This story caught my eye today. Scientists in the middle east have had quite a brilliant idea: several nations in the region, from both sides of the arab/Israeli conflict, have decided to come together to create their own particle accelerator. They have decided to put their nations differences aside for the sake of science. If you ask me, this is profoundly brilliant news, as it shows – does it not – how superficial our petty conflicts are, and that, when we choose to, we can put them aside and work together as one people, one species. I found it so glorious that I just had to flag it up on here. Mind you, I must admit that, when I first saw this story on the lunchtime news, the grim thought occurred to me: ”I wonder how long it is until this place is attacked by a group like Al Qa’ida.’