Pure science and applied science

Many of the latest scientific accomplishments fall in the realm of 'pure' science. This is research for the sack of increasing man's knowledge without concern about how the knowledge is going to be used. In contrast with pure science is 'applied' science. The production of synthetic diamonds is an example of applied science. In applied science the facts and principles of pure science are used in the solution of a problem which was or will have immediate economic and social importance.

Often in the past, applied science has gone far ahead of pure science. Its practical applications have been used for man's good even before the basic facts and principles were understood. For example, the telegraph, telephone and electric motor, which could not work without electrons, were invented before man discovered the electron. People were vaccinated long before viruses were investigated. Chemicals like sulfuric acid and soda were manufactured long before man began to understand the nature of the atom. Today, however, if applied science is to grow it must depend more and more on increased knowledge of pure science.