carye1: It is almost impossible to predict the long-term benefits of doing fundamental science research like on done LHC, as we explore the unknown, but time and again it proved to bring unforeseen technological benefits that were created during these explorations and pushed the humanity forward. Think of almost all electronics, Internet, etc, without science the world would still be stuck in the dark ages. Your argument of diverting the money to humanitarian causes is valid, but I would suggest on concentrating on diverting the money from the non-humanitarian causes first! Just put them side by side, the cost of the war in Iraq is nearing 600 billion, where this experiment is only 6. It is interesting that the government does not promote the science and its importance for the future prosperity of the humanity, creating negative public opinion about science and discouraging scientists...