The Large Hadron Collider, history’s biggest particle accelerator, will be switched on in 7 days. This means great leaps and bounds in the realms of physics and understanding the way our universe operates. It may, however, also mean the end of the world as we know it: Apparently — and really, this isn’t THAT big of a deal — there’s a slight possibility the LHC’s massive energy will open a black hole over Switzerland and kill us all. Or maybe just unmake reality.

What can we do about this impending doom? Drink, for one. Me and a few friends from work are planning a New Years Eve-style soiree to celebrate either (a) the midnight launch of an important scientific project, or (b) our impending extinction. You can’t be hung over if the morning never comes. It’s a win-win!

Like most doomsday fears, the LHC threat is unproven at best. But even a slight possibility of galactic annihilation is enough to send me to the nearest bottle. A perfect occasion to celebrate if there ever was one. It reminds me of one of my favorite dark comedies, Last Night — this weird Canadian movie (and really, is there any other kind?) about young Canucks getting drunk before the apocolypse. Makes me wonder why physicists don’t build 27-kilometer particle acceleratiors more often.

Let’s party like there’s no tomorrow. Because there may not be.