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We spend trillions of dollars a year on solving problems "here on Earth", that does not obviate the ability nor the need to spend money on pure scientific resea
by InclinedPlane 11y ago
We spend trillions of dollars a year on solving problems "here on Earth", that does not obviate the ability nor the need to spend money on pure scientific research.
Consider how much the advancement of science has contributed to the wealth and health of mankind. Hundreds of billions of person-years in healthy life. Quadrillions. Literally quadrillions of dollars of value and economic activity added due to the understanding of gas laws, thermodynamics, material science, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, etc. Can you think of anything with such a tremendous return on investment?
- sandworm101 11y agoNobody is calling for an end to astronomy spending, let alone ending blue sky research. But there are always efficients that must be debated. Spending a billion on one telescope (or one LHC) must be weighed against spending 100-million on each of ten. There are certainly discoveries that do need the bigger microscope, but there are a great many areas of science that are underfunded. Seeing a billion go to one device should be a red flag warranting serious debate. There is also a Freudian aspect to any "worlds biggest" project. They are a magnet for waste and competition totally outside the arena of science.