Well, I'm sure there's all sorts of interesting nuclear physics to be learned like island of stability stuff, but given the context of who's doing this work and

Well, I'm sure there's all sorts of interesting nuclear physics to be learned like island of stability stuff, but given the context of who's doing this work and competing for credit - I guess even out of the cold war context it's a great way to show that 1) my country is better than your country at nuclear physics get rekt or 2) my country and your country get along now, look at us do nuclear physics together or 3) what's up, new player here, btw I'm also good at nuclear physics check out this element I found. Or in this case 4) oh no your country and my country don't get along anymore! time to asset scientific dominance by "re entering the super heavy race" (https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-back-race-forge-unknown-superheavy-elements https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-back-race-forge-...) and getting the department of energy to start funding this again so we're back on top.