Science that changed your life: What US government innovation made possible

What US government innovation made possible

The path of science is rarely straight. Some discoveries arise from an urgent goal — like sending people to the moon or creating a vaccine during a pandemic. But most scientific progress begins with basic research, pursued with no immediate outcome in mind. The US has long invested in this kind of open-ended inquiry, understanding that today's curiosity can lead to tomorrow's breakthrough.

That investment — roughly $200 billion a year in federal research and development — is now under threat. The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget would sharply cut funding for basic science. But history shows the return on such spending can be transformative.

From the smartphone in your hand to the medication in your cabinet, here’s a look at how publicly funded research has quietly revolutionised everyday life, the New York Times reported.

GPS: born from a Cold War puzzle
When Sputnik launched in 1957, two American physicists tracking its radio signal realized something unusual: the Doppler shift could be used to pinpoint its location. From that insight grew Transit, a system to track submarines, and later Navstar — the military's Global Positioning System.

With decades of support from the US Defense Department and agencies like NIST, GPS went from military tool to commercial necessity. Today it powers everything from ride-hailing apps to crop harvesters. The satellites, rockets, atomic clocks, and software it required were all funded by US taxpayers.

Diabetes and obesity drugs: a lizard’s gift
The blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy trace their roots to a creature that eats only a few times a year: the Gila monster. In 1980, NIH-funded scientists found its venom stimulated the pancreas. That discovery led to the development of GLP-1 receptor agonists — a drug class that now helps millions control diabetes and lose weight.

The research began in a government lab. It has since expanded into a multibillion-dollar industry, with new drugs being explored for Alzheimer’s, addiction, and heart disease.

Quantum dots: a Nobel-worthy flicker
Tiny semiconductor crystals called quantum dots power the vibrant colours in modern TVs and smartphone displays. They also identify cancer cells, detect radiation in military equipment, and turn windows into solar panels.

Their development began in the 1980s with federal support from the US Army and National Science Foundation. In 2023, three scientists — including an MIT researcher funded by the Army — won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on quantum dots.

Sign language gets scientific status
In 1955, a professor at Gallaudet College began studying sign language — then considered inferior to spoken communication. Funded by the National Science Foundation, William Stokoe’s research showed that American Sign Language (ASL) had its own grammar and syntax.

His pioneering dictionary helped ASL gain official recognition as a full language, transforming how deaf education is approached in the US

CAPTCHA: are you a robot?
Before bots became sophisticated, websites used distorted letters to verify users were human. This method — CAPTCHA — was developed in 2000 by Luis von Ahn, a Carnegie Mellon scientist funded by the NSF.

What started as a security tool led to von Ahn co-founding Duolingo, now valued at over $30 billion. CAPTCHA itself evolved, helping digitize archives and improve machine learning.

The screwworm solution
Once a deadly threat to livestock and humans alike, the screwworm was eradicated in the US in 1966 thanks to a USDA strategy. Researchers developed a method to sterilize male flies using radiation and release them in the wild, disrupting reproduction.

The technique — known as Sterile Insect Technique — has since been used globally to control pests and reduce reliance on insecticides.

LASIK’s laser moment
A lab accident in 1993 led to a major breakthrough in eye surgery. A stray femtosecond laser pulse hit a researcher’s eye — but the injury was surprisingly precise. With NSF funding, scientists transformed the laser into a tool for bladeless LASIK surgery, now used by millions.

Touch and the premature baby
In the 1970s, researchers noticed that motherless rat pups failed to thrive. Stroking them with a paintbrush reversed the decline. Funded by the NIH, scientists translated this finding to human infants.

Infant massage is now a standard part of neonatal care. It helps premature babies gain weight and shortens their hospital stay — all thanks to a basic science insight about rat grooming behaviour.

From the Moon to your living room: the Dustbuster
NASA’s Apollo missions needed a cordless lunar drill. Working with Black & Decker, the space agency helped develop lightweight motors optimized for low power use. That same technology led to the Dustbuster — a handheld vacuum that revolutionized home cleaning.

It’s just one of hundreds of spinoffs documented by NASA from its investment in space science.

Why basic research matters
Every one of these innovations — from weight-loss drugs to handheld vacuums — started as a question no one knew how to answer. They took decades to mature, funded by agencies that exist to pursue curiosity without a clear payoff.

If the US scales back its investment in basic science, it risks losing the next generation of breakthroughs. What seems irrelevant today might be the next life-saving drug, the next billion-dollar business — or simply a better way to see the world.