Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva have discovered a fundamental particle called the Higgs Boson. Scientific American editor George Musser explains why the Higgs is so important to science, and to our very existence.


7 Comments

Add Comment
View
  1. 1. jctyler 05:42 PM 7/10/12

    a massive dead-end?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  2. 2. ssm1959 03:00 PM 7/11/12

    So in a matter of speaking Descartes and his idea of a plenum, a particulate cloud that surrounds us, is true.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  3. 3. Plain-2009 09:50 PM 7/11/12

    The clarity of pronunciation of this bright, nice, very positive, young man is not very good in this video. Obviously if I listen twice or three times I will end up understanding every single word he uttered. But we are in such a hurry that it would have been a good idea to provide a transcript of his much interesting speech. We want to know more about the Higgs particle and how it was suspected its existence. It would be interesting to know about Mr. Higgs and other scientists that (somehow) predicted the possibility that such a particle exists. I guess in the next few weeks (or months) we will know if really a new sub-atomic particle was found and how similar it may be to the particle deducted, imagined, or predicted by Mr. Higgs and his colleagues. Keep up the good work!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  4. 4. Knyaz 01:58 AM 7/12/12

    Возможно в начале была мысль(информация),затем слово(способ передачи информации)а частица Бозона-Хигса это то из чего построена эта информация,чтобы можно было передать её из одного измерения в другое в виде света.Возможно всегда в любом измерении в начале появляется информационная конструкция в виде света(состоящего из частиц Бозона -Хигса)а потом всё материализуется согласно информационно-световой конструкции.Возможно вся информация в другое измерение передаётся через чёрную дыру а миры других измерений видны из нашего измерения как тёмная материя.Частица Бозона-Хигса это то из чего состоит информационная структура передающая информацию из одного измерения в другое поэтому как любой объект не нашего измерения в нашем измерении будет исчезать мгновенно.Возможно чтобы получше рассмотреть Бозона-Хигса его надо окружить эзотерической энергией?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  5. 5. jctyler 04:38 AM 7/12/12

    so you deleted the comment which included the news about the CERNettes? = disqualified from further access to the alternative CERN circuit

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  6. 6. Plain-2009 01:17 AM 7/13/12

    Ah, this young man is George Musser, Senior Editor of Scientific American and author of Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory!!!I really do not blame him of anything if he (as he seems he does) dramatizes a little bit about the Higgs particle. That (predicted) particle is really peculiar (if it exists after all)and seems to come directly from a science fiction movie like "Back to the Future". Let us wait and see if really a new particle was found or not at the LHC. We should take it easy because it is quite a serious matter. International society is putting a lot of resources into these experiments. Not to take it seriously would be (probably) a lack of respect when so many people (seems to) suffer in this world. And if a new particle was really found (if at all)let us see how it fits into the so called Standard Model. Will the Standard Model survive? Who knows? At the ends the objectives are noble. the idea is understanding better the structure of matter. And much can come from that knowledge. We should continue investing money and time.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  7. 7. Diracian 05:11 AM 9/26/12

    Firstly, to all previous commentators (that commented in english, that is - sorry Knyaz I don’t speak your language), I suggest you read the October Scientific American which will show why scientists are sure they’ve found the Higgs and, as referenced in this edition, the July 2005 Scientific American will show you how they predicted it.

    Regards said article, firstly, kudos to the authors as I really enjoyed it. However could you explain more about how the LEP 115-GeV results are now interpreted?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
Leave this field empty

Add a Comment

You must sign in or register as a ScientificAmerican.com member to submit a comment.
Click one of the buttons below to register using an existing Social Account.

More from Scientific American

See what we're tweeting about

Scientific American Editors

More »

Free Newsletters


Get the best from Scientific American in your inbox

Solve Innovation Challenges

Powered By: Innocentive

  SA Digital
  SA Digital

Science Jobs of the Week

Email this Article

X
Scientific American Magazine

Subscribe Today

Save 66% off the cover price and get a free gift!

Learn More >>

X

Please Log In

Forgot: Password

X

Account Linking

Welcome, . Do you have an existing ScientificAmerican.com account?

Yes, please link my existing account with for quick, secure access.



Forgot Password?

No, I would like to create a new account with my profile information.

Create Account
X

Report Abuse

Are you sure?

X

Institutional Access

It has been identified that the institution you are trying to access this article from has institutional site license access to Scientific American on nature.com. To access this article in its entirety through site license access, click below.

Site license access
X

Error

X

Share this Article

X