Higgs Boson Particle Scientists Awarded 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics

In 1964, two scientists were working independently on a theory. They were trying to determine exactly how particles acquired mass, which contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles. Now, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics to these two scientists for this theoretical discovery.

Since the scientists' first proposals in 1964, their theories have been confirmed. Both Francois Englert and Peter W. Higgs were vindicated when in 2012, scientists discovered the so-called Higgs particle at the CERN laboratory. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) conducted billions of particle collisions. Eventually two research groups of some 3,000 scientists each managed to extract the Higgs particle.

Their theory is a central part of the Standard Model of particle physics that describes how the world is constructed. According to the Standard Model, everything--from flowers and people to stars and planets--consists of just a few building blocks: matter particles. Matter particles are governed by forces mediated by force particles that make sure everything works as it should. Yet the entire Standard Model rests on the existence of a special kind of particle: the Higgs particle. This particle originates from an invisible field that fills up all space. Even when the universe seems empty, this field is there and without it, we would not exist.

Needless to say, the work that the two scientists conducted was a major leap forward for physics. It's not surprising that they're now receiving the Nobel Prize. That said, there's still work to be done. The Higgs particle isn't the final piece in the Standard Model puzzle. Scientists are still conducting research to better understand the particles that govern our universe and, more specifically, to find out about the mysterious dark matter that makes up our world.