It's not about "what" is being worked on, but how. I think he 's referring to the lack of major centrally-planned projects like the US space program, or the LHC. I think its true that the way scientific funds are being allocated favors short term but unambitious goals. As an example, both the BRAIN initiative and the human brain project have set rather vague goals that point to incremental steps rather than giant leaps.
And what could those giant steps be? Going to the moon was conceptually easy, if very difficult engineering-wise. Like, the moon is there we are here, let's go be there instead.
What could you want for the brain? Mind-machine interfaces (MMI)? We already have those [0]. We have done the 'moon-shots' in neuro already, and in a lot of bio in general too. But you want your own MMI or your own miracle of medicine? Well, I want a vacation to the moon too, but that ain't happening.
The moon-shots in medicine have already happened, they just aren't cheap yet.
It's not about "what" is being worked on, but how. I think he 's referring to the lack of major centrally-planned projects like the US space program, or the LHC. I think its true that the way scientific funds are being allocated favors short term but unambitious goals. As an example, both the BRAIN initiative and the human brain project have set rather vague goals that point to incremental steps rather than giant leaps.