Funding breakthroughs

The $33 million in prize money from the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation went to 11 deserving scientists. But it is worth debating whether, in an age of austerity, there are more efficient ways for the billionaire backers to put their money to work.

One line of thought holds that giving money to young researchers might be a better use of new funds than giving prize money to established researchers who already are well funded...