Higgs-boson found, according to CERN
Norse Graphics
Posts: 0
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120704-god-particle-higgs-boson-new-cern-science/
"We have a discovery," Heuer said at the seminar. "We have observed a new particle consistent with a Higgs boson."
At the meeting were four theorists who helped develop the Higgs theory in the 1960s, including Peter Higgs himself, who could be seen wiping away tears as the announcement was made.
Wow! This gives me an excuse to post a render I did back in December last year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/norse_graphics/6515451567/in/photostream
6515451567_82b56207be_z.jpg
640 x 512 - 208K
Comments
I saw an article about it earlier today. Interesting stuff.
Redacted
Good news. I've been following it closely. Love the image. Very apt; the LHC is as elegant as a caveman smashing two rocks together. :)
For those who want to catchup on science history I highly recommend "A short history of nearly every thing" by Bill Bryson. It's a very accessible layman's book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Short_History_of_Nearly_Everything
Currently I'm reading "The fabric of the cosmos" by Brian Greene. A bit more physics involved and he tries hard to make it accessible to the layman. I may buy another of his book, though maybe I should wait to see what he makes of the current Higgs Boson discovery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Greene
Even more pedantic: Something at around the energy level the Higg's Boson is theorized to exist at has been observed.
The boson itself is unlikely to ever be found, however the interaction between the boson and the Higgs Field (the field is the important part) is what scientists are looking to find. It is the Field that (theoretically) provides the impetus (or more correctly the hindrance) that subatomic energy needs to be able congeal into a mass.
It is still quite early in the search.
Kendall
Even more pedantic: Something at around the energy level the Higg's Boson is theorized to exist at has been observed.
The boson itself is unlikely to ever be found, however the interaction between the boson and the Higgs Field (the field is the important part) is what scientists are looking to find. It is the Field that (theoretically) provides the impetus (or more correctly the hindrance) that subatomic energy needs to be able congeal into a mass.
It is still quite early in the search.
Kendall
Being further pedantic: There may even be 5 versions of the Higgs particle. So which one was discovered? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10313875
One possible use of finding the Higgs particle could be science developing away to turn off the Higgs field and therefore making rocket payloads very light so less fuel is required to launch them into space. A holiday on Mars could be on the next agenda.:-)
Hoggs Bison? ;-P %-P
I don't think you can turn off the Higgs field. But I wonder if by increasing the density, you could create an impermeable field that doesn't allow energy to pass through (read: shield against asteroids etc.). That's the biggest problem with space-travel. Not delta-V.
Higgs bosom... :lol:
(very old joke)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/02/higgs-boson-higgs-bosom_n_1644618.html
Not quite. E=mc^2. This equation states that as one approaches the speed of light (c) the energy needed to accelerate (e) approaches infinity. In other words, as long as mass (m) exists one cannot reach, much less exceed "c". If we can harness the application of the Higgs Field then it is theoretically possible to convert matter to and from energy. Currently we can only convert destructively from matter to energy. If we can convert an object to energy and reduce its mass to 0 then it is theoretically possible to exceed "c".
Kendall
Not quite. E=mc^2. This equation states that as one approaches the speed of light (c) the energy needed to accelerate (e) approaches infinity. In other words, as long as mass (m) exists one cannot reach, much less exceed "c". If we can harness the application of the Higgs Field then it is theoretically possible to convert matter to and from energy. Currently we can only convert destructively from matter to energy. If we can convert an object to energy and reduce its mass to 0 then it is theoretically possible to exceed "c".
Kendall
Interesting times! If that theory eventually turns out to be a actually possible the implications would be amazing!
We have the Higgs boson for mass (so glad Higgs himself is still around to enjoy this discovery) and we have the photon (also a boson) for light, well all forms of electro-magnetic energy of which light is a subset. So next up is what? Gravity I presume. It also consists of a field mediated by a particle. No?
Maybe gravitational waves fluctuates through the Higgs' fields... (just a dumb comment from me).
These dam scientist Fkers are gonna kill us all. Havent they played half life? Jeez.
Wonder what Sheldon thinks of this, or how it will effect "the big bang theory".
Other then that I don't see how this will effect me in any way.
Well, they haven't discovered the Unified theory yet, including gravity with the other forces of nature.
And the answer to the question of the universe and everything in it is still 46 as far as I know...
In the words of "Thor" from Stargate SG-1... "That's GRAND Unified Theory." :-)
Kendall
Stand corrected. :lol:
But I'm not a Kinsey!!
:-) Approaching politics, gotta bail, GOTTA BAIL!
Kendall
Alert! Trans-dimensional interloper detected on world alpha1276delta42!
no, it is 42
all the things in the universe only exist while you are looking at them, the second you look away they cease to exist
The answer to life, the universe and everything was 42, not 46.
Sorry, I know I'm being pedantic, but these things are important! :-)
Edit: Wendy beat me too it lol. Thats what I get for opening a bunch of threads in new tabs and not refreshing before I post.
no, it is 42
all the things in the universe only exist while you are looking at them, the second you look away they cease to exist
Nobody is looking at me right now. so do I not exist right now?
Actually, I beat both of you - see my post before Wendy's (OK, so it's cryptic going on incomprehensible).
Redacted
Nobody is looking at me right now. so do I not exist right now?
Did somebody say something?
Ok, ok!! Jeez... :lol:
I don't know where I got 46 from.
...I actually worked on editing a "Black Paper" for a scientist (who had little writing savvy) relating to this topic twenty seven years ago.
Been watching this with extreme interest.