Higgs Boson Quotes (2 quotes)
[About research with big particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider.] I think the primary justification for this sort of science that we do is fundamental human curiosity. ... It's true, of course, that every previous generation that's made some breakthrough in understanding nature has seen those discoveries translated into new technologies, new possibilities for the human race. That may well happen with the Higgs boson. Quite frankly, at the moment I don't see how you can use the Higgs boson for anything useful.
As quoted in Alan Boyle, 'Discovery of Doom? Collider Stirs Debate', article (8 Sep 2008) on a msnbc.com web page.
The God Particle.
Coined name for the Higgs Boson. Title of the co-authored book by Leon Lederman and Dick Teresi, The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question (1993). In an interview with Melissa Block on NPR radio, All Things Considered (15 Mar 2013), Teresi gave the origin of the book title. While co-writing the book, Teresi and Lederman talked about the content. Lederman explained this hypothetical particle to him as the ultimate elementary particle, perhaps inside every other particle, as the basic ingredient of the universe from which all else is made. The name was born as Lederman joked about it to him. Teresi suggested using that as a working title for the book, never expecting that the publisher would, in fact, adopt the title. Hence, with the publication of the book, the nickname for the Higgs Boson was also launched.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
