Spend It or Lose It

It #1 is Money for Basic Research

     It #2 is World Leadership in Science & Tech

You may know I truly like Aviation Week, a main trade magazine for Space and Aeronautics.

Here's a finely tuned advocacy for GOVERNMENT SPONSORED basic research. In massive humility, I say, "I couldn't have said it better." I mean, whew.

Wanna get punched? Click me and duck!

What company would spend the research money?

"... I don’t think you’d find many people in our industry who would voluntarily pick up the tab to fund research on shrimp and barnacles. And yet, scientists studying barnacles and shellfish are actually doing national security research right now.

As any sailor knows, barnacles are a huge problem for ships, slowing them down. The U.S. Navy estimates $7.5 billion dollars annually in fuel costs are wasted due to the drag of barnacles.

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Super sticky icky

Recently researchers sponsored by the Office of Naval Research figured out the key to the sticky cement barnacles create and are working toward a way to counter it.

Scientists also discovered a unique herringbone structure in the outer layer of the Mantis Shrimp species – the “Chuck Norris of shrimp”—that allowS the crustaceans to pulverize their foes with the speed of a .22-caliber bullet. This work of scientists funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research could lead to the development of stronger composite materials for aircraft and other large platforms." Eric Fanning  | Aviation Week & Space Technology

IF GOVERNMENT DOESN'T PAY FOR BASIC RESEARCH, USUALLY IT JUST DOESN'T GET DONE.  SUPPORT BASIC RESEARCH!!

Barnacles creds