World's Smallest Light Bulb Created

Because they can.

Seriously, much of Carbon Nanotube research in specific, and "nano" research (not that which merely seeks to take advantage of the coolest buzzword, but true research into nano device properties, capabilties, potential utility, etc.) is largely being done, at this stage, because we a)don't know what it can do, b)don't know how to make it do "stuff" (whatever we find it can do, see a) above).

Since we don't know the answers to either a) or b) above, but are finding out all sorts of new a)'s and b)'s daily, its still too early (though getting closer) to start asking "why did they ....?". It's not a silly question, but it IS ahead of its time.

However, one possible reason comes to mind. Nano research is so "gee whiz", and research dollars are hard to come by, that they may have done it just to prove how cool we can be with SOMETHING, no matter how useless, that we can do with what we've learned. And that, being cool, but by and large useless, is certainly worthy of "Because we CAN (Dumb questions get dumb answers! [implied])"

Micah

I'm sure the Who will be very grateful.