Analysing tiny cracks in crystals may help studies of earthquakes (Image: Max-Planck-Institut für Physik)
PHYSICISTS and cosmologists do not tend to seek justification for their expensive experiments by flagging up the great practical benefits that might result. Investigations into the origins and nature of the universe are, quite rightly, considered important enough on their own. Yet blue-sky research often has unexpected outcomes, and they are worth celebrating. If nothing else, they can help bridge the conceptual gap between exotica such as neutrinos and dark matter, and more mundane concerns.
There are plenty of examples to choose from. Researchers at…
