The Value of Basic Rearch

There's an interesting article posted on Medical News Today, "Is Basic Research Really Worth It?" (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=71771)

I see the expansion of knowledge and understanding for its own sake as a worthy goal needing no justification, but this article makes a convincing case for the worth of basic research on economic and utilitarian grounds as well.