How to Find a Higgs Boson—and Other Big Mysteries in the World of the Very Small


Book Description

The history of particle physics, the hunt for the most elusive particle, and the fundamental questions the search has inspired How did physicists combine talent and technology to discover the Higgs boson, the last piece in our inventory of the subatomic world? How did the Higgs change our understanding of the universe? And now, nearly a decade after its detection, what comes next? Answering these questions, Ivo van Vulpen—a CERN particle physicist and member of the team behind the detection—invites us on a journey to the frontiers of our knowledge. Enjoy van Vulpen’s accessible explanation of the history of particle physics and of concepts like quantum mechanics and relativity—and ponder his inquiries regarding the search for new particles (to explain dark matter), a new force (to combine the existing fundamental forces), and new phenomena (undiscovered dimensions of space). This is a lively account of work at the world’s highest-energy particle accelerator, with inspiring personal reflections on humanity’s discoveries deeper and deeper into the world of the very small.




The God Particle


Book Description

A fascinating tour of particle physics from Nobel Prize winner Leon Lederman. At the root of particle physics is an invincible sense of curiosity. Leon Lederman embraces this spirit of inquiry as he moves from the Greeks' earliest scientific observations to Einstein and beyond to chart this unique arm of scientific study. His survey concludes with the Higgs boson, nicknamed the God Particle, which scientists hypothesize will help unlock the last secrets of the subatomic universe, quarks and all--it's the dogged pursuit of this almost mystical entity that inspires Lederman's witty and accessible history.




The Particle at the End of the Universe


Book Description

"The Higgs boson ... is the key to understanding why mass exists and how atoms are possible. After billions of dollars and decades of effort by more than six thousand researchers at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland--a doorway is opening into the mind-boggling world of dark matter and beyond. Caltech physicist and acclaimed writer Sean Carroll explains both the importance of the Higgs boson and the ultimately human story behind the greatest scientific achievement of our time"--Publisher




Science & Religion


Book Description

Science and Religion: Interpersonal Dialogue, Discussion and Debate is a unique handbook for college students and adults interested in exploring the persuasive and rhetorical strategies surrounding todays fashionable topics in science and religion. Offered in three accommodating sections, John Ross presents valuable chapters on Humans, Communication, and Language; the Importance and Meaning of Interpersonal Dialogue; and a very timely chapter entitled Avenues of Dialogue: Dissimilarity, Discord and Alliance. Part II explores captivating issues surrounding Faith, the After-Life, Apologetics, and Atheistic Scientism. There is also an innovative section on the human brain, higher intelligence, and even on the questionable phenomena of neuroethology, UFO cults, and the disputable God Helmet. The final chapters explore contemporary miracles, creation accounts, astrobiology, and the current challenges surrounding SETI in its quest for extraterrestrial life. Ross eloquently addresses the possibilities of alien life and the resulting consequences and challenges it brings for Biblicists in the world of Christian fundamentalism. The book also includes a synopsis of the major world religions and a final section entitled Group Presentation Models in Science and Religion. This handbook is unique in that it smartly combines principles of communication, rhetoric, and public speaking with contemporary issues in science, theology, and religion.




The Theory of Almost Everything


Book Description

There are two scientific theories that, taken together, explain the entire universe. The first, which describes the force of gravity, is widely known: Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. But the theory that explains everything else—the Standard Model of Elementary Particles—is virtually unknown among the general public. In The Theory of Almost Everything, Robert Oerter shows how what were once thought to be separate forces of nature were combined into a single theory by some of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century. Rich with accessible analogies and lucid prose, The Theory of Almost Everything celebrates a heretofore unsung achievement in human knowledge—and reveals the sublime structure that underlies the world as we know it.




Higgs Discovery


Book Description

On July 4, 2012, physicists at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva madehistory when they discovered an entirely new type of subatomic particle that many scientists believe is the Higgs boson. For forty years, physicists searched for this capstone to the Standard Model of particle physics—the theory that describes both the most elementary components that are known in matter and the forces through which they interact. This particle points to the Higgs field, which provides the key to understanding why elementary particles have mass. In Higgs Discovery, Lisa Randall explains the science behind this monumental discovery, its exhilarating implications, and the power of empty space.




The Large Hadron Collider


Book Description

Lincoln, a senior scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and adjunct professor of physics at Notre Dame, gives readers an insider's view of the Hadron Collider from its conception, through its early discoveries and difficulties, to its greatest triumph, the discovery of the Higgs boson.







Massive


Book Description

The biggest science story of our time, Massive spans four decades weaving together the personal stories and intense rivalry behind the search for the 'God' particle or Higgs boson - the particle that gives mass (or weight) to all things.




A Fortunate Universe


Book Description

Over the last forty years, scientists have uncovered evidence that if the Universe had been forged with even slightly different properties, life as we know it - and life as we can imagine it - would be impossible. Join us on a journey through how we understand the Universe, from its most basic particles and forces, to planets, stars and galaxies, and back through cosmic history to the birth of the cosmos. Conflicting notions about our place in the Universe are defined, defended and critiqued from scientific, philosophical and religious viewpoints. The authors' engaging and witty style addresses what fine-tuning might mean for the future of physics and the search for the ultimate laws of nature. Tackling difficult questions and providing thought-provoking answers, this volumes challenges us to consider our place in the cosmos, regardless of our initial convictions.