Large Hadron Collider rival Tevatron 'has found Higgs boson'

Telegraph ^ | June 12th, 2010 | Tom Chivers

[TaraP]

Rumours are emerging from the rival to the Large Hadron Collider that the Higgs boson, or so-called "God particle", has been found.

Tommaso Dorigo, a physicist at the University of Padua, has said in his blog that there has been talk coming out of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, that the Higgs has been discovered.

The Tevatron, the huge particle accelerator at Fermi - the most powerful in the world after the LHC - is expected to be retired when the CERN accelerator becomes fully operational, but may have struck a final blow before it becomes obsolete.

If one form of the rumour is to be believed - and Prof Dorigo is extremely circumspect about it - then it is a "three-sigma" signature, meaning that there is a statistical likelihood of 99.7 per cent that it is correct. But, of course, that is only if the rumour is to be believed.

In the post, titled "Rumors about a light Higgs", Prof Dorigo said: "It reached my ear, from two different, possibly independent sources, that an experiment at the Tevatron is about to release some evidence of a light Higgs boson signal.

"Some say a three-sigma effect, others do not make explicit claims but talk of a unexpected result."

[CutePuppy]

If the significance can be explained in layperson’s terms, I’d sure like to have a go at understanding it.

This might help; it is somewhat detailed, though in quite a layperson's terms, and touches on significance of a find:
The Theory of Everything - ESQ, 2006 November 30, by Tyler Cabot

For a hundred years, physicists have been scraping away at the strange and complicated phenomena obscuring the true face of our universe. Finally, a few brilliant young thinkers may be on the verge of getting the first real glimpse. .....

[PA Engineer]

If this is true what is the economic reason to continue with CERN as originally planned? I guess maybe verification, but I would be very disappointed that my facility didn't get there first.

I think this is very exciting from a fundamental science perspective and maybe a bit of shadenfreude.

[billhilly]

“Finally, a few brilliant young thinkers may be on the verge of getting the first real glimpse. ..... “

How improbable is that?

[CutePuppy]

How improbable is that?

Over sufficiently long term, about 0.50

[wxgesr]

I am posting a reply to 69.

No I am not 13 years old but I do like Southpark, Beavis and Butthead and SpongeBob.

[SunkenCiv]

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• Large Hadron Collider Rival Tevatron 'Has Found Higgs boson', say Rumours
• Higgs boson discovery rumours false, say Tevatron scientists (ARG!)
• No sign of the Higgs boson [2001]

[RachelFaith]

So which post is right.... God Particle or Goddamn missing particle still ??

[SunkenCiv]

archival sidebars:

• Physicists Say Can Find No Sign of 'God Particle' [2001]
• Desperately seeking the Higgs boson [2007]

[Riley]

I thought that I’d heard that the Higgs’ Bosun was found passed out in a dive in Olongapo City somewhere, and returned to the Higgs before she sailed, by his shipmates.

[SuperLuminal]

"The universe before the big bang is mind boggling in its significance. "

So is virginity...

[Sawdring]

I found Cheryl Higgins’ bosom once. Does that count?

Only if it wasn't the one on the cutting room floor.