British physicist Peter Higgs - with the help of the US$2 billion Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - aims to study the origins of life by studying particles. The LHC, built 100m beneath the French-Swiss border at CERN, is due to be in operation in June.
The scientist specifically wants to uncover the existence of what has been called the Higgs boson – named after the theory he proposed over 40 years ago. The hypothetical Higgs boson, dubbed by some as the ‘God particle’, is fundamental to understanding the Universe but has not yet been detected. This particle would fill a missing element in explaining how subatomic particles — such as quarks and electrons — have weight.
The Higgs theory is that the bosons create a field through which the other particles pass and it is hoped that the massive new CERN collider will be able to show what particles are created. The new collider will re-create the rapidly changing conditions in the Universe a split second after the Big Bang. It will be the closest that scientists have come to the event theorised to be the beginning of the universe. They hope the new equipment will enable them to study particles and forces yet unobserved.
You’ve read it. Now review it.
Date Published: April 10, 2008
More by this source
|
Print
|
Send to a friend
|
Rate & Comment
|
Keep up to date
If you found this item fun or informative, please let others know. Simply send to a friend or recommend it to even more people - on any of the following sites:
Latest Science News | reddit | digg.com | del.icio.us | rollyo | stumbleupon
More on Large Hadron Collider...
Large Hadron Collider activated
Enormous device could unravel the mysteries of the Universe.
Large Hadron Collider: Scientists' wish list for the LHC
When the Large Hadron Collider is up to full power, it will be crashing protons together 600 million times per second. After each impact, giant detectors will scour the subatomic wreckage looking for evidence of new physics.
Science: Hadron collider out of action for months
The world's largest particle collider, launched with great fanfare 11 days ago, will be out of action for at least two months, scientists have warned.
