I'm curious on what is "at stake" with this? The close lists a couple of predictions that this can lead to. I'm assuming they will be important in a far futur

I'm curious on what is "at stake" with this? The close lists a couple of predictions that this can lead to. I'm assuming they will be important in a far future time? Or do these help with some more near term problems? Edit: I hasten to add that I'm not asking to undermine the research. Seems the more the merrier, there. Genuinely curious on what some of this could lead to.