Comment by vladms
7 days ago
I don't think "the findings" are the only thing that comes out of CERN. In the end we are communicating (and doing many other things) over something that originated as a CERN innovation (https://home.cern/science/computing/birth-web).
Not to mention the indirect benefits such as education and networking of the scientists (which, if you talk with people there, seem to be an integral part of the mission even if maybe not explicit as it could be)
Don't get me wrong: CERN is fantastic, the summer student program is (or at least was) a revelation. The place, the people, everything.
But it costs a disproportionate amount of money for what it brings to humanity. Budgets in science are tight and CERN is a real blackhole
I think CERN would be very pleased if they formed a black hole.