The Importance of Maintaining Funding for Nuclear Fusion Research

Some argue that funding for nuclear fusion should be defunded, deeming it a 'pipe-dream' or 'fraud,' claiming a lack of understanding in quantum mechanics. However, this perspective significantly underestimates the immense value and potential future benefits that nuclear fusion can provide.

Why Funding Nuclear Fusion is Vital

Investing in nuclear fusion research is far from being a frivolous endeavor. Throughout history, the consequences of withholding such funding have illustrated a stark contrast between nations that invest in basic and applied sciences and those that do not.

A Historical Perspective

During World War II, the importance of physics was realized when it became evident that physics could play a critical role in military technology and strategy. Since then, funding for physics in the United States has burgeoned from a mere $7,000 in 1941 to billions of dollars today. This substantial investment has not only contributed to the nation's wealth but has also fostered a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity.

The Role of Basic Science in Economic Expansion

Two hundred years ago, Adam Smith, in his seminal work "The Wealth of Nations," pondered what contributes to economic growth. He found no answer, but economists such as Paul Samuelson and Robert Solow offered insights. Solow used statistical methods to analyze the factors driving economic growth and concluded that the lion's share—over 80%—came from exogenous inputs, primarily investments in science, applied science, and basic research.

Innovation and Spillover Effects

History is replete with examples of basic and applied scientific research leading to unexpected but highly valuable innovations. Take, for instance, the Colossal Boondoggle—the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) known as CERN. Timothy Berners-Lee, working on a purely scientific project, was given a small budget to manage data from the LHC. His invention—the World Wide Web—was an unforeseen spin-off, valued beyond measure.

Public Projects and Private Innovations

Projects like the Apollo program, an astronomical mission, have yielded numerous innovations and technologies that benefit our daily lives. The Apollo program not only focused on exploring the moon but also spurred advancements in small computers, rocket technology, and digital communications. Bell Laboratories, initially investigating solid-state physics, ended up revolutionizing various industries with inventions such as transistors, integrated circuits, and LEDs.

Consequences of Defunding Scientific Research

Arguing for the defunding of nuclear physics could lead to dire consequences. As noted by the famous Senator Proxmire, defunding crucial research means wasting taxpayer dollars on projects with negligible benefits. By cutting funding for nuclear fusion and other areas of scientific inquiry, a nation risks stunting its intellectual and economic growth and could fall behind economically, becoming a 'third world nation.'

Conclusion

The answer to the question 'Should we defund nuclear fusion?' is a resounding 'no.' Investment in nuclear fusion and all forms of scientific research is not only essential but also integral to the prosperity, advancement, and sustainability of our future.