The Speculist

Zero-Sum Thinking

Here's what's wrong, ultimately, with the reliance that scientific research has on government funding:

Most of the seas' big fish — tuna, sharks and swordfish — have been depleted. Half of the coral reefs are dead or dying. Around the world, runoff pollution has created more than 50 "dead zones" in coastal waters.

Sea levels are rising, and the oceans' role in the planet's changing climate is poorly known.

Real oceans need scientific attention more than the dried-up remnants on Mars, Earle contends.

"Every time I jump into the ocean I see things I've never seen before," she said. "We have better maps of Mars than our own ocean floor. That's just not right."

Since there's only so much government lard to go around, the argument goes, we should stop giving so much of it to exploring Mars and start spending some of it on exploring the ocean. Instead promoting a compelling, positive vision of why we should invest in understanding our oceans better, researchers are left with scare tactics — the world is ending; fund our research or else — and the politics of the back seat on a family road trip: "Mom, Timmy is hogging the Oreos. He got four and I only got one. Mom, it's not fair."

How sad.