We Salute our allies then and now to, EDF we say “Terima Kasih”
Reading Time: 3 minutesHERE at The Petri Dish, we dedicate ourselves to fostering a vibrant science ecosystem in Malaysia. We strive to bring the wonders and complexities of the scientific world to our readers, empowering them to understand the scientific issues shaping our country and the planet. This mission, however, would not be possible without the invaluable support […]
Communicating Science
Reading Time: 2 minutesWHEN historians examined Western civilization in the twentieth century, one area of intellectual accomplishment that stood out above all others was the twentieth century’s “age of science”. Science discovered our very sense of who we are, how our minds work, how our world came to be, how it works and our proper role in it, our […]
Fermented Foods: Health Boost or Hidden Risks ?
Reading Time: 2 minutesREACHING OUT for homemade yoghurt or kimchi to reset your gut bacteria after about of illness? Wait a minute, according to researchers Hua Wang and colleagues at The Ohio State University in Columbus, USA – these artisanal (traditionally processed) fermented foods have high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (superbugs) in them that could do more harm than […]
Clarity needed for businesses to achieve greenhouse gas mitigation
Reading Time: 3 minutesDESPITE efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, companies are not set up for success, due to conflicting national and sectorial targets and differing availability of abatement options, a new study reveals. Companies and organisations are making significant efforts to reduce their emissions and manage the effects of climate change, yet many organisations are […]
Disease-resistant gene-edited rice offers hope for small-scale farmers in Africa
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRICE YELLOW MOTTLE VIRUS (RYMV) is responsible for high crop losses in Africa, particularly among small-scale farmers. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) has now developed rice lines that are resistant to the disease using genome editing. RYMV is an RNA virus spread by beetles and […]
Columbia, Ecuador yields five new species of eyelash vipers
Reading Time: 3 minutesA GROUP OF SCIENTISTS led by researchers of the Khamai Foundation discovered five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. This groundbreaking discovery was made official in a study published in the open-access journal Evolutionary Systematics. Prior to this research, the captivating new vipers, now recognized as among the most alluring […]
Engineer who rebuilds broken lives in disaster zones
Reading Time: 4 minutesIN 2014, as the Islamic State group (ISIS) seized control of vast regions in Eastern Syria and Western Iraq, a haunting scene of relentless chaos unfolded—a narrative all too familiar in the war-torn landscapes of Ukraine and Gaza today. Rubble-lined streets destroyed infrastructure that once housed civilians and provided education and healthcare, and crippled transport systems […]
Let science, technology and innovation be the driving words for 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutesAn appropriate resolution for 2024 and beyond is to think science, celebrate technology, and inspire innovation. There is a wide consensus that Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) will continue to exert increasing influence on world affairs. Many forecast that the year 2024 will see more discourses on STI as the world grapples with socially disruptive […]
New study sheds new light on forests’ role in climate and water cycle
Reading Time: 2 minutesFORESTS which cover a third of Earth’s land surface, are pivotal in carbon storage and the water cycle, though the full scope of their impact remains to be fully understood. In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from Stockholm University and international colleagues provide new insights into the complex role forests play in the climate […]
Malaysia’s Soaring Sky: Transforming palm waste into sustainable aviation fuel
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY AHMAD SYAKIR IZZAT AZMI Malaysia, a land synonymous with vibrant palm oil production, grapples with a hidden challenge: managing millions of tons of palm waste annually. But within this challenge lies a golden opportunity – the potential to transform palm oil waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The nation is poised to take its […]