The Soviets spent 20 years drilling 8 miles into the Earth chasing a goal they never reached, and rewrote geology by accident. Do you feel scientific exploration has lost that sense of romantic exploration?

Global & Geopolitical ·Sunday, August 16, 2026

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The Soviets spent 20 years drilling 8 miles into the Earth chasing a goal they never reached, and rewrote geology by accident. Do you feel scientific exploration has lost that sense of romantic exploration?

43%

consensus14responses

“No, it has just moved out of view. The curiosity is still there in quiet, underfunded research, it simply does not make headlines”

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All answers

No, it has just moved out of view. The curiosity is still there in quiet, underfunded research, it simply does not make headlines

43%

No, I think the romance was always partly myth. Past exploration was driven by rivalry and national ego, the wonder was added to the story afterwards

29%

Yes, it feels driven by profit now. Exploration seems to happen where there is money to be made, not where there is a question worth asking

14%

Yes, and I miss the willingness to fail. Big projects used to be funded even when they might discover nothing, that feels unimaginable today

I have never really thought about it this way. I follow science but not the motives behind who funds it or why

Somewhat, though the money has produced results. Commercial funding is less inspiring, but it has moved things faster than public programmes did

Country

% chose top answer

🇭🇷Croatia50%🇳🇱Netherlands100%🇩🇪Germany100%🇧🇬Bulgaria50%

Croatia is most divided — 50% “No, it has just moved out of view. The curiosity is still there in quiet, underfunded research, it simply does not make headlines” vs 33% “No, I think the romance was always partly myth. Past exploration was driven by rivalry and national ego, the wonder was added to the story afterwards”.

4 of 14 respondents didn't share their info

Age

100%

40%

20%

50%

35–44 is most divided — 40% “No, I think the romance was always partly myth. Past exploration was driven by rivalry and national ego, the wonder was added to the story afterwards” vs 20% “Yes, it feels driven by profit now. Exploration seems to happen where there is money to be made, not where there is a question worth asking”.

5 of 14 respondents didn't share their info

Gender

50%

25%

100%

5 of 14 respondents didn't share their info

“The Soviets Drilled the Deepest Hole Ever”

https://nautil.us/the-soviets-drilled-the-deepest-hole-ever-1283561?giftLink=507f3fa4497474c2db1a69e7c7a35ec3&user_id=66c4c41f600ae150759658fe

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