The LHC in Geneva is running two experiments which could hopefully find the Higgs Boson. This is the so-called and mis-named "God Particle." The Standard Model of particle physics predicts its existence, but it is the only sub-atomic particle predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics so-far not found.
The Higgs boson is a hypothetical massive elementary particle. The existence of the particle is postulated to resolve inconsistencies in theoretical physics and attempts are being made to find the particle by experiment, using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN and the Tevatron at Fermilab.
The LHC reports tantalising evidence that the particle may exist, but cautions that such "burps" in the data have been found before, only to be later debunked. The latest data has a deviation of about three sigma (standard deviations, or 1-1.000 in the case of three sigma), but a chance of five sigma (1-1.000.000) is normally required to be accepted as evidence in the physical sciences.
But scientists stress caution over these "excess events", because similar wrinkles have been detected before only to disappear after further analysis.
Either way, if the sub-atomic particle exists it is running out of places to hide, says the head of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern), which runs the LHC.
He told BBC News the collider had now ruled out more of the "mass range" where the Higgs might be.
The new results are based on analyses of data, gathered as the vast machine smashes beams of protons together at close to light speeds.
An example of three-sigma probability is throwing a coin and getting eight heads in a row. Five sigma is twenty heads in a row.
While this is possible by chance, it is extremely unlikely. Another example from life is Mensa: for entry, Mensa requires an IQ score which is about two sigma above the norm. That is about one in fifty.
The entire article is available at the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14258601
James.
"Be ye not lost amongst Precept of Order." - Book of Uterus, 1:5, "Principia Discordia, or How I Found Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her."
