renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked about the Higgs Boson particle.

‘Why is it important?’

His answer was surprising.

‘He didn’t know.’

‘We have no idea yet how it will be important to our lives or our civilisation,’

but, he added,

that the same question was asked of the electron when it was first discovered and of quantum physics when it was first discovered and these are now the cornerstones of technology driving modern civilisation.

‘if too many people are asking of a new discovery how does this put food on my plate then civilisation stalls in that moment. As scientists we have to be content with discovering something new without regard with its use to civilisation because history has shown that give it some decades, civilisation finds a way to tax it.’

It is exactly the same with all creative endeavours.

We work at them, often with no idea

where it will lead

or if we’ll make enough money from them to be taxed.