026

Maliban sa Reading gains natin sa , may magandang balita rin sa Science! 🔬🇵🇭
Mula 356 noong 2022, umakyat sa 373 ang Science score ng Pilipinas noong 2025—+17 points.
Kasabay nito, mas maraming learners ang umabot sa PISA Level 2 o mas mataas, na nagpapakita ng pag-unlad sa kanilang kaalaman at kasanayang pang-agham.
Mahalaga ang mga kasanayang ito upang maunawaan ang mundo, magsuri ng impormasyon, at gumawa ng mga desisyong nakabatay sa ebidensya.
Patuloy at sama-sama pa nating palalakasin ang mga nakamit na gains tungo sa mas matatag na pagkatuto ng bawat Pinoy learner.

Maliban sa Reading gains natin sa , may magandang balita rin sa Science! 🔬🇵🇭

Mula 356 noong 2022, umakyat sa 373 ang Science score ng Pilipinas noong 2025—+17 points.

Kasabay nito, mas maraming learners ang umabot sa PISA Level 2 o mas mataas, na nagpapakita ng pag-unlad sa kanilang kaalaman at kasanayang pang-agham.

Mahalaga ang mga kasanayang ito upang maunawaan ang mundo, magsuri ng impormasyon, at gumawa ng mga desisyong nakabatay sa ebidensya.

Patuloy at sama-sama pa nating palalakasin ang mga nakamit na gains tungo sa mas matatag na pagkatuto ng bawat Pinoy learner.

15/09/2026

Hidden among the dramatic limestone formations and forests of Masungi Georeserve in Rizal are cycads, representatives of one of the most ancient surviving lineages of seed plants on Earth. Cycad relatives appeared hundreds of millions of years ago, long before flowering plants came to dominate modern landscapes, and became particularly prominent during the Mesozoic Era. One remarkable Philippine representative is Cycas riuminiana, an endemic species found naturally only in the Philippines and associated with parts of Luzon. Its presence within the broader limestone and forest landscape around Masungi highlights the biological importance of these habitats, which can provide refuges for specialized native plants alongside the area's better-known karst formations.
Cycads are frequently described as "living fossils" because their lineage is extremely ancient and their general appearance preserves characteristics reminiscent of plants known from the fossil record. However, the term should not be interpreted to mean that today's cycads have remained completely unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. Modern cycads have continued evolving, and research indicates that many living cycad lineages diversified much more recently than their ancient ancestry might suggest. They are gymnosperms, meaning their seeds are not enclosed within fruits like those of flowering plants. Cycads are also generally dioecious, with individual plants producing either male or female reproductive structures. These unusual characteristics make them valuable to botanists studying the evolution and diversification of seed plants.
Their ancient ancestry has unfortunately not protected them from modern threats. Cycads are among the world's most threatened groups of plants, with many species facing habitat destruction, land conversion, quarrying, fires, and illegal collection for the ornamental plant trade. Species with small populations or highly restricted distributions can be especially vulnerable because the destruction of even a relatively limited area may eliminate a substantial portion of their remaining habitat. Protecting limestone forests and karst ecosystems such as those associated with Masungi therefore safeguards far more than spectacular scenery. It protects specialized ecological communities and evolutionary history that cannot simply be recreated once lost. When a cycad disappears, we lose not only a species but part of a plant lineage whose story stretches back hundreds of millions of years.

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Hidden among the dramatic limestone formations and forests of Masungi Georeserve in Rizal are cycads, representatives of one of the most ancient surviving lineages of seed plants on Earth. Cycad relatives appeared hundreds of millions of years ago, long before flowering plants came to dominate modern landscapes, and became particularly prominent during the Mesozoic Era. One remarkable Philippine representative is Cycas riuminiana, an endemic species found naturally only in the Philippines and associated with parts of Luzon. Its presence within the broader limestone and forest landscape around Masungi highlights the biological importance of these habitats, which can provide refuges for specialized native plants alongside the area's better-known karst formations.

Cycads are frequently described as "living fossils" because their lineage is extremely ancient and their general appearance preserves characteristics reminiscent of plants known from the fossil record. However, the term should not be interpreted to mean that today's cycads have remained completely unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. Modern cycads have continued evolving, and research indicates that many living cycad lineages diversified much more recently than their ancient ancestry might suggest. They are gymnosperms, meaning their seeds are not enclosed within fruits like those of flowering plants. Cycads are also generally dioecious, with individual plants producing either male or female reproductive structures. These unusual characteristics make them valuable to botanists studying the evolution and diversification of seed plants.

Their ancient ancestry has unfortunately not protected them from modern threats. Cycads are among the world's most threatened groups of plants, with many species facing habitat destruction, land conversion, quarrying, fires, and illegal collection for the ornamental plant trade. Species with small populations or highly restricted distributions can be especially vulnerable because the destruction of even a relatively limited area may eliminate a substantial portion of their remaining habitat. Protecting limestone forests and karst ecosystems such as those associated with Masungi therefore safeguards far more than spectacular scenery. It protects specialized ecological communities and evolutionary history that cannot simply be recreated once lost. When a cycad disappears, we lose not only a species but part of a plant lineage whose story stretches back hundreds of millions of years.

