Big science traces its origin to the military research that ensued the Manhattan Project. Numerous basic research projects performed to this date fail under this heading. The main am of most big science projects is to advance knowledge for its own sake, cost being a secondary issue. This, it is argued, should not be so since one big science project entails foregoing many smaller ones in other fields. Further thought should be given to reconciling the continuation of big science projects, including accelerators, nuclear fusion, and fast neutron breeder reactors, with the needs of various research fields.
