Scientists have stopped short of declaring a new discover but those at CERN feel they are closer to finding the “stuff” that makes matter have mass.  For most of us, this abstraction remains just that, an abstraction. Will this near discovery of this sub-atomic particle change anything?  Who knows.

From the Washington Post:

Dubbed the Higgs boson — or the “God particle,” to the chagrin of scientists — the particle is thought to create a sort of force field that permeates the universe, imbuing everything that we can see and touch with the fundamental property known as mass.

Scientists also recoil from the expression “God Particle” which has been theorized about for nearly a half century.  Perhaps there will be a better, more descriptive term.  Maybe that discovery should come first.

Scientists gathered have also said it is discoveries like this one that all of them live for.  Huge amounts of money have been invested in the machines used for this finding and time :

The discovery of the new particle completes what’s known as the Standard Model of particle physics, the equivalent of chemistry’s Periodic Table. The Standard Model lists and arranges the particles and forces of nature. Many of the particles were predicted long before they were found — and the Higgs was the last holdout, and the most important.

That’s because it is thought to give rise to the “Higgs field,” a sort of force field the permeates everything.

“We know the Higgs is at the center of everything,” said Lykken. “This is why [Nobel Prize-winning physicist] Leon Lederman called it the God particle. It talks to all the other particles in some fundamental way.”

When the other particles that make up the stuff of the universe — protons, neutrons, electrons and so on — interact with the Higgs field, they acquire the trait known as mass. More massive objects get tangled up in the field — and hence, slowed down as they move — more than less massive objects.

One way to think of the Higgs field: It’s the water the entire universe swims in.

The CERN physicists did not see this new particle directly, because it disintegrates too quickly. Rather, they divined its existence from sifting through the debris of millions of high-energy subatomic collisions and then searching for clues that the Higgs had been there. It’s like divining the presence of an elusive snow leopard by studying thousands of criss-crossed paw prints.

But by studying these traces, the CERN physicists saw a “bump” in their data consistent with a Higgs boson.

Expect further news releases, some as soon as today.  We might be sitting on the precipice  answers to the universe.

33 Thoughts to “Higgs Boson: The God Particle?”

  1. Need to Know

    This is one of the most important discoveries we have ever seen. God gave us the outline of creation in the Bible. Science is giving us the details.

  2. Right now it seems like magic to me. Its hard to wrap your mind around an abstraction that is smaller than anything imagined.

    But right now it seems like the keys to the church.

  3. Did anyone else notice that … “blink” in reality? Or was it just me?

    CERN is going to destroy the world!!!!!!!!

    Btw…if they find out that the Higgs-Boson is a “negative” particle, does that mean its the DOG particle?

  4. @Cargo

    Huh? dog particle was funny. Not sure I get the blink.

  5. @Moon-howler
    Back when they were first trying for the B-H particle, it was theorized that doing so could, theoretically…possibly…maybe….perhaps….in a 1 in a zillion chances….destroy the earth.

    And so the “blinK” of reality ending and coming back.

    1. Oh, ok. I remember that in some series or movie actually. I wasn’t making the connection. Warn me.

  6. Need to Know

    This discovery is far, far more important than global warming, Obamacare, etc. Those things represent trivial schemes by self-serving politicians and their allies to advance their own interests. The same goes for scams going on locally, such as discretionary funds, arts funds, developer/BOCS scams, etc. All of those things reduce our standard of living and cause us frustration because of the shenanigans and lack of integrity of our elected “leaders.”

    However, we need to step back for a minute and understand what the scientists have found here. It is nothing less than a huge advance in our understanding of how the universe works, and how creation (small “c”) happened. It’s a big step in understanding God.

    A few years ago, the former head of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Francis Collins, held a press conference with President Clinton (Prime Minister Tony Blair participated electronically) to announce the sequencing of the human genome. President Clinton described it as the “Language of God.” Dr. Collins, who had been an atheist but converted to Christianity because of the science he had done, and from studying the works of C.S. Lewis, took that phrase for the title of his book.

