Scientists find a new particle

[Fuzz]

Well, the gang down at CERN didn't blow a hole in the fabric of space/time and create a mini black hole that would destroy the Earth. However, they did find evidence of a new particle! While the 2 particle detection experiments (CMS and ATLAS) both discovered evidence of a particle that is consistent with a Higgs Boson, further analysis is required.

Truly a great day for science!

[zuma]

Truly a great day for science!

Completely agree... awesome news!

But what the fuzz is all about? (or how the Higgs' Boson leads to "mass"?),

Check out the explanation below (which is perhaps the best and simplest of explanations thus far):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18707698

[Stalebread]

Isn't more the confirmation of an old discovery rather than a discovery? At least, that's how I understood it.

Up until now the standard model only predicted there should be a Higgs boson (or something like it) but there was no proof. Evidently with the two recent tests, each yielding pretty much the same results, there is enough proof for it to be called a discovery officially. That's why it's such exciting news. Also, if the presence of the Higgs boson was disproved, the standard model would have to be re-thought.

.

[Cohiba Stevie]

This really is fantastic news.

[tmac77]

I had a particle of popcorn in my teeth all day once... drove me nuts

[Fuzz]

Previous experiments did find evidence of the new boson particle, however they were not within the level of standard deviations to be considered (higher than 4.5 sigma) as accurate. And as the latest results have been corroborated by 2 separate experiments (ATLAS found it at 126 GeV within 5 sigma and CMS foudn it at 125 GeV within 4.9 sigma) the certainty that it is a new boson particle is very high. Now whether it is a Higgs boson or an entirely new exotic particle will warrant further analysis.

[khamy]

I hear there will be an Australian version of this experiment happening this weekend at the Aviary in Perth.

[Fuzz]

I hear there will be an Australian version of this experiment happening this weekend at the Aviary in Perth.

No, that experiment is to find the Bozo particle...

[Ken Gargett]

fuzz, agree. amazing news on an amazing day. nearly as important as the glorious maroons winning their 7th straight series. i would have thought you'd have more chance of finding that particle than finding a happy blues fan today.

[headstand]

I had a particle of popcorn in my teeth all day once... drove me nuts

There's one in every crowd

[Fuzz]

A Higgs Boson walks into a church

The priest says, "We don't allow Higgs Bosons in here."

The Higgs Boson replies,"But without me, how can you have mass?"