Hints of Higgs boson 'set scientific world agog��

The news was announced on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference at 바카라사이트 Cern particle physics facility in Geneva.

Theoretical physicists believe 바카라사이트 Higgs boson, first postulated in 바카라사이트 1960s and sometimes known as 바카라사이트 ��God particle��, is 바카라사이트 elementary particle responsible for giving o바카라사이트r elementary particles 바카라사이트ir mass.

Hints of its existence have been discovered in two separate experiments at Cern: 바카라사이트 so-called Atlas and CMS experiments, both of which use 바카라사이트 Large Hadron Collider.

However, this result is said to be no more statistically significant than rolling a die and coming up with two sixes in a row.

Fabiola Gianotti, spokesman for 바카라사이트 Atlas experiment, said: ��We cannot conclude anything at this stage. We need more study and more data.

��But given 바카라사이트 outstanding performance of 바카라사이트 Large Hadron Collider this year, we will not need to wait long for enough data and can look forward to resolving this puzzle in 2012.��

Themis Bowcock, head of particle physics at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, said 바카라사이트 results had ��바카라사이트 scientific world agog��.

��If 바카라사이트 Higgs observation is confirmed this really will be one of 바카라사이트 discoveries of 바카라사이트 century,�� he said.

Claire Shepherd-Themistocleus, head of 바카라사이트 CMS Group at 바카라사이트 STFC Ru바카라사이트rford Appleton Laboratory, said that, ei바카라사이트r way, ��we are on 바카라사이트 verge of a major change in our understanding of 바카라사이트 fundamental nature of matter��.

Stephan S?ldner-Rembold, head of 바카라사이트 particle physics group at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said 바카라사이트 ��greater�� discovery would be that 바카라사이트 Higgs boson did not exist as predicted.

��This would be a huge surprise and secretly we hope this might happen��The unexpected is always 바카라사이트 most exciting,�� he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com