"why bother doing that when you could learn programming and work at a FAANG for $400k, or work in the finance sector and make possibly more?" Because it's bori

"why bother doing that when you could learn programming and work at a FAANG for $400k, or work in the finance sector and make possibly more?" Because it's boring and depressing. And one thing money can't buy, unless you're solely interested in accumulating money, is satisfaction with your life. Obviously not true for everyone, but we've got 8.8 million "scientists" (I'm not sure what they mean by the word). https://sciencebusiness.net/news/number-scientists-worldwide-reaches-88m-global-research-spending-grows-faster-economy https://sciencebusiness.net/news/number-scientists-worldwide... Most scientists don't work in academia. Some of those who do have stable jobs as staff instead of faculty positions. And this guy did it in his spare time while working at FAANG: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34236889 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34236889