Policy Matters
Lasers’ Reach Far Exceeds Initial Grasp
Initially called the “solution in search of a problem,” the laser has become the perfect demonstration of the long-term value of government-funded research.
The U.S. Defense Department wanted to improve radar when it funded the research that led to the invention of the laser 50 years ago. No government official or scientist then had visions of supermarket bar codes, DVDs or laser-assisted eye surgery. The laser’s enormous impact on the world economy makes a powerful argument for government-funded research today, scientists and a business executive told members of Congress at an April 28 briefing titled “Forum on Innovation: Technology, Lasers and Jobs.”
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