Large Hadron Collider
Johannes Simon/Getty Images

A model of CERN's Large Hadron Collider

So I'm at this meeting of former finance ministers where everyone is talking about the possible perils of the global economy and the mortgage crisis. I'd like to point out that the world stands at a crucial juncture in another way. We're about to switch on the most powerful particle accelerator in the world capable of possibly producing dark matter or miniature black holes. Like the economy, it's a huge global project. And the scientists who work on it say the cooperation is sometimes the hardest part. They're always a little relieved when everybody drags their pieces of the project to Europe and find they all fit together.

I mention this really because I'll be covering the start-up for Morning Edition tomorrow. And it will be nice to report on something I understand (unlike the economy.) Previous stories here and here.