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- Apr 2, 2011
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I don't even know how to describe how awesome this is. A magnet of this scale has real potential in the materials science field. It assuredly has other, more niche, uses; the really valuable part is research.
As far as some of the other comments, I have to question the logic. I apologize for anything offensive in advance, but from what I am reading these people miss the future potential because they cannot look past the immediate needs that they perceive.
You confuse research, with throwing money at what you believe is reasonable. While I understand the altruistic desire to remove gasoline from the power grid, 2.5 million dollars wouldn't even be enough for a small city. The research that these people do could possibly lead to new battery making techniques, which will make your new electric car actually feasible.
Bemoaning spending 2.5 million on actually viable research hardware, when we spend that much daily on stupid farming subsidies (spend 5 minutes to look it up; in order to maintain prices the government pays farmers to let land lay fallow).
Altruism is a nice goal, but you really draw the line in the sand at an odd place there. By your logic owning a computer while there are starving people is a sin, your income beyond the bare minimums of survival should be donated to charity.
While abrasive, my statement is true. If you look back in history the greatest inventions were brought about by research and capital investment; the inventions then increased the standard of living by providing both easier lives and a steady source of employment (look at the television, automobile, and airplane). These things could never have been developed without research. Those people without vision see a 2.5 million dollar waste, those with vision see 2.5 million dollars that will yield billions in end user products.
Perhaps a less myopic view is a necessity? Even blunting the potential possibility with reality, you must recognize that this research will pay for itself. Perhaps the next time you get an MRI (NMRI to those unafraid of proper terms) you will concede the value of extremely powerful magnets.
As far as some of the other comments, I have to question the logic. I apologize for anything offensive in advance, but from what I am reading these people miss the future potential because they cannot look past the immediate needs that they perceive.
This crap pisses me off. How about spending 2.5m towards something useful like an electric vehicle infrastructure that could be of benefit NOW rather then "hopes" that "one day" "some thing" may lead to the development of "some other thing"? Their making crap just to make crap. Bet he drives a nice car with those government grants. At least he can afford the gas.
You confuse research, with throwing money at what you believe is reasonable. While I understand the altruistic desire to remove gasoline from the power grid, 2.5 million dollars wouldn't even be enough for a small city. The research that these people do could possibly lead to new battery making techniques, which will make your new electric car actually feasible.
Bemoaning spending 2.5 million on actually viable research hardware, when we spend that much daily on stupid farming subsidies (spend 5 minutes to look it up; in order to maintain prices the government pays farmers to let land lay fallow).
Shit, they could have just given that 2.5m to charity and stuff or other sensible/practical stuff. Whats the use for this magnet anyway? Just for show? Next weapon of mass destruction?
Altruism is a nice goal, but you really draw the line in the sand at an odd place there. By your logic owning a computer while there are starving people is a sin, your income beyond the bare minimums of survival should be donated to charity.
While abrasive, my statement is true. If you look back in history the greatest inventions were brought about by research and capital investment; the inventions then increased the standard of living by providing both easier lives and a steady source of employment (look at the television, automobile, and airplane). These things could never have been developed without research. Those people without vision see a 2.5 million dollar waste, those with vision see 2.5 million dollars that will yield billions in end user products.
Perhaps a less myopic view is a necessity? Even blunting the potential possibility with reality, you must recognize that this research will pay for itself. Perhaps the next time you get an MRI (NMRI to those unafraid of proper terms) you will concede the value of extremely powerful magnets.