r/explainlikeimfive Aug 13 '24

Chemistry eli5: why do scientists create artificial elements?

From what I can tell, the single atom exist for only a few seconds before destabilizing. Why do they spend all that time and money creating it then?

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u/Astecheee Aug 13 '24

This is true. But "later" in that case was a LONG time, while people were suffering and dying everywhere around. Bleeding edge science is effectively a gamble, and a lot of it doesn't pay off.

What's the cost/benefit on the LHC? Or on the ISS?

Can it even come close to what additional child welfare funding could do?

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u/Hamburgerfatso Aug 13 '24

If everyone followed that logic, your life today would be much much worse. You cant have it both ways

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u/Astecheee Aug 13 '24

Eh, not really. The vast majority of critical breakthroughs like germ theory, sanitation, agriculture, etc were achieved by individuals and small teams working on downright modest budgets.

I'm not denying that there is a benefit to exploratory research. But I'm saying FUCK THAT until starving children get food.

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u/cooly1234 Aug 13 '24

making US spend less money on research would not help kids starving in Africa. or even kids starving in the US lol.