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| image via Singularity |
For this Design Research Friday, I'm doing something a bit different and a bit off topic. I know I usually talk about interior design research here, but since I'm a bit of a science geek, I thought I would talk about a very recent and very exciting discovery in the field of physics. This discovery is significant because it may help us to understand the most important "design" of all - the "design" of our universe.
NB. I should state here that I do not believe in "intelligent design". And I am aware that the word design implies the existence of a creator. So for the purpose of this post, when I say the "design" of our universe, I am simply referring to how things work in the universe (the process). Also, I am not a physicist, so keep in mind that the information I am sharing here is hyper simplified and represents my elementary understanding of the topic. Ok, now that that's settled, let's continue...
On July 4, 2012, scientists at CERN announced that they discovered a new subatomic particle, the Higgs Boson (or Higgs-like particle). I was really excited! Were you? For those that don't have a clue what I'm talking about, this is an exciting discovery because it supports a theoretical model called the Higgs Mechanism. Finding the Higgs Boson gives us confidence that this theory is in fact valid. The Higgs Mechanism explains how elementary particles obtain mass, which is important to understanding the nature of the universe and life as we experience it today. Without mass, the particles that make up you and me and everything else would be zipping around at the speed of light instead of hanging out together. There would be no atoms and no life as we know it. The world would be a very different place.
This stuff just blows my freakin' mind! Seriously.
If you are interested, I leave you with a few fun videos that explain the Higgs Boson in more depth.
Stay tuned for the third video in this series, coming soon.
Cheers to gaining more understanding about the fascinating "design" of our universe!
Happy Weekend,
Xx. Holly.
oh hello you science geek :)
ReplyDeleteit's so sweet to think of you this way!
I don't know yet hoe exciting I am ab out this discovery, cause I ain't watched the videos yet.
I will certainly do so during this weekend.
Thank you for this, Holly.
I loved your simplified explanation and I'm truly ever glad that the particles that make up you and I and all the people we know (and those we don't!) and animals and nature and things and stuff nicely stick together and do not run like mad with the speed of the light totally uncoordinated and unconnected to each other around the universe!
What a mess it would be! hihi :)
xoxo
It blows my mind too. I was talking about this the other day, at a bit of a boring shoot of all places. It's tricky to wrap your head around it...maybe that's just me. Have a good weekend Holly!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Design Research Friday!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally useless at Science and therefore really enjoyed this. I heard about the Higgs Boson but it totally went over my head coz I have no clue about this stuff.
How very simple and user friendly you make it. In fact, here is feedback for you: I think you should record those videos. A) it's complicated enough, no one needs cello music in the background and I don't like his voice or tonality.
Having said all this, I think the videos are a great accompanying tool to a rather complex subject.
Totally fantastic post!!!