[tpoacher]

This is only partly true. MRI technology came out of people hunting for aliens in space. The path science and discovery take are rarely as linear as the funders would like them to be.

[noir_lord]

Indeed, not to mention the fundamental science you do now may be a product later and sometimes 50 years later.

Transistor was 1947 but a lot of the basic science was from 1890's - 1920's.

Still transistors right - what did they ever do for us? (apologies to the monty python team)

[zkmon]

There are always edge cases. But the bulk follows the gravity flow. Even poetry, these days, should find a buyer.

[n4r9]

If you've ever wondered why progress in fundamental physics seems to have slowed down; look no further!

[nosianu]

Maybe you are wrong about what is the cause, what is the effect? You describe how we fund most research, so of course this is what we get.

[auggierose]

Sometimes edge cases is all there is.

[missingdays]

> Even poetry, these days, should find a buyer.

Why?

[philipwhiuk]

There's a groupthink that financialization of everything is good.