RPI professor explains 'God particle' discovery

Posted at: 07/04/2012 12:37 PM | Updated at: 07/04/2012 5:55 PM
By: Beth Wurtmann

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This undated image made available by CERN shows a typical candidate event including two high-energy photons whose energy (depicted by red towers) is measured in the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter. The yellow lines are the measured tracks of other particles produced in the collision. The pale blue volume shows the CMS crystal calorimeter barrel. To cheers and standing ovations, scientists at the world's biggest atom smasher claimed the discovery of a new subatomic particle Wednesday July 4, 2012, calling it "consistent" with the long-sought Higgs boson - popularly known as the "God particle" - that helps explain what gives all matter in the universe size and shape. (AP Photo/CERN)

TROY - When we asked RPI Professor Joel Giedt to explain the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, he drew pictures of particles, a champagne bottle, and even God, since it's popularly known as the 'God Particle.'

"The whole concept of the divine is kind of an elusive thing, how do you prove it," he said. "It's kind of like that. We've finally proved that this elusive particle exists."

Scientists at the world's biggest atom smasher in Switzerland announced they finally have proof that the Higgs boson particle exists, by recreating the conditions right after the Big Bang. The particle is named after Scottish physicist Peter Higgs who came up with the theory in 1964.

"This is not like other ordinary particles. It really is, we're reaching into the fabric of the universe at a level we've never done before. This is telling us something that is key to the structure of the universe," said Joe Incandela, CERN spokesman near Geneva.

Professor Giedt said the discovery will help further his research on the particle with RPI's Supercomputer; research that ultimately explains how humans even stick to the earth instead of floating around.

"If you like the fact that you can walk and run and that your car doesn't fly off when you go over a bump or something then that's definitely something to hold on to, that the Higgs particle is doing that for you," Giedt said.

The quest to prove the Higgs boson particle has been one of most expensive and lengthiest scientific searches in history.

Scientists said with further research, the discovery could shed light on how the universe began.