publicradiointernational:

On The Takeaway, Harvard physics professor and particle theory expert Dr. Lisa Randall explains why the Higgs boson particle matters so much to scientists.

Near Geneva, Switzerland scientists from the European Center for Nuclear Research are scheduled to present preliminary evidence in their search to find the Higgs boson particle, commonly known as the “God particle.” Proving its existence would validate the leading theory of particle physics.

(Image: Scientists are seen working on the inside of the ATLAS cryostat, which will be used to cool liquid argon to 90 K in the electromagnetic calorimeter. Thin lead plates immersed in the cooled liquid will produce electromagnetic showers of particles when an electron, positron or photon enter the detector. This causes the argon to glow, allowing the initial particle energy to be measured. When completed, ATLAS will be over 150 feet long, 82 feet in diameter, and will weigh about 7,000 tons. (From CERN))