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Old 01-16-2015, 04:12 PM   #38
tw
Read? I only know how to write.
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
NOVA never disappoints.
We all work to only service the few who advance mankind. According to popular myth, quantum mechanics has done nothing useful for any of us. Total nonsense. That gigibyte disk drive is due to a breakthrough in quantum physics. Same applies other useless technologies includnig Shannon's Communication Theory, laser, computer chess games or beating Jepordy champions, glass fibers, LED, satellite, uProcessor, PCM, liquid crystals, lithium battery, etc. In each case it obviously had no purpose; was only a cute toy.

We knew the future of everyone not yet born then was the transistor. Today, that same future is in Quantum physics. Almost nothing discovered in fundamental research has a purpose - until that fundamental research moves to application research. Those above examples are perfect examples of money wasted (according to spread sheet analysis). So much later each became essential to everyone's daily life.

We could not possibly know what a Higg Bosum will make possible. That is the nature of fundamental research - that defines the future of everyone's lives.

The show ends in a world wide conference where the tens of thousands, essential to our future, are the same people we all work to support. So that mankind can advance.

Alongside Nova was another 'must see' show. Frontline discussed what everyone here should know about Putin.
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