The ratio of benefits of basic science and capital investments

Physicists have created the first large superconducting magnets that serve as elements of particle detectors. Recently, this technology has been used in the production of magnets for accelerators, which is a much more difficult task. The magnetic field in accelerators must be maintained or changed with high precision throughout the acceleration cycle. A ring of superconducting magnets over 6 km long has now been installed at the E. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. This system, which includes cryogenic factories needed to cool 1,000 magnets to temperatures only four degrees above absolute zero, is unparalleled in scale. It serves as proof that it is possible to build a large-scale refrigeration unit, a network of pumps and pipelines, and a computer control system required to work with superconductors.

The need for even more ambitious structures will have to stimulate the production of superconducting components, which will lead to the creation of new products and lower their cost, and significantly bring closer the practical realization of the potential benefits of the discovery of the phenomenon of superconductivity. With the help of superconducting lines, it will be possible to transfer electricity almost losslessly, and this, in turn, will avoid the undesirable neighborhood of consumers with power plants. Superconducting magnets have already been installed in Japanese experimental trains; they allow the train to "hover" over magnets of the same polarity located on the roadbed.

It is not clear in what ratio the benefits of fundamental science (including its cultural value, direct and indirect benefits) and its costs are. What seems quite obvious is the lack of a direct proportional relationship: if financial support falls below a certain critical level, basic science is likely to decline rapidly. Under such conditions, the number of scientists who could be engaged in active scientific research will decrease dramatically. In many fields, due to the lack of competent stakeholders, discussions and discussions that are so necessary for the progress of science will stall.

Even without knowing how science reacts to various types of public support, we can still establish criteria that allow us to determine the ratio of investments and a useful way out of them. One of the reliable indicators is the rate at which the number of young talented researchers is increasing. In the physical sciences, it has fallen from the highest level of 4.5 thousand doctoral degrees per year (1971) to the current stable value of 3.5 thousand. In the life sciences, the absolute number of doctors is increasing, but the rate of this growth has slowed to almost zero. Melbet supports various payment methods for depositing and withdrawing funds, with options including credit cards, crypto, eWallets and mobile payments. If in doubt, use the melbet promo code get free welcome bonus 100% deposit bonus up to 100€/$ to claim the initial welcome bonus and first deposit offers. Other promotions at this betting site include weekly free bets, refund offers, and casino bonuses, which may ask for a promo code.