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I think the big difference here is that quantum theory and string theory hold enormous implications for the nature of reality. Understanding these concepts, even on a basic level, ignites in us a sort of spiritual fascination with the universe. That's why they are sexy. It has nothing to do with science fiction novels. It's just that understanding the mechanics of a vacuum cleaner doesn't leave us in awe of the universe.

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I think you're right about motivation, but that's about ego and fame within a social hierarchy. Someone who loves understanding for its own sake also loves understanding the little bits - and they are better at it, because their attention is not divided, and they are open to serendipity. One can't predict where understanding will come from e.g. the motion of a spinning plate.

One could only be sure that understanding a vacuum cleaner is unrelated to understanding the universe in hindsight.

There are two issues at stake here. The curious layman would, I argue, rather study the vacuum cleaner than quantum mechanics, if only because the former offers a well-understood topic to study, whereas the latter offers hostile theories and confusion. On the other hand, studying sci-fi physics sheds some light into what's coming to our world in the near term, and what is in flux. This is obviously valuable to a different sort of curious layman, one who is less interested in how everything works and more interested in refining their world view.

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