Actually Geoff, the Gates foundation has been doing a lot for research in diseases, such as malaria, that affect developing countries. There's actually not a lot of profit in malaria and such diseases, which is why there's actually not usually as much research dollars that go into it, especially from pharmaceutical companies.

Credit where credit's due, these guys are actually throwing money at problems and don't expect a monetary return. The tech billionaires have lucked into their wealth and realise that they don't need most of it.

I wouldn't put them in the same ranks as the older superrich families and corporations that grew up that way just want to protect their treasure.

from Noel Wauchope
With regard to Bugsy's comment. Yes, it IS about tax-payer money, because the Breakthrough Energy Coalition is working with the US Government's Mission Innovation, meaning that public funds will be joining in with philanthropists' funding.

Having said that, I have to concede that Bugsy has made some other good points here, especially that they might go on to research useful things other than nuclear technologies.

Also, I am in complete agreement about the good work that Bill Gates has done for public health in promoting vaccination programmes - so many lives saved in preventing infectious diseases.

I say - let them do whatever research they like with their own money- but hope it doesn't mean diverting tax-payer money into pointless nuclear distractions.