Posted on 07/08/2012 6:10:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Scientists in Switzerland announced on July 4 that they had finally made remarkable progress in their search for the Higgs Boson particle, a particle physicists believe holds the answer to how the universe came into being.
Some have suggested that the "God particle," as it is also called, could put an end to arguments supporting creationism, while others insist the hunt to prove the Big Bang theory actually complements the biblical account.
Here are some facts about the 40-year project and what its most recent "discovery" may mean.
WHAT'S THE FUSS AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT?
Two teams of scientists in Geneva announced last week that their Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle accelerator of its kind, had led to observation of evidence of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that appears to match the Higgs Boson or "God particle." The project, going on for years, is funded by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which also fronted a $10 billion bill for the LHC.
"We have reached a milestone in our understanding of nature," CERN Director General Rolf Heuer said in a statement. "The discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson opens the way to more detailed studies, requiring larger statistics, which will pin down the new particle's properties, and is likely to shed light on other mysteries of our universe."
Here is a video from The Associated Press on the announcement of the "discovery" of a likely candidate for the Higgs Boson:
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO
WHAT IS THE HIGGS-BOSON PARTICLE?
The Higgs Boson particle is related to the Standard Model (SM) theory of particle physics and got its name from Peter Higgs, a Scottish scientist who helped in 1964 to develop the theory. A boson is a particular kind of subatomic particle that allows other particles to acquire mass. The SM describes how elementary constituents of the universe operate and interact. Particles related to the SM have all been identified — save for the Higgs Boson ... possibly until now.
The theory is centered on the idea that there is an invisible field (called the Higgs field) enveloping the entire universe and that a boson, as it moves through this field, picks up mass (clusters of other particles). Some common analogies used in the media to explain this idea include an image of someone (i.e., the Higgs boson) walking across a field of snow (i.e., the Higgs field) and accumulating snow and added weight on his boots (i.e., mass); another is to consider a swimmer moving through a pool; or, a popular person at a party attracting a following as she moves through the room.
Bottom line: Without the Higgs Boson particle, scientists theorize, life as we know it would not exist; identification of the Higgs Boson particle would essentially prove that the Standard Model is correct, which might then also provide other answers for similar questions — such as why certain forms of matter have differing sizes and shapes; the millions spent on the Large Hadron Collider would be justified; and CERN scientists might earn a Nobel Prize.
WHY IS IT SOMETIMES CALLED THE 'GOD PARTICLE'?
One explanation is that the term "God particle" arose as the media began reporting on the work of scientists looking for the elusive Higgs Boson, making it a pop culture reference. Some claim the name fits, as this particular particle is believed to be the building block of all life.
However, "God particle" is reportedly a term physicists avoid using, as it appears contradictory to their work. Peter Higgs, an atheist and for whom the particle is named, said in 2008 that he felt the term might be offensive to some. "I find it embarrassing because, though I'm not a believer myself, I think it is the kind of misuse of terminology which I think might offend some people," he said at the time.
Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman, an Illinois physicist, is credited with introducing the term "God particle," although he admitted that he originally referred to the Higgs Boson particle as the "goddam particle" due to the expense and challenges involved in looking for it. Writing in his 1993 book, The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the Question?, Lederman reveals:
"This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive, that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle. Why God Particle? Two reasons. One, the publisher wouldn't let us call it the Goddamn Particle, though that might be a more appropriate title, given its villainous nature and the expense it is causing. And two, there is a connection, of sorts, to another book, a much older one ..."
The much older book Lederman notes is the Bible and its account in Genesis 11:1-9 of the Tower of Babel, which he re-interprets:
"And the whole universe was of many languages, and of many speeches. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Waxahachie, and they dwelt there. And they said to one another, Go to, let us build a Giant Collider, whose collisions may reach back to the beginning of time. And they had superconducting magnets for bending, and protons had they for smashing."
"And the Lord came down to see the accelerator, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold the people are un-confounding my confounding. And the Lord sighed and said. Go to, let us go down, and there give them the God Particle so that they may see how beautiful is the universe I have made."
— The Very New Testament, 11:1
WILL THE HIGGS BOSON "DISCOVERY" KILL RELIGION?
That has been the hope of some, while others have suggested that those with faith in God should not be shaken by developments coming out of CERN. The Huffington Post explores the possibility, while the BBC published a brief discussion on this debate, featuring composer Sonny Williamson and Professor Peter Atkins of Cambridge University:
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO
HOW SOME CHRISTIANS HAVE RESPONDED
Dr. Larry Vardiman, writing for the Institute of Creation Research before the July 4 announcement, believes that although the Higgs Boson has no "specific religious connotations," its discovery may very well shed light on the biblical account of creation. Dr. Vardiman, a senior research scientist, Astro/Geophysics at the ICR, writes:
"It's legitimate to try and understand how mass, space, and time originated, but not if the processes we use to explain their origin don't involve the Creator. ... The Big Bang says that the universe began as an infinitesimal point and expanded outward, creating space and mass billions of years ago. Although this idea may seem consistent with the description of creation in Genesis 1:1, it is thought to have happened billions of years ago, while the Bible says it happened in one 24-hour day only a few thousand years ago. The theory is also presented as a natural event that didn't require God's involvement."
"Sadly, scientists who have the best seat in the house to observe God's handiwork through a microscope or a telescope often seem to be the first to deny that He is the Creator. Because they deny He is Creator, they fail to grasp the ultimate explanation for the world around us. Scripture says it best: 'For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse' (Romans 1:20)."
