US’ scientific self-harm will only help China

Historically, the U.S. government prioritized funding for practical, applicable science, exemplified by the Lewis and Clark expedition commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. This expedition surveyed new routes, conducted agricultural and geographical studies, and engaged in ethnographic work with indigenous peoples. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, government investment focused on science with clear military or economic benefits. The article suggests that a continued reluctance to fund basic science without immediate applications, a stance prevalent in the U.S. until the 1930s, could inadvertently benefit China.