Pacific Science Association

Science always learns new things, some good, some bad - always interesting.

How Taipei discovered an active volcano on its doorstep When scientists realised a group of volcanoes near Taiwan's capital could erupt at any time, the city found itself hastily setting up a system to monitor it for dangerous signs.

The January 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano has been confirmed as the biggest explosion ever recorded by modern atmospheric instrumentation - "far bigger than any 20th Century volcanic event, or indeed any atom bomb test conducted after WWII".

Tonga eruption was 'record atmospheric explosion' The January event was far bigger than any 20th Century volcanic event, or indeed any atom bomb test.

As part of the Mo'orea Biocode Project, researchers have published descriptions of hundreds of fungi on the South Pacific island (part of French Polynesia), many of which are almost certainly new to science.

Over many months, the MBP team trekked across the island, ultimately gathering a total of 553 fungal specimens and sequencing the DNA of 433 of them.

Polynesian island yields 'treasure trove' of fungal biodiversity The islands of the South Pacific are a hot spot for biodiversity, but their jagged peaks, hot and humid conditions, and remote locations have limited scientists' ability to document the many fantastic forms of life in the region.

The complexity of settlement patterns in Polynesia meant that new methods of genomic analyses needed to be developed to understand how the islands were settled.

Interestingly, though, the results are broadly consistent with chronologies developed through other methods.

New genomic analysis sorts out when Polynesians reached which islands Figuring out people's movement across the Pacific is not a simple thing.

A newly released World Bank report has predicted that climate change-driven water scarcity, decreased agricultural productivity, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and heat stress could displace 48.4 million in the Pacific and East Asia by 2050.

World Bank Report Says 48 Million Could Be Displaced In The Pacific By 2050 A newly released World Bank report has predicted climate change could displace 48.4 million in the Pacific and East Asia by 2050. Water scarcity, decreased agricultural productivity, sea level rise and land loss, extreme weather events and heat stress would be the main drivers forcing people to migr...

Congratulations, Nicole Yamase!

UH graduate student becomes first Pacific Islander to reach the deepest region of Earth She represents her country in being the first Pacific Islander, first marine botanist, youngest female and third woman to ever visit Challenger Deep.

A new report on the expected climate change impacts in Palau concludes that a combination of higher temperatures, stronger typhoons, coral reef loss, and coastal flooding will present major challenges to the country's people and low-lying coastal infrastructure.

The report, which is available as a free PDR, was prepared by the Pacific Island Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) was funded and supported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RISA Program, the East-West Center’s Research Program, the US Department of the Interior’s Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the US Global Change Research Program.

Climate Change in Palau: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors Palau faces hotter conditions, stronger typhoons, and declining ecosystem health because of climate change, finds the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA). A consortium of government, NGO, and research entities developed the 2020 assessment report. Climate Change in Palau is one in a....

The University of Guam and the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center were each awarded five-year grants totaling more than $14 million to mitigate the impact of cancer on Pacific Islanders through cancer research, career training, and community outreach.

The collaboration, known as the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE), is funded by the U.S.'s National Cancer Institute through Aug. 31, 2025.

$14 million grant to support Pacific Islander cancer research The University of Guam and the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center were each awarded five-year grants totaling more than $14 million to mitigate the impact of cancer on Pacific Islanders through cancer research, career training, and community outreach.

The UN Disaster Risk Reduction advisory group for Asia-Pacific (AP-STAAG) has released a three part report on the application of science and technology for disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region.

Status of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia-Pacific 2020 - World English Analysis on World about Climate Change and Environment and Disaster Management; published on 04 Oct 2020 by UNDRR