ABSTRACT
After one of his public lectures and demonstrations about electricity, Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was asked by a lady “But, Mr Faraday, what use is it?” He answered “What use, madam, is a new-born baby?” Of course the great man was right, even if the lady, and most of the world since her, let themselves be misled by his reply. The fact is that a new-born baby is no use whatsoever. Making babies is an inexpensive and (usually) pleasurable activity. Turning the baby into a useful citizen, by contrast, takes many years of tedious and costly toil. Faraday could not have found a better way of explaining the difference between research and development.
