Excepts from CERN announcement of discovery of Higgs Boson

[LongTomH]

Scientists at CERN in Switzerland have announced discovery of Higgs Boson events in the Large Hadron Collider. According to a CERN press release, researchers are satisfied that they've achieved a '5-sigma' probability of seeing the Higgs; that means there is a 99.99994% probability that what they're seeing is the Higgs.

Added on edit: Physicist John Ellis explains the Higgs and where it fits in modern particle physics.

[postulater]

1. Higgs Dammit! Congratulations to those scientists.

Now if they can just figure out how that stuff turns into a living cell.

[HopeHoops]

2. Einstein would be proud.

[longship]

3. John Ellis podcast w/ Brian Cox

This is wonderful. You can find it amongst many CERN Podcasts. Probably the best is the John Ellis interview. But there are other gems here, all thanks to Brian Cox.

Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, tours the LHC, and descends into the bowels of ATLAS before it goes online.

Victor Stark, the very reverend head of Guilford Cathedral discusses religion and science while touring the LHC. Probably the best conversation between theist and atheist ever. They talk past each other throughout, but try to understand and respect. It is a remarkable dialog. With some good humor.

[Kaleko]

4. Groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting awesomeness

with huge practical implications. Something to celebrate for all of us.