The Sky Falls

That aint workin thats the way you do it;
Get your money for nothin get your chicks for free.


All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.

No, my PhD has nothing to with CERN

Actually it's more akin to the Met office.  But, like CERN, we do use lots of computers and magnets and make pretty pictures:

Dad told me yesterday that I need to develop the ability to explain my work to non specialists.  Since I think I have already learnt that, the problem must be that you have to catch me at the right time. Clearly the appropriate level is different for each individual.  This attempt starts at the scientific non specialist and progresses gradually upwards.  I have plans for a Fusion for the (interested) layman version which may be roughly based on some cartoons I drew for uncle Eddy a few weeks ago.

I'm still not sure how I feel about CERN.  As a fusion scientist it does seem like a lot of money for something with no foreseeable application.  Historically though the unforeseen applications have been some of the most interesting (like the silicon chip for quantum theory).  And as a Physicist is hard not to be interested to see what they will find.  Plus the BBC's excitement goes some way to negate the funding rivalry.  I don't resent the money they have - I just think we should have more. The space station on the other hand is another story.

Scientific megaprojects in today's money:

• CERN LHC: $5 Billion 
  
• ITER: $10 Billion
  
• Manhattan: $24 Billion
  
• Apollo: $135 Billion
  
• ISS: $157 Billion
  

I used to be a big fan of Human spaceflight, but looking at the figures it just seems like pure vanity - the science they do is minimal.  You could try to justify the cost from an exploration point of view, but then LEO is not exactly extending the frontier.  But of course I shall be watching when they do land a man on Mars.