Jocelyn Bell Burnell, DBE, responds to several common criticisms of high-level scientific research. Regarding the argument that astronomical research is impractical, Burnell contends that fields like astronomy attract young minds to science. The full video is available from FORA.TV.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Is Astronomy 'Useless'?
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predicting solar storms is helpful in protecting our satellites, averting asteroid collisions is a result of astronomy, mining the planets, the asteroids and the moon perhaps someday. The ancients used astronomy for time-keeping and cultivating crops, for navigation on the open seas. It certainly is being used in the search for other intelligent life forms. I'd venture to say there is a wealth of information about fusion energy from star astronomy, and I'd venture to say that chemistry is being advanced through knowledge of the atmospheres of other planets. Maybe a ton of stuff is being learned about magnetic fields and streamcurrents of ionized gas. Astronomy has lead to our ability to put satellites into orbit, thanks to Isaac Newton's work....
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