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from Doyle Rice of USA Today:

"...A new species of gecko has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey announced this week.

The gecko is adorned like a bumblebee, researchers say, with black-and-gold bands that help its camouflage on the tropical forest floor.

It measures about 5 inches from head to tail, according to U.S.G.S. herpetologist Robert Fisher.

"We've officially named it Nactus kunan for its striking color pattern — kunan means 'bumblebee' in the local Nali language," says Fisher. "It belongs to a genus of slender-toed geckos, which means these guys don't have the padded, wall-climbing toes like the common house gecko, or the day gecko in the car insurance commercials."

Fisher found two of the bumblebee geckos in 2010 and analyzed their genetics to show that the lizards were indeed new and distinctive species.

The research was done in concert with scientists at the Papua New Guinea National Museum.

It's been an exciting year for lizards and amphibians in Papua New Guinea: Earlier this year, researchers discovered a tiny frog in Papua New Guinea, which is the smallest known vertebrate species on Earth."

[and just how much did this concert cost the U.S. taxpayers?]

Why does the Geological Survey pay biologists/zoologists to run around looking for animals? Are they the closest-related agency for such things?

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

A good question. I think I'd want my geologists on the ground in Washington and Oregon. Mount Rainier (Seattle, Washington) is going to blow someday, killing hundreds of thousands if not millions. Mount Hood (Portland, Oregon) is going to blow someday (ditto).

Yellowstone Park's caldera is going to blow someday, wiping out three states. Of course, the government can't prevent citizens from settling in these beautiful areas. All these sites have blown up many times before, and will do so again; it is inevitable.

But I was more concerned about the COST of this lizard junket when we have a trillion dollar deficit...which will blow someday.

I really have no serious problem with research for the sake of research. Homo Sapien Sapien is an inquisitive animal and attempts to find out whatever it is possible to find out. Sometimes, it can lead to huge advances in benefits to everybody (can you say Electricity?), sometimes not.

But Biological evolution studies have led to huge advances in medical theory and practice that would not have been possible even 50 years ago without what may have seemed to be silly studies 50 years ago. A lot of modern microscopic medical techniques are a direct result of the USA Space Program. There are many practical offshoots from so called blue sky projects and if Geologists find new species, that is a bonus.

Serindipity is a wonderful concept. Sometimes it leads to things that were never thought possible. Sometimes it does not. It's the price we pay for being what we are.

The Higgs boson hypothisis has led to the building of the Large Hadron Collider which some consider a complete waste of money. But who knows what results may come from it? What if the research leads eventually to allowing us to have a physical effect on the possible blow up of the Yellowstone Caldera? Again, it may lead nowhere, but IT'S WHAT WE DO.

And because of what we do, and have done for tens of thousands of years, we no longer live in caves.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

No doubt that funding of "pure science" leads to 'real-life' benefits. The USA gathered its brightest physicists together in the 1940s for...well, something not entirely positive for mankind, but their research into atomic energy did give us nuclear power plants.

However, the article states this guy is a "herpetologist" (most unfortunate professional title..."-ology", "the study of"...so in this case ). I just wonder, what is the geological survey doing funding an animal man. And if he was a geologist, he'd probably never discover a new species as he'd have no clue what's new and what's not.

It's been a long time since I saw American PBS, but watching shows there I remember the credits always said "funding for this program(me) was provided by...". There's the National Endowment for the Arts, is there something similar for science? And there's National Geographic and the Smithsonian in the non-/less-governmental sector, not to mention the world of academia.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

I used to think that there was only so much money in the world available for all spending, but thanks to the United States there is the wonderful new invention - Quantative Easing.

Now there is a never ending supply of cash to pay for all sorts of research (such as finding hitherto undiscovered creatures hiding in the jungles of Papua New Guinea). No matter how much is squandered, it is possible to print more money - but no one else would be brave (aka stupid) enough to risk their entire economy by such risky behaviour, other than the good old US of A.

If the capitalist economy collapses we can thank our wonderful (?) allies.

Here's a novel idea - why don't all the United Nations keep pouring money into Afghanistan to bribe the citizens into accepting our way of life instead of supporting the Taliban ?

Wow...we go from geckos to bashing the US in 6 posts.

-FK

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" It's getting downright re-goddamn-diculous"
-John Wayne

@aethelwulf: The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy fund most scientific research in the US. Several other departments including the Forestry Department also provide grants. Funding flows to both labs and universities.

Research has value other than economic or real life benefits.

Robert R. Wilson (creator of the US's particle accelerator laboratory, Fermilab), answering Congress' question on how the new accelerator will add to the nation's security:

"It only has to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of men, our love of culture. ...It has nothing to do directly with defending our country except to help make it worth defending."

David

I am sure there are other threads that can beat that.

