Last month, more than 300 leading European scientists met in Paris to discuss how to spend Euro1 billion (HK$10.92 billion).
There were three projects on their agenda. They were: the International X-ray Observatory to explore what happens near black holes; the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna to study gravitational waves; and the Europa Jupiter System Mission to investigate Jupiter's moons.
Such missions involve huge amounts of money, manpower and time. Yet none of them would actually benefit mankind.
People generally agree that science can help us understand more about our world. This leads to improved technology and living standards and helps us solve practical problems, they say.
So it is interesting to note that almost all prominent scientific ventures in the past have been of little practical use.
For example, getting Neil Armstrong to plant a flag on the moon cost the United States US$1.75 billion. The Apollo 11 mission served no apparent purpose other than it gave the US a chance to flex its muscles on the international stage and get the upper hand over its fierce rival, the Soviet Union.