Now I’m don’t usually run about screaming the end of the world is nigh, but when someone tells me they’re going to recreate the big bang I get a little nervous – not least of all because I still haven’t finished Lego Indiana Jones and it would be a bummer to cease to exist before I can unlock all the characters.

Today there was a general feeling of relief that those boffins down at the Black Mesa facility (sorry I meant LHC) had turned on the machine without any hiccups. Great, thinks I, but how about we wait until after you’ve smashed sub-atomic particles into each other at almost light-speed before patting ourselves on the backs and lighting up a cheroot.

OK I admit it, I’m a geek. I love space and robots (but I draw the line at wearing costumes!)

Here’s a piece of software that simulates the future of human colonies on Mars. It’s not got super graphics, but it’s the closest we’ve got to finding Beagle 2!

Around the world are what is left of the 90 official standard kilogram measures originally created in the 18th century.  Without them the concept and practical use of the kilogram simply wouldn’t exist today (so that includes gravity, Planck’s constant, and the humble ampere!) . There’s just one problem – their masses have been mysteriously drifting apart by an average of 50 micrograms.

Dr. Evil ain’t got nothing on these homeboy scientists. I like their style: take one giant terawatt laser, clear some airspace and fire it into some storm clouds resulting in serious lightning smackdown action. Is this cool or have they just opened a whole can of whoopass?

Scientists got smarts, right? According to this Wired report 20% of the 1,427 scientists surveyed by Nature.com admitted to taking brain enhancing drugs including Ritalin and Provigil.