Very broadly speaking, fundamental research can be divided into two categories: (1) developing techniques to accomplish some very difficult, but useful task; and (2) answering questions which are intrinsically interesting.*  Research in fusion and developing self-driving cars are examples of the first category.  Finding exoplanets and the Higgs boson are examples of the second.  Will YC Research be funding research in both categories, or just the first?<p>* (I know some people like to call the second category &quot;pure&quot; research, but I think that betrays a bias against working on more practical problems.)