Higgs10: Ten things we've learned about the Higgs boson in the last ten years
Since its discovery in 2012, the Higgs boson has become one of the most powerful tools for investigating our understanding of nature and, with it, examining some of the biggest open questions in physics today. But what have we physicists learned about particles in the last ten years? Scalar particles exist in nature In the early hours of July 4, 2012, the foyer outside CERN’s main lecture hall looked more like a venue for a rock concert than the main building of the world’s leading particle physics laboratory. Dozens of students with groggy eyes slowly rolled up their sleeping bags, stretching after a long night on the hard floor. A long line of hundreds weaved through the foyer, around the restaurant and outside the door. The excitement in the line was throbbing – although the chances of getting into the auditorium were slim, just to be there was already thrilling. We’ve found it. A scalar particle exists in nature and July 4, 2012 is its debut. It’s heavy and short lived The fi