Why 'Useless' Research Became the Internet You Use Daily

The scientists who first explored quantum mechanics weren't trying to invent anything useful. They just wanted to understand how the universe worked at its tiniest level.

Fast forward a hundred years, and that "impractical" research powers your smartphone, enables precision surgery, and makes video calls possible. It's a pattern that repeats throughout history: the most abstract scientific curiosity often leads to the most transformative innovations.

Steve Kahn, dean of mathematical and physical sciences at UC Berkeley, calls this phenomenon the foundation of human progress. In a new 101-second video, he breaks down why basic science—research driven purely by curiosity rather than commercial goals—matters more than ever.

The laser tells the story perfectly. When physicists first theorized about how light and matter interact, they weren't imagining fiber optic cables or laser eye surgery. They were exploring fundamental questions about the nature of reality.

"The invention of the laser leads to a whole series of applications—kind of like a tree blossoming out," Kahn explains. Today, lasers form the backbone of global telecommunications and enable life-saving medical procedures that would have seemed like science fiction just decades ago.

UC Berkeley has long championed this approach to discovery. The campus has become legendary for asking big questions and pursuing answers without knowing where they'll lead, often creating entirely new fields of study in the process.

Why This Inspires

The reminder that human curiosity itself drives progress feels particularly powerful right now. Despite federal funding cuts threatening basic research, scientists continue pursuing knowledge for its own sake.

"Some of what might have been perceived as the most useless kinds of research have actually been the ones that led to major breakthroughs," Kahn says. He sees this pursuit not just as a path to innovation, but as something deeper—a fundamental part of what makes us human.

The next time you use GPS, get an MRI, or send a text message, remember that someone once studied these underlying principles without any practical application in mind. They were just curious about how the world works.

That curiosity changed everything, and Berkeley's commitment ensures it will continue to do so—because the discoveries that seem most impractical today might power the world of tomorrow.