Gravitational waves discovered

[flamingjimmy]

What's the point?

 

For those who don't want to read that article the answer is mostly this:

 

"the reality is that purely theoretical studies in physics can sometimes lead to amazing changes in our society. In fact, several key pillars on which our modern society rests, from satellite communication to computers, were made possible by investigations that had no obvious application at the time."

 

And also this:

 

"Aside from the potential, eventual applications of doing fundamental research, there are also direct financial benefits. Most of the student and post-docs working on big research projects like the Large Hadron Collider, will not stay in academia but move into industry. During their time in fundamental physics, they are educated at the highest existing technical level and then take their expertise into working companies. This is like educating car mechanics in Formula One racing teams.

 

Despite these direct and indirect benefits, most theoretical physicists have a very different motive for their work. They simply want to improve humanity's understanding of the universe. While this might not immediately impact everyone's lives, I believe it is just as important a reason for pursuing fundamental research"

[samssong]

The BBC apparently thinks it deserves number one spot on their news bulletins.

Never mind what happening in the real world.

The junior doctors strike and the governments stance was way down the list.

As is the third World war looming in the middle East.

[choogling]

The most boring news I have ever heard, its about time these boffins got out more.

[the_bloke]

The most boring news I have ever heard, its about time these boffins got out more.

 

Damn and blast those boffins for inventing the computer or mobile device, telephone system, the Internet and the world wide web and the myriad of other things in between your fingers and them offending my eyes.

[GLASGOWOODS]

Thanks for that link 999tigger - I think I get what has happened. I know I'm a bit dense where science is concerned, but I still don't get why it matters - the link made all sorts of claims about what "we'll" be able to do, and what "some believe" but it didn't explain how we'll be able to do it or why it matters - but then i' m not sure I'd understand it even if it had

 

It means we can find out where the Parsonians come from.

Edited February 12, 2016 by GLASGOWOODS