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So how 'bout that Higgs-Boson that's maybe just been discovered? Shocked there's no thread on this.Technically speaking of course, it hasn't been demonstrated that this is the Higgs-Boson yet. Just that it's a new fundamental particle with the predicted mass. Huge discovery either way.
Yeah, I was pretty tickled when I first read the headlines. I'm into all of the sciences, but particle physics (and to a lesser extent astro-physics) always have a special place in my heart. Of course, as always there's going to be a sizable amount of time and research that needs to take place before anybody can (somewhat) definitively claim the HB to "officially exist". Regardless, it makes me wonder where the Standard Model is headed in the next ten years, particularly when it comes to our knowledge of gravity (assuming the HB does, in fact, exist...which at this point I'd have to my money on).
I'm disappointed honestly. The Standard Model sucks and I wish it would be disproven. If it turns out to be true, we're pretty fucked.
Noob question: Why does it get such an inflamitory name as 'god particle'?
Because the higgs boson is what "gives" things mass. Without it nothing would exist... in theory. Or at least nothing with mass would exist.That, or maybe the fella who named it wasnt a big fan of religion.
More noob - how is it discovered? If everything has mass, isn't that effect in everything?Sure I could google it (and probably not get it still), but I'm gunna chin wag instead!
The Standard Model does a good job of predicting the observed effects of physics. The problem was...there was actually no particular reason in the Standard Model that anything should have mass, in which case everything from individual protons to whole atoms of iron would just fly around at the speed of light everywhere. Clearly this doesn't happen. Finding a mediating particle that "bestows" mass upon matter was required for it to fit observations. If it wasn't found, then the Standard Model was wrong and we have no idea what's going on.While it's kind of odd to think of, the fundamental forces do require some sort of particle/wave to 'carry' the information that gives them an effect on the universe. For the electromagnetic force, this is the photon. In theory for gravity, it is the Higgs-Boson. They find them by flinging fundamental particles at each other at tremendous forces until they smash something hard enough to briefly see a naked Higgs-Boson.The explanation I've given is muddled and simplified to the point that it's nearly useless, of course, since I'm not into physics and don't really understand any of it myself.
Well, it gives me some idea of what to google if I look into it. Thanks, Shar.
Next up;the No-god particle.
Quote from: CurethanNext up;the No-god particle.haha im so very surprised no one said this earlier. hilarious
WHAT DO YOU P?TELL ME! I MUST KNOW, WHAT DO YOU P!?(There, brought it down to the correct intellectual level again! )