This is a collection of cases where someone seemingly had a large incentive to pursue a technology, and did not.

These are cases where incentives to pursue a technology were overcome by concerns about downsides not imminently accruing to the decision-maker (e.g. risks to distant people, ethical concerns). These cases are being collected via the Resisted Technological Temptations Project.

• Geoengineering, many actors, present, scientist opposition inhibits research needed for others' enthusiasm
• Nuclear power, in some countries
• Human challenge trials, especially for COVID-19 vaccines

This is a non-exhaustive list of plausible cases that we have not investigated.

• Chlorofluorocarbons, many actors, 1985-present
• Nanotechnology, scientists and governments, five decades ago to present
• Airships / Zeppelins
• Genetic engineering of humans
• Some scientific studies prevented by the burden of IRB / GDPR compliance
• Recreational drug development
• Dietary restrictions, in most (all?) human cultures
• GMOs, in some countries
• Atomic gardening
• Use of nuclear explosions in construction
• Fracking, in some countries
• Various weapons (nuclear, chemical, biological, land mines, etc), in some countries and at some times

(We have not investigated these cases)

• AI winters
• Delay in nuclear weapons research early in WWII
• Excalibur