Ill-judged predictions and projections can be embarrassing at best and, at worst, damaging to the authority of science and science policy.

from The Scientist:

“Every research proposal these days, whichever field you’re in, has got to include a statement on the impact your research is going to have. And that isn’t just intellectual impact; it’s also economic impact. And that is basically requiring scientists to make promises, and to exaggerate those promises.”