Annoying isn't it? Seems to be a sport for some.

The trolls seem to be taking over. The Water Cooler is becoming an inhospitable freezer.

David

We are the big brother in a large and boisterous, but mostly loving and good-natured, family.

We deserve most of the knocks we get, and though we are not paragons of wisdom, I think we can take those knocks with some tolerance and silence.

Just my two-cents.

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"Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
G. K. Chesterton

I can just imagine what office policy was in the DoE during the pro-Big Oil Bush years: "Oh, an application for a research grant for solar energy. There's a special file for those." Clunk, into the rubbish bin.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

To clarify - I have no objection to species research and a zillion other scientific queries - but not NOW, when our collective backs are against the wall.

Half a mil to find a mint never-hinged gecko, or improve care and rehab for 500 wounded veterans? In past wars, the terribly and grotesquely injured simply died; now they survive, and need a lifetime of care, medicine, and support. They sacrificed their well-being for US.

Every dime spent/wasted on frivolity is a dime NOT spent on something critical, humanitarian, and beneficial.

Disclosure, I am a veteran, US Army 1968-69.

Cease all government funding for scientific research?

That's a fine prescription to join the 3rd world.

Quantitive easing has been around a long time. Its not a new idea.

That's pretty much what I do most of the time I run into an anti-American screed around here. But I was in the new posts area and the title fooled me into clicking on it. "Quick, let's put it on a stamp". I have no idea what that title has to do with the direction the thread took. Let's just rename it the "Blame everything on America" thread, and be done with it.

Apologies to all. Had a bad day and I come here to enjoy myself with like minded enthusiasts.

I know this is the water cooler and I should not have followed it, but I did, and that's done. Now I've given my opinion, as have others, and will now return to what I enjoy doing most; sharing stamps and covers who others who enjoy them for what they give us.

I probably should not hit send; but will anyway.

Best to all,
pat

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"I don't have a lot - But I like what I got"

The beauty of democracy is that it allows the free sharing of many views. Stampmogul is free to express whatever fringe view he/she wants. Bravo! I just wish it were factual and not the typical radical swill that comes from those out in left field.

"Brave or stupid enough to print more money..?" I suggest a refresher course in economics, especially in developing economies, or the German inflation period, planned economies, especially the NEP period in Russia, or even the current Euro crisis. Get some facts straight before spewing rubbish that is tainted by vitriolic hatred.

You can be a hater of things American. But there's probably much in life you enjoy because of some American (including the electricity you are likely using to read this)!

Thanks for your service Doug. Me too..bit later...1977-1980.

That's it. Rant over. Tired of hearing it.

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"Making money is a hobby that will complement any other hobbies you have, beautifully." - Scott Alexander
I collect Souvenir Sheets postally used on cover, WW used stamps up to 1957 except everything of Brasil and Argentina.

When the global economy collapses and we revert to hunting-gathering, it will be nice to know what's out there to eat.

Politics has to be the worst profession--you can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people none of the time. The Stamp Advisory Committee is an example on the relatively small scale of what bureaucracy has to face--every interest group of someone who wants something out there petitioning, and if they don't have things their way they might go cry foul.

Obviously funding for science can't/won't be cut off completely, there are innumerable end-benefits of research. The US army funds research into lots of things that end up having a "civilian application". The problem is time-frame--something like space research will benefit society decades from now; doing studies on fruit-flies might lead to breakthroughs down the line, which will in turn lead to cures for diseases even further down the line.

Its been said that governments never commit to projects with a timeframe longer than their term in office. It could look bad on the campaign trail to say "look, we've spent billions of dollars on X, and we're...half-finished". Better to show results than "in progress" status updates.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

*sigh*, time for a quote.

But apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, viniculture, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Well quoted Norm.

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"Making money is a hobby that will complement any other hobbies you have, beautifully." - Scott Alexander
I collect Souvenir Sheets postally used on cover, WW used stamps up to 1957 except everything of Brasil and Argentina.

As a professional geologist for over forty years and a professor of geology for over 20 years, I can safely say that we can recognize as many unrecognized species as anyone else (biologists included) even if it isn't our field. How many people get paid to walk around wherever they want and look for stuff as a full-time job?

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If it erupts, don't blame me!!

Back to topic......New discoveries in Nature deserve funding as it pertains to our Eco-system which I'd say is important. If you want to start talking about wasted Money, don't get me started on Space travel.......

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"Life is a tough Teacher, it gives you the test first and the lesson later"
Anonymous

When the going gets tough we need someone to blame, the bankers ,immigrants, the out of work,disabled, elderly you name it we can blame it so what has a small stripped lizard ever done to you??
The answer to the question is ourselves we borrow on plastic and just pay the minimum we borrow on houses and on it goes.
We know very little about the world we all live on and what it may hold for the future.