401: Large Hadron Collider

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Large Hadron Collider

Title text: When charged particles of more than 5 TeV pass through a bubble chamber, they leave a trail of candy.

Explanation

This comic shows its age. The Higgs Boson has been found... [even set to music]!

The search for the Higgs boson has been conducted at the Large Hadron Collider. The Higgs boson is thought to be what gives particles their mass. If its existence is confirmed, it would help validate several of the most important theories in physics.

The last panel may be a reference to the fact that streams of protons are sometimes used in the treatment of cancer.

Transcript

Text: The Large Hadron Collider, CERN...

Megan: Okay, moment of truth. "click"

Large Hadron Collider: "VVVVVRRMMMMM"

Cueball: Do you see the Higgs Boson?

Megan: Nope.

Cueball: Huh.

Megan: Well, then.

Cueball: Until the theorists get back to us, wanna try hitting pigeons with the proton stream?

Megan: Already on it. Cool! I just gave a helicopter cancer.

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Discussion

Why is there is a link to some Higgs Boson music on this page? -- ‎220.226.203.202 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Probably to rub it in that the Higgs Boson is well in our past now. Davidy²²[talk] 04:46, 16 February 2013 (UTC)

Eeyup. /from the one who put the link/ Greyson (talk) 18:09, 28 June 2013 (UTC)

Apropos to birds, there was a mishap at the LHC involving a piece of bread dropped from a bird. That occurred months after this comic was made. --Quicksilver (talk) 04:36, 21 August 2013 (UTC)

As I see it, they are experimental physicists. They see the data, they do not find the Higgs boson, now it is the theoretical physicists' turn to find a new explanation of massive particles. Undee (talk) 12:40, 29 October 2013 (UTC)

Or, better yet, a new way of finding the Higgs. Anonymous 22:18, 3 December 2013 (UTC) 173.245.54.91 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)