Does LHC like collisions occur naturally

[Trollfaz]

Does collisions like those in the LHC happen naturally, producing exotic particles, like the Higgs boson?

 

[Orodruin]

Yes. All the time. For example as cosmic rays hit the atmosphere.

 

[mfb]

Orodruin and I calculated the rate a few years ago.
A few Higgs bosons per hour in the atmosphere of Earth, and about 20 per second for the Sun (in the post below).

The LHC now runs at a higher energy and collision rate, so we get about 45 Higgs bosons per minute or 2700 per hour. Towards the end of the year or next year we might reach an average of 1 Higgs boson per second.