    The book describes his work, his conversion from atheism, and the total compatibility of Christianity with scientific discoveries. He debunks both Creationism (large “C”) and Intelligent Design, but concludes that accepting the facts of science does not preclude faith in God, or Christianity.

    The Higgs Boson is equally important as the human genome. It’s been described as seeing the face of God. We have so many vastly important advances in science going on now that deepen our understanding of the natural and physical world, as well as of God, that the political bickering pales in comparison.

    By the way, the book to which you are referring is Robert Sawyer’s “Flash Forward.” Its premise was the Large Hadron Collider at Cern causing people to jump forward in time and see the future. It was a TV series for a while also, but got cancelled without being able to wrap up its story line. This is another reason “Fringe” fans are so happy it was renewed for a shortened, final fifth season. That way, their story line can be finished without an abrupt end.

    Also, some crackpot groups claimed that the Large Hadron Collider would create a black hole and suck up the entire earth. Some even filed law suits to prevent it from being turned on. Obviously, they lost and we’re still here. The scientists said that the Collider could create infinitesimally small black holes that would extinguish themselves in a tiny fraction of a second and cause no threat to anyone. They were obviously correct.

    1. I know I didn’t read that book. I thought it was something Dan Brown had wirtten….or someone like him.

      I don’t think health care and climate change don’t matter. They matter right now as do discretionary funds. It isn’t an either or situation. For instance, if we crap up our planet and have no where to live, well… that could cause some serious problems.

      How about the God Particle unlocking yet another door? I am keepng an open mind. It might ask more questions than it answers.

  7. Hey…. as long as I FINALLY get my flying car, they can make all the black holes they want.

  8. Elena

    Cargosquid :Hey…. as long as I FINALLY get my flying car, they can make all the black holes they want.

    🙂 Me too!

  9. Need to Know

    @Moon-howler

    I didn’t say those issues don’t matter – just saying we should take a broader view of things sometimes. I plan to be back to MH complaining about all of them. However, I do like to take stock of something really significant like the Higgs Boson discovery.

    I like the videos you linked. Speaking of other doors, the scientist in the second video talks about this discovery possibly leading to confirmation of other dimensions. I’ve always been a Christian and believer in the Bible. However, the Bible does not speak literal science. It was written thousands of years ago to speak to people who didn’t have an inkling what the human genome or the Higgs Boson was. I don’t think the divine intent was ever for humanity to stop growing and learning.

    God gave us brains and intended for us to use them. Some of us are using them well – people such as Dr. Collins and the CERN scientists. Alas, you will find many places where brains are severely underutilized (I’ll avoid the obvious local references here).

  10. Need to Know

    @Elena

    I’ll pass on the flying car. I’ve flown a lot in my life and at this point want to keep my feet on the ground. The thing I’m most looking forward to is the device like the Star Trek cafeteria machine that replicates anything you want to eat or drink. I’m going to be cranking out ’82 Bordeaux by the barrel, even though Jean Luc Picard once said it doesn’t work too well on vintage wine. Maybe they’ll work out the bugs sooner than expected.

  11. @Need to Know
    Single malt!
    Fudge!
    Tribbles! (I could so use some of these for revenge!)

    I wonder…would it put out raw food….like fruits and veggies? How does one get that without growing it and would it still be “live?”

    Asking the hard philosophical question!

  12. Need to Know

    @Cargosquid

    Be carefull not to get pulled over in your flying car after imbibing too much of that single malt, while perhaps munching on a fried tribble.

  13. Ew. Fried tribble? Now THAT is something I would never think of.

    So..would you just deep fry it, or shave it first?

  14. @NTK, I am glad you enjoyed the videos. I thought maybe I had over-done it in the video dept.

  15. Need to Know

    @Cargosquid

    I have no idea. I’ve seen Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel eat roasted rats on a stick, but don’t think anyone has ever been documented eating a tribble cooked in any fashion. The rats had been skinned and gutted. You are going where no man has gone before.

