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Edition 112 · work · phys.org

Space Alloys: A Weightless Waste of Talent

Molten metal levitating on the ISS promises super-strong glass. We see it as a distraction from earthly realities.

Space Alloys: A Weightless Waste of Talent
FO Take · Score 15

Sending scientists to experiment with levitating molten metal in space to create stronger glass is a performative display of R&D. It’s an exorbitant, exclusive pursuit that diverts critical resources from tangible problems affecting the majority of the global workforce. The future of work isn't in orbit, it's in making work equitable and accessible here on solid ground. Will we ever admit that space-age solutions rarely address down-to-earth challenges?

The strongest counter

Advancements in material science, even from orbital research, can yield revolutionary products with widespread applications, from aerospace to consumer electronics. Limiting scientific exploration stifles innovation.

Audit trail
  • ·Elite science
  • ·Resource drain
  • ·Terrestrial neglect
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