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DreamGypsy

(2,252 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 12:05 AM Apr 2013

Win your own Higgs boson

From Pauline Gagnon at the Quantum Diaries, Monday, April 1st, 2013:

In an unprecedented gesture in the history of particle physics, Sergio Bertolucci, Director of Research, announced this morning that CERN is going to do something unusual: give away fundamental particles.

“Given the interest manifested over the past years by the general public for the Higgs boson search, we felt that we had to give some back as a token of appreciation”, said Dr Bertolucci. “At CERN, we have always believed in sharing the results of our research, and the time has come to make that tangible. This is our way of saying thanks for the incredible level of enthusiasm that has greeted this discovery”. The new particle’s discovery was announced at a special seminar on 4 July last year.

Both the ATLAS and CMS experiments have generously accepted to donate some of their precious Higgs bosons. Particles such as Higgs bosons are created from the energy released in proton-proton collisions in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). However, Higgs bosons are extremely rare, being created only once out of one million million such collisions.

“We hope the lucky few who will receive a Higgs boson will cherish them as much as we do”, said Dr Bertolucci.

Each boson will come with a complete set of instructions on how to properly care for it. To enter this lottery, please send an e-mail to Higgs.lottery@cern.ch. A Higgs boson will be sent to the ten lucky winners chosen randomly from all requests received within 24 hours of publishing this post.


I sent in my request already. I hope I will be a winner. I already have 2 fermions, but find it very frustrating that I cannot share a common quantum state with them. The addition of a boson should bring a greater sense of camaraderie to the pack.

Good luck with your requests!
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Win your own Higgs boson (Original Post) DreamGypsy Apr 2013 OP
I already have a bosun. Scootaloo Apr 2013 #1
That sounds like a massive fraud. Ron Obvious Apr 2013 #2
Mine is in the backyard. jonthebru Apr 2013 #3
Does the date (April 1st) have any special significance? Lionel Mandrake Apr 2013 #4
Gee, ya think? DreamGypsy Apr 2013 #5
I've got something that feels a bit more massive Lionel Mandrake Apr 2013 #6
I hope they mail them by FTL muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #7

Lionel Mandrake

(4,073 posts)
4. Does the date (April 1st) have any special significance?
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 12:03 PM
Apr 2013

When I read the OP, I felt some tension on my lower extremity.

DreamGypsy

(2,252 posts)
5. Gee, ya think?
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 12:46 PM
Apr 2013

Doesn't appear to be a joke. My Higgs arrived by email today. It has cute blue slippers and a pink bow tie. My fermions are already interacting with it and are feeling a bit more massive as a consequence of the close proximity of a Higgs field generator.

Lionel Mandrake

(4,073 posts)
6. I've got something that feels a bit more massive
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 06:01 PM
Apr 2013

as a consequence of the close proximity of a beautiful woman.

Maybe there's something to this Higgs business after all.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,149 posts)
7. I hope they mail them by FTL
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 11:46 AM
Apr 2013

that is, Faster Than Light neutrino delivery system. For when it absolutely, positively has to be there yesterday!

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