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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider A somewhat early harbinger of the U.S

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider A somewhat early harbinger of the U.S.'s decline in public funding of fundamental science -- and all the practical discoveries, engineering, and knowledge that derive from same. From random news stories I encounter, it appears that "they" keep trying to shut down FermiLab. However, despite being "older" and "smaller", FermiLab continues to make important contributions. And among other things, they contributed significantly to the Higgs Boson work. Not mentioned in the Wikipedia article, was the debate over whether the SSC should even have been located in Texas -- apparently, there were significant political factors in the decision. IIRC, there was counter-argument that it should be located as close as possible to FermiLab, for synergy and efficiency in continuing its work. There are the cited "costs". However, these project seem to invariably produce a lot more practical value than they consume. Cryogenics, superconducting technologies, data processing and communication, and on. As I've said before, if you appreciate your medical MRI... Not to mention NMR contributions to chemistry and biology... Etc. It all hangs together. And killing fundamental research is kind of like killing the goose that lays those golden eggs.

bonesss 8y ago
> apparently, there were significant political factors in the decision As I recall the history this project is a near-perfect example of how pork-oriented-spending is not congruent with R&D projects. Everything from site selection to subcontracting was divvied up to appeal to the relevant congressmen. These unnatural constraints caused delays, logistical issues, and massive cost overruns. Their ability to solve those issues was hamstrung by the projects organization. Thanks to the dependencies they were a ways in before this all blew up and the project had to be stopped. Building something like the SSC or LHC is fundamentally hard. Making someone do something that is hard while twirling a baton for political pleasure, much less getting critical components from two suppliers who can't integrate until construction, almost guarantees failure. The correct approach, ironically, is perfectly embodied by the post WW2 machinations of the US government... Make the goals clear, dump appropriate money in engineering and technology organizations, let the nerds figure out the devlish details, and enjoy your A-bomb blowing up on time and schedule.
- smueller1234 8y ago
  Just to add to that, maybe the most egregious example of this "division of work by politics" is actually ITER?

bonesss 8y ago

> apparently, there were significant political factors in the decision As I recall the history this project is a near-perfect example of how pork-oriented-spending is not congruent with R&D projects. Everything from site selection to subcontracting was divvied up to appeal to the relevant congressmen. These unnatural constraints caused delays, logistical issues, and massive cost overruns. Their ability to solve those issues was hamstrung by the projects organization. Thanks to the dependencies they were a ways in before this all blew up and the project had to be stopped. Building something like the SSC or LHC is fundamentally hard. Making someone do something that is hard while twirling a baton for political pleasure, much less getting critical components from two suppliers who can't integrate until construction, almost guarantees failure. The correct approach, ironically, is perfectly embodied by the post WW2 machinations of the US government... Make the goals clear, dump appropriate money in engineering and technology organizations, let the nerds figure out the devlish details, and enjoy your A-bomb blowing up on time and schedule.

smueller1234 8y ago
Just to add to that, maybe the most egregious example of this "division of work by politics" is actually ITER?