Article by excellent science writer Dennis Overby ("Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos") on the myriad LHC problems and delays.

"The biggest, most expensive physics machine in the world is riddled with thousands of bad electrical connections.

Many of the magnets meant to whiz high-energy subatomic particles around a 17-mile underground racetrack have mysteriously lost their ability to operate at high energies.

Some physicists are deserting the European project, at least temporarily, to work at a smaller, rival machine across the ocean.

After 15 years and $9 billion, and a showy “switch-on” ceremony last September, the Large Hadron Collider, the giant particle accelerator outside Geneva, has to yet collide any particles at all."

Big Science projects like Tokamak fusion, LIGO and now LHC not delivering on promises can sour govt appetites for funding new projects. Not good.

However..."Physicists on both sides of the Atlantic say they are confident that the European machine will produce groundbreaking science — eventually — and quickly catch up to an American rival, even at the lower energy. All big accelerators have gone through painful beginnings."

Stay tuned.