The Philippine Online Chronicles

This week, some of the world's tiniest reptiles were discovered in Madagascar, Popular Science featured the youngest person to perform nuclear fusion, and NASA's budget was reduced by millions.

Miniaturized chameleons found in Madagascar

Hot off the heels of last month's discovery of the world's smallest vertebrates—tiny frogs in Papua New Guinea—diminutive chameleons have been found in Madagascar, a study in open-access journal PloS ONE reveals.

Four new species were discovered, ranging in size from a few millimeters for juveniles to over two centimeters for adults. One juvenile from the species Brookesia micra was photographed standing on a match head; the Brookesia micra is shown here on one of the researchers' fingernails.

As the reptiles are both small and camouflaged, living in leafy undergrowth, researchers collected the lizards at night, when they climb into the underbrush to roost.

The authors of the article suggest that the chameleons are a result of island dwarfism, extreme miniaturization known to be common in island populations, which may occur due to limited resources and pressure to reproduce rapidly.

Such miniaturization indicates specialized body plans, a “promising field for future research,” said herpetologist Frank Glaw, the study's lead. He stressed, however, conservation efforts for species such as these chameleons was the most urgent priority.

The young star who created a star

17-year-old Taylor Wilson has been famous in the science circuit since he became the youngest person to build a nuclear fusion reactor at age 14.

A Popular Science feature article narrates the life of the high school student who, after creating a nuclear laboratory in his parents' garage, aimed higher: to create a nuclear fusion reactor.

Nuclear fusion is the same process that powers our sun and other stars, with its most alluring potential application being clean, renewable power. However, commercial nuclear fusion is projected to be available in 2050 at current research rates. What Taylor built was a reactor to induce fusion, which is externally powered, to the tune of 50,000 volts.

Wilson invented a practical application for his reactor—a low-cost device that detects concealed radioactive weapons and traditional explosives. Wilson's reactor melds deuterium atoms together to create neutrons, which are shot into containers. If the containers concealed radioactive material, they would emit gamma radiation; if they contained traditional explosives, they would emit nitrogen. In contrast to extant detectors which use helium-3 (an isotope in limited supply), Wilson's device uses water.

Other projects that Wilson is looking into are the improved treatment of cancer with radiation, and the disposal and possible reuse of nuclear fuel.

NASA's planetary program hit hard by 2013 budget

US President Barack Obama released the proposed 2013 budget on Monday, which plans to reduce NASA's budget by USD 59 million, cutting funds for the Mars program.

According to the budget, NASA would receive USD 17.7 billion next year, which amounts to a 0.3% decrease from this year.

However, the budget details a 20% decrease in the funding for planetary science efforts, with the president allocating USD 1.2 billion to missions to Mars and other solar system planets.

“We are having to make tough decisions because these are tough economic times,” NASA administrator Charles Bolden said in a press conference.

The budget cuts mean that there will be a lack of funding for new Jupiter and Uranus missions. Bolden also confirmed that NASA will drop out of prior commitments to the European Space Agency's Exomars project, which plans to launch an orbiter and a drill in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The project aims to bring back samples from the red planet, which researchers regard as the best way to search for signs of life.

However, manned exploration will get a USD 200 million increase, and the long-delayed James Webb Space Telescope would get USD 627 million.

The proposed budget means NASA's budget would fall to its lowest levels in four years.