The Higgs Particle: What Is It and How Has It Been Discovered?

Originally hypothesized by Peter Higgs nearly 50 years ago to explain why the constituents of matter have mass, the Higgs particle has finally been found. The discovery required billions of dollars, participation by more than 40 nations, and the construction of the 17-mile Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Fay R. and Eugene L. Langberg Professor of Physics Mark Trodden (who studies the theory), and Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Elliot Lipeles (who was part of the hunt)—talk about the importance of the Higgs, and how a particle that lasts less than a billionth of a second was detected at last.