I love when we can find/make macroscopic analogues. Makes
   analysis and hypothesis generating easier when you can see it.
   Gives new things to model as well as test existing predictions
   in a very executive-friendly way. [need funding? Here, this
   polymer shows an example of what we want to do on a smaller
   scale. Make sense? Great! Where's your checkbook?] Funding is a
   constant issue in research 'cause there's the D side -
   Development - R&D. Pure research gets hard to fund because
   people need to "see" something and how do you see the unseen or
   the complicated? But room temperature means a briefcase with a
   sample kit and suddenly you can make a demo to show to angel
   investors. Holds out hope for industry and technology and proofs
   that are tangible means more money backfunnelling into the pure
   research areas like the mathematical.