Sabah’s Hidden Biodiversity: Tiny Cave Crustacean Opens Window into Undiscovered Marine Life
SEMPORNA: A tiny crustacean living in a submerged cave off Pulau Sipadan has revealed a bigger scientific mystery: how much of Sabah’s extraordinary biodiversity remains unknown to science? Named Sipadanomolgus dissimilis, the newly described copepod is remarkable not only because it represents a new species, but also because researchers established an entirely new genus to […]
Measuring the Carbon Footprint of Steel: A Green Path to Industrial Competitiveness
ESGpedia’s Jozsef Acabo tells The Petri Dish that reliable emissions data could help Malaysian steelmakers manage carbon costs, unlock green financing and prepare for a low-carbon future. Malaysia’s steel industry faces a growing challenge: how to reduce its carbon footprint without undermining its competitiveness, raising production costs or putting thousands of jobs at risk. As […]
Sarawak Pushes Research from Laboratory to Real-world Application
Sarawak is seeking to accelerate the transition from research findings to real-world applications, with its Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Digital Research highlighting translational research as a key priority at its inaugural conference. The Centre of Excellence for Digital Research Conference 2026, held as part of the ninth International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS26), brings […]
African Sulcata Tortoises Turn Heads During Pet Blessing Ritual in Borneo
Two African Sulcata tortoises unexpectedly became the stars of an animal blessing at a Catholic parish in Malaysian Borneo, drawing curious parishioners who had come with dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and other pets. The tortoises, named Heng Heng and Chaisen, were brought to St. Anne’s Church on Oct. 4, the patron day of St. […]
Sabah looks to science and technology to build its next generation of innovators
KOTA KINABALU — Sabah wants to build a generation that does more than use technology. It wants young people who can understand how technology works, develop solutions to local problems, and turn scientific ideas into innovations that benefit the state. Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said recently that Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) would be crucial […]
From Biodiversity to Biomedicine: Sarawak’s Regenerative Medicine Drive Gets RM50 Million Boost
A flower of the Bintangor tree (Calophyllum species), native to the rainforests of Borneo. The tree has shown promising potential in scientific research, with compounds derived from it being investigated for their potential in developing therapies for cancer and HIV, as well as applications in regenerative medicine. Sarawak is proposing a RM50 million investment to […]
When a Glacier Falls: The Science Behind the Kailash Flash Floods
What looked like nature’s sudden fury was in fact a complex chain reaction of rock, ice, water and gravity — with a warming Himalaya adding a troubling new dimension. For pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, the Himalayas are a landscape of faith — immense, silent and seemingly immovable. But mountains move. The deadly flash flood […]
The Science of Haze: When a Fire in Kalimantan Becomes Sarawak’s Air
Sarawak under haze: Smoke from fires in neighbouring Indonesia has reduced visibility across parts of Sarawak, highlighting the health and environmental consequences of transboundary air pollution. For communities living near the West Kalimantan border, the annual haze is more than an environmental concern — it affects the air they breathe, outdoor activities and the health […]
Gunung Kanthan: Ancient Limestone, Rare Life and an Uncertain Future
The ancient limestone hill is home to rare biodiversity and the century-old Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, both now facing pressure from quarrying activities. Environmentalists and civil society groups in Malaysia rarely get a moment to catch their breath. If it is not another dam being built in Borneo, flooding vast tracts of forest and threatening hundreds […]
Sabah puts agriculture at the centre of nearly RM1 billion development push
Sabah’s agriculture remains central to the state’s economy, sustaining livelihoods and communities across its rural areas. Sabah is putting agriculture at the centre of its economic development strategy, with nearly RM1 billion allocated this year for agriculture, industry and tourism as the state seeks to turn the economic potential of its districts into investment, jobs […]