Just a short list of things that you and I would not have if it weren’t for governmental research laboratories:
Computers (the space program), internet (DARPA), Teflon (the space program), GPS (the space program), cell phones (DARPA), microwave ovens (World War II radar), flat screen monitors (DARPA developed LCD’s), knowledge of earthquakes and volcanoes (USGS), solar panels (the space program), weather forecasting (Dept. of Agriculture), satellite television, and hand held video cameras (both from space). In fact, I would challenge you to name anything in your life that hasn’t been touched in a positive fashion by government-backed research.
Is there an occasional study that seems ridiculous? Of course, but who knows what else we might learn from studying the mating habits of the fruit fly? Maybe the high speed macroscopic camera developed for the study can be used in other applications.
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Government Should Continue To Fund Scientific Research (via ryking)
Hey, never mind the US military is on the forefront of clean energy entirely out of its own self-interests. Gotta shut down those evil government labs that have done so much for us…because they’ve got “government” in their titles. *gasp*
(Source: diadoumenos)
