I think I one of the reasons I failed to get my degree was because there were some people who did not want me to receive it - who knows whom they were - but there was that aspect. This is very similar to those professional publications vying for scientific data that was obtained in an academically free environment, versus the corporate interest who will fund a project *only* if there is a patent in it for them, otherwise it's 'prior art' and a 'no go'. These are rather impossible barriers to progress.

It takes individuals working to spread ideas to overcome these barriers. These people have no interest beyond accelerating a process that would otherwise move at a snail's pace. For example one day I would like to see self-sustained space development, but I doubt it will happen unless I, working alone, give people ideas about how to proceed. Then if I see evidence of progress in that direction I draw other's attention to it. This is a strong system - an Engine of Progress, as I call it.

The latest evidence that I am succeeding:

Novelist Paul J Mcauley writes the short story "Reef" and publishes it in the collection "Year's Best SF 6", edited by David G. Hartwell.

This goes well beyond my own ponderings on the future of space development. It covers so many advanced ideas it sends the mind spinning! I highly recommend it, no joke, it's good, solid, hard-core science fiction.