It's a mildly entertaining game to wonder what stories we would tell to justify the quick but often bad conclusion suggested by a raw number - the policy, social or cultural reasons that explain the apparent Finnish lawfulness, for example - "so much more civilized, those Scandinavians, even in prison" - or the performance of US universities.

BBC: Go Figure: How good are UK universities?

But even he is quick to admit that the science we can do in space may not be enough to justify the expense and risk of getting there.

FORBES: NASA Needs A Mission