BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | LHC nears restart after repairs

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) could restart as early as this weekend after more than a year of repairs.

But officials have avoided giving an exact date for sending beams of protons around the 27km (17 mile) circular tunnel which houses the collider.

The LHC was first switched on in 2008, but had to be shut down when a faulty electrical connection caused one tonne of helium to leak into the tunnel.

via BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | LHC nears restart after repairs.

I have always enjoyed science and have long been fascinated by the potential for scientific developments to improve our lives, but I do wonder if the expense on this project is justified – particularly at a time when so many people are still feeling the effects of the recession…