Curious Minds blog

Many years ago, when I lived in the US, I had a bumper sticker that read “America needs Space to Grow”. It wasn’t talking about physical space and land but maintaining a vibrant space program after the moon landings. A day or so ago there was an article on the BBC news website announcing the UK and US forming a partnership to create nuclear fusion with the help of lasers. This kind of project is the modern day equivalent to the lunar missions and what we as a civilization need to grow and develop. Some people may say that it will take too long, it may not even work, and it takes too much money from this or that cause. I think they are being short sighted.

Science has progressed beyond the lone (and often very rich) enthusiast locked away recording and analysing the results of simple experiments. Now we need specialised equipment and a dedicated team of people to peel back the next layer of knowledge. Yes, the costs are high and the results not always the desired ones, but the money is not put into a hole in the ground and forgotten. It is used to stimulate manufacturing to build the necessary equipment and build the complex systems. It is used for salaries, most of which are not that high, for the researchers, scientists, and support staff. This money goes back into the economy to support other industries, such as housing, retail, and entertainment. Finally, the people and businesses involved pay taxes. Scientific research should be as much a part of a strong economy as manufacturing and construction.

The offshoots of scientific research also contribute to the economy and to our lives in ways that were unplanned and unintended. The space program needed smaller, more reliable electronics that eventually led to the small mobiles we enjoy today and the tiny medical devices that improve the quality as well and the length of life. It also led to the development of lighter, stronger materials that improve the fuel efficiency of your car while protecting you better in case of an accident. Some projects, such as nuclear fusion research, have a clear goal of discovering something obviously useful while other projects, such as SETI, seek to expand our horizons and understanding yet both add to technological advancements that improve our lives.

I am pleased that we as a people recognise the benefits of scientific research and are encouraging it. It may be that nuclear fusion is the way to provide our ever-growing need for energy and protect the environment at the same time. New industries will be created that harness the power in a way to drive our transportation and warm our houses. There will be unexpected discoveries or adaptations that transform our lives in such a way that we can’t imagine how we managed to get along without them (remember what you did before you had the World Wide Web, which was created at CERN?).