Cern Announcement

[icarusfall]

This could prove important.

http://webcast.web.cern.ch/webcast/p...ternative.html

So far, it's boring as fuck.

[icarusfall]

8.31am: Here's the Reuters take.

Scientists at the CERN research centre have discovered a new subatomic particle that could be the elusive Higgs boson, which is believed to be crucial in the formation of the universe.

"I can confirm that a particle has been discovered that is consistent with the Higgs boson theory," said John Womersley, chief executive of the UK's Science & Technology Facilities Council, at an event in London.

Joe Incandela, spokesman for one of the two teams hunting for the Higgs particle told an audience at CERN near Geneva: "This is a preliminary result, but we think it's very strong and very solid."

[icarusfall]

Here's Ian's take.

incandela: says when they combine the results for two decay channels they get five sigma for the #Higgs. That's enough for a discovery.

— Ian Sample (@iansample) July 4, 2012

[icarusfall]

And combined - 5 sigma. Round of applause. That's a discovery of a Higgs - like particle at CMS. They thank LHC for the data!

— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) July 4, 2012

5 sigma is the usual particle physics threshold for discovery. It roughly means that you're 99.9999% sure

— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) July 4, 2012

[icarusfall]

4.9 sigma

[kedawa]

It would be bigger news if they hadn't found it.
This basically boils down to the standard model not being refuted.

[Joust Williams]

Are you saying there is too much politics in science?

[Bojack]

How long until they make us Portal guns?

[Mzo]

So we really are all being held down by weird Higgs bosons? That shit is weird.

[Rich]

yawn. this shit means nothing to me.