Science Department |

13/09/2026

For more than six decades, Marx's worm snake (Ramphotyphlops marxi) remained one of the Philippines' most mysterious reptiles. The species was originally known from a specimen collected on Samar Island in 1957 by Filipino zoologist Dioscoro S. Rabor and was formally described by herpetologist Van Wallach in 1993. A second historical specimen was later discovered in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Vienna, but it lacked specific collection information. With so little evidence available, scientists knew remarkably little about the snake's habitat, ecology, behavior, distribution, or even how frequently it still occurred in the wild. Then, 64 years after the 1957 collection, researchers encountered it again.

During biodiversity surveys inside Samar Island Natural Park, researchers discovered one R. marxi in Barangay Tenani, Paranas, on October 23, 2021, followed by a female near the Ulot River in Barangay San Isidro on November 5, 2021. These two snakes became only the third and fourth vouchered specimens of the species known to science. Even more surprising was where researchers encountered them: both were collected on saplings within limestone forest. Blind snakes are generally associated with secretive lifestyles, often spending considerable time underground or beneath cover, making the observation particularly intriguing. The researchers proposed that R. marxi could have a potentially arboreal lifestyle and may be associated with Samar's limestone karst environments, although additional specimens and observations will be necessary before either possibility can be confirmed.

The rediscovery also demonstrates how much remains unknown about Samar's extraordinary biodiversity. The wider surveys documented 79 amphibian and reptile species within Samar Island Natural Park, while the researchers' updated checklist brought the known herpetofauna of Samar Island to 104 species. Ramphotyphlops marxi remains classified as Data Deficient, reflecting how little information scientists have about its population, distribution, ecology, and threats. Its disappearance from scientific field records for 64 years does not necessarily mean the snake itself disappeared. Its secretive habits, potentially restricted distribution, rarity, and historically limited intensive surveys may all have contributed to its long absence from collections. The rediscovery is therefore more than the return of a forgotten snake to scientific records. It is a reminder that within the remaining forests and limestone karst landscapes of the Philippines are species we have barely begun to understand, and protecting their habitats may be essential before we even discover the full extent of what lives there.

Photo Courtesy: Yñigo del Prado

Science Department |

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For more than six decades, Marx's worm snake (Ramphotyphlops marxi) remained one of the Philippines' most mysterious reptiles. The species was originally known from a specimen collected on Samar Island in 1957 by Filipino zoologist Dioscoro S. Rabor and was formally described by herpetologist Van Wallach in 1993. A second historical specimen was later discovered in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Vienna, but it lacked specific collection information. With so little evidence available, scientists knew remarkably little about the snake's habitat, ecology, behavior, distribution, or even how frequently it still occurred in the wild. Then, 64 years after the 1957 collection, researchers encountered it again.

During biodiversity surveys inside Samar Island Natural Park, researchers discovered one R. marxi in Barangay Tenani, Paranas, on October 23, 2021, followed by a female near the Ulot River in Barangay San Isidro on November 5, 2021. These two snakes became only the third and fourth vouchered specimens of the species known to science. Even more surprising was where researchers encountered them: both were collected on saplings within limestone forest. Blind snakes are generally associated with secretive lifestyles, often spending considerable time underground or beneath cover, making the observation particularly intriguing. The researchers proposed that R. marxi could have a potentially arboreal lifestyle and may be associated with Samar's limestone karst environments, although additional specimens and observations will be necessary before either possibility can be confirmed.

The rediscovery also demonstrates how much remains unknown about Samar's extraordinary biodiversity. The wider surveys documented 79 amphibian and reptile species within Samar Island Natural Park, while the researchers' updated checklist brought the known herpetofauna of Samar Island to 104 species. Ramphotyphlops marxi remains classified as Data Deficient, reflecting how little information scientists have about its population, distribution, ecology, and threats. Its disappearance from scientific field records for 64 years does not necessarily mean the snake itself disappeared. Its secretive habits, potentially restricted distribution, rarity, and historically limited intensive surveys may all have contributed to its long absence from collections. The rediscovery is therefore more than the return of a forgotten snake to scientific records. It is a reminder that within the remaining forests and limestone karst landscapes of the Philippines are species we have barely begun to understand, and protecting their habitats may be essential before we even discover the full extent of what lives there.

Photo Courtesy: Yñigo del Prado

Science Department |

13/09/2026

The universe already has a calendar, and it stretches far beyond what we can imagine. In 2061, Halley’s Comet returns to our skies. By 2178, Pluto completes its very first orbit since discovery. In 250 million years, Earth’s continents may shift into a new supercontinent, and 3 billion years from now, our expanding Sun could turn Earth into a scorched world like Venus.

Not long after, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies may collide and merge into one. Somewhere in between, Mars could briefly gain rings, a red dwarf star may drift close to our Sun, and rare alignments like a solar eclipse crossing paths with a Mercury transit will unfold. These are not just numbers on a timeline. They are reminders that we are witnessing only a single moment of an incredibly long story.

Look Up. Observe Vastness.
LUOV

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