Today in TechScientists just can’t seem to catch the Higgs Boson… yet
The Higgs Boson is the theoretical particle that could — if discovered — help complete the Standard Model of particle physics. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to smash atoms together in search of this mythical "God Particle." So when the group announced it would be holding a press conference on December 13, excitement began to brew, but unfortunately, the Higgs remains elusive.
At the press conference, researchers detailed their complex experiments and explained that while confirming the existence of the Higgs Boson isn't yet possible, they are getting closer. With each failed attempt at capturing data from a Higgs, they are able to further narrow down the mass range in which they expect to find it. CERN hopes to be able to either confirm or rule out the existence of the legendary particle some time in 2012.
The LHC works by accelerating particles around the facility's massive 17-mile ring and smashing them together. The LHC's super sensitive equipment then monitors the resulting debris and how each particle interacts with its neighbors. The Standard Model suggests that a single Higgs Boson could be produced every few hours using the LHC's experiment. So far, only teases of the sought-after particle have shown up, but we can always hope 2012 will be different.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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