What is the role of the Higgs boson?

The Higgs boson gives mass to fundamental particles in the Standard Model of particle physics.

The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle in the Standard Model of particle physics. It was first proposed by Peter Higgs in the 1960s as a mechanism to explain why particles have mass. The Higgs boson interacts with other particles, giving them mass. Without the Higgs boson, particles would not have mass and the universe as we know it would not exist.

The Higgs boson was discovered in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Switzerland. The discovery of the Higgs boson confirmed the existence of the Higgs field, which is a field that permeates all of space and interacts with particles to give them mass.

The discovery of the Higgs boson has important implications for our understanding of the universe. It helps to explain why particles have mass and why some particles have more mass than others. It also provides support for the Standard Model of particle physics, which is our current best theory of the fundamental particles and forces that make up the universe.

In addition to its scientific importance, the discovery of the Higgs boson has captured the public imagination and has inspired a new generation of physicists. It is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the importance of scientific research in advancing our understanding of the world around us.