There is a lot of caution in research funding. Some research is considered "safe", whereas others risky. IN a properly balanced portfolio, perhaps 80% of fundin

There is a lot of caution in research funding. Some research is considered "safe", whereas others risky. IN a properly balanced portfolio, perhaps 80% of funding should go to safe work and the remaining 20% to more risky, but potentially high-reward studies. However this isn't how funding agencies usually operate. At least in the context of the U.S. government, funding agencies are terrified of being seen as "wasting" funding, because that is a sure way to have funding cut by congress. The "Golden Fleece" awards, a congressman's attack on perceived frivolous spending, have routinely been targeted at specific research funded by the NSF and have helped make the agency afraid of being attacked by congress.