What good is particle physics?

Most particle physics research is publicly funded, so it is fair that society asks if this is a good use of taxpayers’ money. In this video, Fermilab’s Dr. Don Lincoln explains how this research attempts to answer questions that have bothered humanity since time immemorial. And, for those with a more practical bent, he explains how this research is an excellent investment with a high rate of return for society.

[cortster]

It's always sad when someone can't see just how important science is, especially when they say how useless it is while using the WWW. Also ironic. Glad you made this video.

[THUTH-ixtt]

What gets us to the lab,   a 460hp C-7 Corvette Stingray.  Nice.

[absolutedesi]

A PHYSICS licence plate on a corvette is the sickest, coolest and nerdiest flex I’ve ever seen 1:00

[TheDevinWilliamsChannel]

I love how he’s just playing that game casually with Peter Higgs

[draoi]

Don is one of my favourite Youtubers. I love this channel.

[jMsism]

That Corvette touch. Now I want to be a particle physics too

[georgekostas]

Scientific research is the only way we are going to make it as a species. Great video as usual.

[petersagi]

Whoa, is that picture of Einstien real? Never seen a photo even close to this quality of him.

[arnoahmed]

I wanna be a physicist. I am not studying physics for the sake of doing well in exams. I am studying physics to increase my knowledge and have an ambition of gifting the world a new law of physics that is still undiscovered. How can I get into Fermilab or CERN?

[aidanadams]

As an engineer I value practical science and always told myself I never really got this stuff, I'm no material engineer either so what's an atom or a sub atomic particle to me. But I appreciate the video, each response especially the last one is great. We'll said in short, and it's absolutely right.
It's sometimes a strange lesson learned the long way to always be ready to learn and to never stop being curious. Anyways thanks

[MatthewCrawford]

Thank you Dr. Lincoln and everyone at Fermilab for your diligent work helping humanity understand the nature of the universe, both in the lab and on YouTube. Research for the purpose of understanding reality should be the only reason needed, all of humanity benefits from the discovery of new knowledge. Also, until engineers understand the rules, we cant play ;)

[ManGo]

I still can't believe the work Einstein put in.

[miguelroca]

i´m pretty sure that any parent who has a son/relative studying Physics and doesn´t know what´s the utility about this will have all of his/her interrogants answered with this video. My parents and me thank you, Dr. Lincoln!

[JonSebastianF]

That Corvette would get me up in the morning :P

[penumbranm]

This is all so fascinating. I wish I had more of a capacity to understand this exciting field. I enjoy listening to these types of lectures. These are the types of experiments that will advance human kind.

[calebpoemoceah]

Is steam invisible if it is in a single layer one atom thick, or if steam particles rotate at the right valosity will they appear invisible?

[pepedecoatza]

I wish Curiosity gives me such nice car! :)

[marcmarc]

It would be great if you could link the interview with Robert Wilson at 5:09 in this video!


EDIT: couldn't find any such video recordings of the interview; it may not exist

[jonbold]

Curiosity? Dr. Lincoln, We all love how the ultra small explains the ultra large, but curiosity is not enough. I want to understand all this stuff so that we can build something out of it. We put fire in a box, didn't we? ( Look under the hood of the Vette for the answer.) We put electricity in a can, no? When can we put the next scientific understanding to work? How about an engine that exploits momentum on a quantum level? An engine that appears to violate the conservation of energy.

Seriously, a propulsion system that does not rely on fossil fuel would be a good thing. There is plenty of energy in the universe, we just need to learn how to use it.

It is as important to understand what we cannot do as it is to understand what we can do: It is my opinion that electrons do not spin as well above 10% of c. This means that the four light year trip to Proxima will take more than 40 years at best, because nothing organic could handle a higher speed.

Ultimately, Our best propulsion will not help us explore the stars, but it will allow us to mine the Kuiper belt ( for water ).

And terraform Mars.

Thanks for a great lesson. viewer #3097

[skipsassy]

I can't find your part 2 on Strong Force?