Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY

Unlike most of the science you read about in the news, this report is absolutely huge news. It's also why those expensive accelerators like the one they killed off in Texas are pretty important investments.

Now, you're saying--oooh, a new particle, big fat hairy deal. New particles of this type can bring into play forces that may help explain quite a bit of what we do not understand about the subatomic world. You want ever faster communications, more efficient transportation, expansion of our reach into outer space? This is where it all starts.

If validated, this could be the biggest find during our lifetimes. Strangely enough (pun intended), this particle did NOT turn out to be the God Particle (Higgs boson). Even stranger, it could well end up being a bigger discovery. This is way, way cool to we physics geeks.

Marc said about 1 hour later

That is pretty awesome! I can't wait to see if they hit the 5 sigma mark and we learn more about how the force affects things.
Geoff said about 5 hours later

One of the scientists swore he heard the new particle tell him to "use the force." I think they are on to something here...
GJ said 3 days later

I'll keep you updated--particle is still yet to be confirmed (that'll take a few more weeks). This is how real science works--independent verification is critical to establishing scientific finds. Failing to get that done is precisely what doomed cold fusion.
Marc said 3 days later

I hope this particle significantly changes the equations in physics. I know Geoff would have a field day knowing his teachers were wrong the whole time. :)

Perhaps it'll finally clarify the "ball rolling off a hill" problem for me.
GJ said 3 days later

LOL! As we've discussed in the past, that ball problem was the last straw for mechanical physics for me.
GJ said 2 months later

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-06/fermilab-says-tevatron-did-not-see-new-particle-after-all-sorry-higgs-hopefuls

Sorry folks--the follow up data research shows no such particle was observed. Damn, but that's the way science works--you do not ignore the negative data. :)