What Steven Cousley Does

Here’s something a little heavier than usual to get into. A story about particle physics and how real science is conducted. Modern physicists on a quest to find what makes matter – matter. It’s all about a search for the “God particle”, otherwise known as the “Higgs Boson”.

The research essentially involves accelerating particles to velocities as close as possible to the speed of light and then smashing them together. We know (or at least, think we know) that matter can be converted to energy and conversely, energy can be converted to matter. Theoretically, smashing high velocity particles together will release a lot energy, some of this energy may then be converted to never before observed forms of sub-atomic particles, some of which, just might be Higgs Boson particles.

Now the theory goes that Higgs Boson particles, or the field that surrounds them, is what gives form to other sub-atomic particles. Without Higgs particles, all you have are packets of energy, with no mass. This Higgs field gives form to everything, permeates everything, gives substance to everything. Hence the God analogy. Higgs particles are everywhere. Well, that’s the simplified version of the theory, and it is just a theory, yet to be proved. These particles have never been observed.

Now the lengths humans will go too just to prove a theory are amazing. Check out the story here The Hunt For the God Particle

In fact, the researchers aren’t too concerned if they don’t find the God particles. They are certain they will still see evidence of some sort of never before seen sub-atomic particles. One version of their experiments hopes to create conditions just like those immediately after the Big Bang. Now that one does concern me a little. How can you create conditions like those after the Big Bang, without actually having a Big Bang?

Makes you think……doesn’t it?