Dr. Jeff Miller, writing last year for Apologetics Press, claimed the discovery of evidence for the Higgs Boson might not prove anything (emphasis his own):
"Notice that without the existence of this theoretical particle, Big Bang theorists recognize that the Universe could not even form after the Big Bang theoretically occurred. Its existence would not prove that the Universe did form in the manner suggested by Big Bang Theory. Its existence would not even prove that the Universe could form after a hypothesized Big Bang occurred. Further, its existence would not prove that the Big Bang itself could occur at all."
"Its existence would not prove that matter could exist forever or pop into existence out of nothing, one of which must be true in order for the Big Bang to even get started. And its existence would certainly not prove that the scientific laws governing the Universe could write themselves into existence. However, without the existence of the particle, theorists know the Big Bang could not happen. Thus, discovery of its existence would not prove anything in the end, but only allow evolutionists to cross one of the many chasms that stand in the way of their theory even being considered a remote possibility. In other words, the Big Bang has not even reached square one in the realm of proof. It still lies firmly in the realm of impossibility. Bottom line: the Creation model still stands as the most logical explanation for the origin of the Universe — the model that matches the scientific evidence."
What do you think — will evidence of the Higgs Boson particle give the Big Bang theory strength and weaken arguments for creation? Or is the recent potential discovery something that everyone, both Christians and non-theists, can celebrate?
It doesn’t make any difference in my mind. If God decided to create the Universe with M-branes spawning Big Bangs, who am I to tell Him he cannot?
I *do* have a background in Physics and my prediction is that we haven’t even begun to discover the totality that is existence. I see nothing that precludes a belief in God, though I think God has more than a few surprises in store for all of us.
Talk about utterly confused pseudoscience where they can’t even get their lies straight. The Big Bang theory was thought of by a Catholic theologian (Monsignor Georges Lemaître), something that secular science wants to try to throw down the memory hole and make the public think they thought of it first (before that, atheistic scientists thought that the universe was eternal and was always there; but the red shift from light emitted by the stars forced them to adopt the religious man’s theory). These scientists still can’t figure out so-called “dark matter” anyhow, so if their particle of worship exists or exists not really is scratching the surface of any physics model.
Our living world is driven by information and involves an information system (RNA/DNA) which is analogous to http/html/xml, and molecular equivalents of every basic part of a modern computer as well as computer networks. No particle could cause all of that. Information and intelligence do not just sort of happen or form up out of inert materials due to the action of static electricity or wind.
The Higgs-Boson particle may explain why matter exists, but it doesn’t explain why life exists.
Neither. It really doesn’t have squat to do with religion, and the same is true of science in general.
IIRC, the only reason the Higgs Boson is referred to as the “God” particle is because of a 1993 book. The author wanted to call the it the “God dammed particle”, but the publisher decided that was a bad idea.
As I understand it the particle explains why matter has mass. Not why it exists.
Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. The Higgs Boson particle has nothing to do with religion (although the nickname the “God Particle” was sure to offend some).
Here is an short video explaining Higgs Boson in layman’s terms. I found it helpful.
http://www.wimp.com/higgsboson/
Even if it is discovered, then they still need to explain how it came to existence. To go from nothing to something requires some form of creation. Thelis discovery, if true only explains that something exists...
Nachmanides wrote about it in his commentary on Genesis in the 13th century. He wrote that, a moment after creation, the universe was the size of a mustard seed, and matter congealed out of it as it expanded.
I'd been thinking that self-assembly was pretty much inherent in matter ~ from the clustering of quarks up to the joinder of DNA and the production of RNA.
It's a regular old universe of machines ~ fantastic machines ~ marvelous machines ~ every one of which is connected in some way to all the others.
Alfred Hansson - To the contrary, Th Lord Jesus abundantly appealed to logic and reason in determine what was right, and Paul, as his manner was, “reasoned out of the Scriptures,” (Acts 17:2) or appealed to natural revelation, that of creation attesting to a Creator.
The Scriptures do not demand blind faith, but do call for faith based upon evidence, and which is confirmed with reality, and then calls for more steps of faith.
When you marry, you are also taking a step of faith, based on evidence, which you hope was warranted. Jesus said and did things that provided warrant for a step of faith in belief in Him, and which results in experiencing changes in heart and life which correspond to promises made to those who trust and obey. And also the negative realization due to disobedience. But which is tested as it must be, which requires patience, which is recompensed. Thus the believer sees his faith confirmed, while awaiting yet future realization of its promises.
As a born again believer for over 30 years, working in an actual faith-ministry (not a fund raiser) in which we really have had to see God answer prayer, bless the Lord, i can affirm that Jesus has “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs,” )Acts 1:3) in both ways. And while He also allows challenges to my faith, that makes the realization more precious. Thanks be to God.
I agree. If He could speak it all into existence, then He could surely ensure every last particle/non-particle was suited to His creation. So many think that Man's puny grasp will settle the debate, but they ignore that everything that is discoverable will only prove that it exists and that we can either figure out the purpose or not have a clue - God says "I AM" and Man tries to discover whether or not He exists. It's almost as funny as watching a baseball game while on LSD (don't ask - we all have things in our pasts that we aren't proud of).
Shouldn’t it happen spontaneously before our eyes then, instead of via the laborious process that science only can describe?
Spontaneously? Try sex ~
1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 - And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
1:4 - And God saw the light, and it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Maybe its just me but this sure sounds like it could be describing the Big Bang in my mind.
The Higgs-Boson particle may explain why matter exists, but it doesn’t explain why life exists.
This distinction is exactly correct and completely missed by the author.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.