Has Higgs particle been found?
- June 5, 2007 2:59 PM |
- By Paul Jay
by Paul Jay, CBC News online
Following the news that startup of the large hadron collider has been delayed until next year, an interesting article in Slate suggests a particle the collider is supposed to find may already have been discovered.
Slate writer James Owen Weatherall points to a number of rumours (here and here) suggesting Fermilab's Tevetron accelerator may already have discovered the Higgs Boson, a particle that is suppossed to impart mass to other particles but which has so far eluded researchers trying to observe it.
Higgs, often reffered to as the God particle, is seen as the last piece of the puzzle to prove the Standard Model of particle physics. Bob McDonald did a great interview on Quirks & Quarks about the search for the Higgs (here).
If the rumours are true, Weatherall writes we can likely expect a major announcement sometime this year. If not ... well, there's always 2008.
Thanks to Slashdot for the link.
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Comments (2)
North headland Coogee looking out to sea
a Catholic lady saw The Virgin Mary in the
clouds. There is a casual shrine there now.
There was something, there. Clouds etc.
The lady actually saw, something..
She had been taught and trained to see The Virgin, if only she searched for Her.
Everyone in her peer group, her teachers
and role models, praised those who saw Mary.
Mary had a name, a history, documentary proof
of Her existence.. She knew that others had
been praised, lauded, held up as role-models
among their peers, after seeing Mary ..
The lady was not, mad but the reverse.
In all respects a trusted citizen.
When, not if but when the multi billion
dollar accelerator 'sees something', there
will be, something, there. No doubt.
Like the clouds over Coogee headland..
Those who have invested their lives in searching for this theoretical particle
will, think they have found God, or whatever
is its theoretical name.
They will swear blind they saw it.
They will be praised, lauded and given attention by all their peers.
they will gain immediate fame and status.
Just like the nice fervent lady standing on
Coogee headland, ready, and willing to see
The Virgin Mary, up there in those clouds.
The real question is, what was it?
Not, what might it be thought to be,
and not what any seeker want it to be,
But what, actually, is 'it'..
I very much enjoyed reading your post Carl. There is truth in what you say, particularly when dealing with spiritualism and matters of faith. The catholic lady saw something beautiful and it was a religious experience for her, and an inspiration and a truth to those around her who share in her faith.
With science its a little different though. While its true, some scientist will pursue a goal with an almost religious ferver, nothing said scientist discovers will mean anything in the scientific community if it cannot be reproduced. Its absolutely essential that other scientists be able to research and examine any findings and be able to achieve the same results.