    1. @Cargo and NTK

      BARF GAG WRETCH

  16. Need to Know

    @Cargosquid

    In any event, a big glass of the single malt would be necessary first for me to try the rat-on-a-stick (even though Zimmern and Bourdain indicated that was popular street food in China) or the tribble.

  17. Need to Know

    @Moon-howler

    I’ve run out of intelligent things to say today, plus I have a cold and Mrs. NTK had to take the family to see fireworks yesterday evening. I’m left with nothing but tribble recipes at this point.

    1. I think the cold has gone to your brain!!!!!!

      I hope you don’t have that miserable one I had for a month.

    2. NTK I dont even know what that is and please, I am begging you, do not tell me. PLEASE DO NOT

  18. Bear

    Beam me up Scottie! Instead of a Replicator , we need a Transporter. I even hate walking the stairs between floors in my house let alone the hassles at airports. Maybe when the Transporter is putting me back together it could leave out some fat!

    1. Airports are pretty decent. Call ahead for a wheel chair and tip them 10 bucks.

  19. @Need to Know
    When I was in military intel, I was told that’s how Army intel tracked major troop movements and transfers in China. They tracked the movement of and rise of new rat farms. Or ranches. Or…. what would you call them? I mean we have the Bunny Ranch, but I don’t think that’s what…well, then, tracking those too would be a way to track massive troop movements.

    I think I’m going to stop right there. I have WAY too many jokes in bad taste popping up in my brain.

    Tribble recipes….tribble recipes…..google is my friend. (I’m doing WAY too much homework right now…needed a break….brain is….. strained.)

    From a Klingon recipe site.

    Tribble Nuggets

    SERVES 1 PLATOON

    Preset disruptor to “incinerize.”

    Identify a tribble infestation. Scramble your forces and surround the affected area with a ring of thermal mines reinforced by autoguns with overlapping fields of fire. Once secure, saturate the area with plasma mortars and spicy barbecue sauce. Assess bomb damage and repeat as necessary. When satisfied, sweep the area with squads and mop up any remaining resistance. Retrieve charred tribble carcasses and stomp or pound into nuggets. Serve hot and enjoy.

    If desired, commission an opera to celebrate your glorious triumph over the loathsome tribble menace.

    This is more my speed:
    Thing on a Stick

    (a.k.a. Bachelor’s Delight)

    SERVES 1

    Impale something on a sharpened stick. Cook over a pile of burning tires until bored. Serve hot and enjoy.

    I won’t copy the Vegetarian lasagna one. It involves….vegetarians. Need I say more?

    Here’s another one:
    http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?s=3ba919b33d0f9cb696183d02269309cf&t=21402

    1. You are a bad person. I am not even going to read your words.

  20. Can’t leave this out

    http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Cook_A_Tribble

    excerpt: Pecan Praline Tribbles, Popcorn Style

    A fact largely unknown until discovered by accident in kitchens across the galaxy is what happens to whole tribbles during prolonged exposure to high heat. At the right temperature, tribbles will pressurize and explode in an effect indistinguishable in appearance and sound from giant kernels of popcorn.

    This property of the common tribble was first documented in an attempt to relocate a large population of tribbles to equatorial Vulcan during midsummer on the arid planet. Rehabilitation was a complete yet delicious failure.

  21. Need to Know

    @Cargosquid

    Yum.

    I guess Moon wasn’t a Star Trek fan growing up. Cargo came up with these delicious tibble recipes, not me.

    1. I did like Star Trek actually but I didn’t get into all the minutia of it. Not a trekkie.

  22. Need to Know

    How did we get from discussing one of the most important scientific discoveries in history, and understanding the nature of God, to cooking terrestrial and alien rodents on sticks? The heat must be at play here.

    1. You are a bad person too NTK. Silence!!!!!

  23. NTK, I was thinking of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. It started off with Antimatter going haywire at CERN. Sorry, it wasn’t the God Particle.

    I think I did pretty well even remembering that much.

  24. So…I was wondering….what would happen if we accelerated two tribbles to the speed of light and had THEM collide? I bet we could find all sorts of particles.

    Asking the hard questions…because….SCIENCE!

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