Latest update in the search for the Higgs boson

[AvalancheMaster]

http://webcast.web.cern.ch/webcast/play_higgs.html

The press-conference is still running, but what we have for now is the discovery of a boson particle. I recommend to wait until the end of the conference for serious comments, in the meantime, I recommend you to watch - even if you don't understand physics. It might be one of the discoveries of your lifetime.

 

[Algeroth]

Well, not exactly. We have confirmed new particle that is boson and is consistent wth the expectation, but they don't want to say that it is Higgs boson and waits for comfirmation.

http://press.web.cern.ch/press/PressReleases/Releases2012/PR17.12E.html

 

[AvalancheMaster]

Sorry for the mistake, fixed.

 

[Thorgalaeg]

I think it is symptomatic of current physics in general and standard model in particular, there are so many different theories with its own particles nobody can be sure about anything, even if this new particle has exactly the same mass predicted for the HB.

We demand an unified theory yet!

 

[Mise]

It's like if you're looking for your cat, and you see a cat that fits the description of your cat, "4kg, 25cm tall, 45cm long, mostly black and white fur with a little white patch on his forehead that looks kind of like Ireland," and so on. But you still need to check the name tag on the collar, just in case it's somebody else's cat. You wouldn't want to say, "OMG I've found Fluffy!!" and take it home, only to realise that the collar says "Zazzles" on it. Chances are, though, there aren't many cats that look exactly like your cat, so it's a pretty safe bet that the cat you found is your cat. It could be a boson that looks and acts pretty much exactly like the Higgs, but has spin-1 or 2 instead of 0. But chances are, it's the Higgs boson.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

great comparison

 

[plarq]

Not enough money for those super colliders

 

[AvalancheMaster]

It's like if you're looking for your cat, and you see a cat that fits the description of your cat, "4kg, 25cm tall, 45cm long, mostly black and white fur with a little white patch on his forehead that looks kind of like Ireland," and so on. But you still need to check the name tag on the collar, just in case it's somebody else's cat. You wouldn't want to say, "OMG I've found Fluffy!!" and take it home, only to realise that the collar says "Zazzles" on it. Chances are, though, there aren't many cats that look exactly like your cat, so it's a pretty safe bet that the cat you found is your cat. It could be a boson that looks and acts pretty much exactly like the Higgs, but has spin-1 or 2 instead of 0. But chances are, it's the Higgs boson.

I actually got a bid sad for Fluffy. Not only that he is lost, but his master mistakes another cat for him.

Great comparison. However, chances that this is not a Higgs boson are still pretty high. Nevertheless, the sole fact that now we have a directly observed evidence for the existence of bosons (that is, WE ARE SURE that they exist, and it's no longer just a theory) is a huge boost for science. Such a great discovery hasn't been made for quite a time.

 

[Thorgalaeg]

I actually got a bid sad for Fluffy. Not only that he is lost, but his master mistakes another cat for him.

Great comparison. However, chances that this is not a Higgs boson are still pretty high. Nevertheless, the sole fact that now we have a directly observed evidence for the existence of bosons (that is, WE ARE SURE that they exist, and it's no longer just a theory) is a huge boost for science. Such a great discovery hasn't been made for quite a time.

Bosons, (the fundamental ones and mesons) except higgs boson and graviton, are being observed since decades ago. In fact photons itself are bosons.

 

[AvalancheMaster]

Sorry, I am talking about the possibility this boson being a scalar boson.

And, just to mention - I am nothing else but a humble person who finds those fields fascinating. Specialists are welcomed to this discussion.

 

[uppi]

It could be a boson that looks and acts pretty much exactly like the Higgs, but has spin-1 or 2 instead of 0. But chances are, it's the Higgs boson.

Actually, spin 1 is not possible for this boson. It has to be either 0 (as predicted for the Higgs) or 2 (technically also 4,6,8...)


There are plenty of scalar bosons, anyway. They are just not fundamental ones.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I'm just an undergrad ecologist, but I'm very excited about this, and rereading everthing I can to explain to my parents why this is some pretty cool stuff.

 

[Save_Ferris]

Can you explain this in Chemistry II terms, please?

 

[plarq]

Can you explain this in Chemistry II terms, please? :crazyeyes:

That's very difficult. Chemistry is only physics in atomic-molecular level.

 

[Save_Ferris]

Well, what is the higgs boson?

 

[Arakhor]

Here we are. Basically, the HB is what is theorised to give mass to the other elementary particles and thus all of existence.

 

[timtofly]

Can you explain this in Chemistry II terms, please?

Lets just say that if they can manipulate this, we will be using nuclear light bulbs, and babies will be doing chemistry experiments in the womb.

Well, what is the higgs boson?

It belongs in the next set of "items" that make up the atom, smaller than the electron.

 

[Algeroth]

Well, what is the higgs boson?

Link to video.

EDIT: BTW, I'm pretty surprised that our space brigade isn't jumping in this thread and shouting that the money should be better spend otherwise.

 

[timtofly]

Link to video.

EDIT: BTW, I'm pretty surprised that our space brigade isn't jumping in this thread and shouting that the money should be better spend otherwise.

Seeing as this thread should be in the tavern and the tavern thread should be here, I am not surprised.

 

[plarq]

Lets just say that if they can manipulate this, we will be using nuclear light bulbs, and babies will be doing chemistry experiments in the womb.

Even an unfertilized egg can do chemistry experiments. In the cell.