Higgs Boson and it's nickname the 'god particle'

In summary, there was an argument in my Physics II class today over the appropriateness of 'God particle' for the Higgs Boson. I thought it would make some people perceive it incorrectly and it probably overstates the importance of its existence.
  • #1
johnnyies
93
0
There was an argument in my Physics II class today over the appropriateness of 'God particle' for the Higgs Boson. I thought it would make some people perceive it incorrectly and it probably overstates the importance of its existence.

Do you guys think its offensive that a deity is invoked in our science?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Personally, I would think it better if a random member of the public had heard of the "god particle" than they had not heard anything about the Higgs Boson or particle physics.
 
  • #3
Although it was first used by a major contributor (Leon Lederman), I think it was unnecessary to publicize it with this controversial name. In particular, he could at least have used "the God mechanism" which is what the particle does, rather than the particle itself which may not exist if something else does the job (no fundamental scalar). It is also possible that there are several such particles, in particular if supersymmetry is true. Supersymmetry would be a tremendous fate to discover : we sometimes hear that strings predict additional dimensional dimensions, but those dimensions are mostly ordinary, apart from being curled up. Supersymmetry is best understood as the addition to spacetime of qualitatively different dimensions, along which one can only go by one step. What I am trying to say is : electroweak symmetry breaking entails many more possible fascinating scenarii than simply a single, quasi-magical "cornerstone particle".
 
  • #4
scenarii
What a strange way to pluralize scenario.
It could be a thing you do where you facetiously pluralize random wordii like that.
 
  • #5
leroyjenkens said:
What a strange way to pluralize scenario.
It could be a thing you do where you facetiously pluralize random wordii like that.
This is the original italian plural, which is not officially in use in France, but I was not there when the academy made this change. Otherwise, I could also claim that the letter "o" is right next to the letter "i" on my keyboard.
 
  • #6
I was under the impression that the name "god particle" was a euphemistic, popularizing twist on "god damned particle".
 

1. What is the Higgs Boson and why is it called the "god particle"?

The Higgs Boson is a subatomic particle that was predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics. It is responsible for giving mass to other particles. It is called the "god particle" because it was believed to be the missing piece of the Standard Model and would explain the origin of mass in the universe.

2. How was the Higgs Boson discovered?

The Higgs Boson was discovered in 2012 by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. Scientists used the LHC to accelerate protons to nearly the speed of light and then collided them, creating a burst of energy that produced the Higgs Boson. The discovery was confirmed by analyzing the data from the collisions.

3. What is the significance of the discovery of the Higgs Boson?

The discovery of the Higgs Boson confirmed the existence of the last missing piece of the Standard Model of particle physics. It also provided evidence for the mechanism of mass generation in the universe. The discovery has opened up new avenues for research and has allowed scientists to better understand the fundamental building blocks of the universe.

4. How does the Higgs Boson give mass to other particles?

The Higgs Boson interacts with other particles through the Higgs field, which is present throughout the universe. This interaction slows down particles and gives them mass. The more a particle interacts with the Higgs field, the more mass it has. Without this interaction, particles would not have any mass and the universe would look very different.

5. What are the potential implications of the existence of the Higgs Boson?

The discovery of the Higgs Boson has led to further research and has opened up new avenues for understanding the universe. It has also confirmed the validity of the Standard Model and has allowed scientists to make predictions about other particles and phenomena. The discovery has also shed light on the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which are still mysteries in the field of physics.

Similar threads

I New Constraints On The Higgs Boson Width
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
11
Views
1K
I Does the Higgs Field Consist of Higgs Bosons?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
8
Views
1K
Is the higgs boson the mediator of the higgs field?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
31
Views
7K
One quick question about Higgs boson and supersymmetry
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
9
Views
3K
Particle Fever: Exploring the Search for the Higgs Boson
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
3
Views
17K
Uncovering the Truth: The Search for the Higgs Boson Particle
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
9
Views
4K
B Unanswered Questions About the Higgs Model and Its Role in Explaining Mass
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
15
Views
2K
What Lies Beyond the Higgs Boson in Particle Physics?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
8
Views
1K
Is the higgs boson necessary for particles to exist.
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
6
Views
3K
Is the Higgs Field an Exception to Energy Being Merely a Property?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
3
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top