Fermilab Scientists Discover New Particle

[TheTrueCentrist]

conceivablytech.com/8516/science-research/fermilab-scientists-discover-new-particle

“Fermilab today announced that scientists working at the CDF (Collision Detector at Fermilab) experiment confirmed the observation of a new particle, the Xi-sub-b.”

“The Xi-sub-b is categorized as are baryon, which are formed of three quarks. Commonly known baryons include the proton ( two up quarks and one down quark) as well as the neutron (two down quarks and one up quark). The existence of the Xi-sub-b has been predicted for some time, but it has been observed for the very first time just recently. It is described as a heavy relative of the neutron and is six times heavier than the proton or neutron. Conclusively, it is a member of the bottom baryons.”

 

[Califman831]

Why should this be important to anyone other than a science geek?

 

[bellasbane]

conceivablytech.com/8516/science-research/fermilab-scientists-discover-new-particle

“Fermilab today announced that scientists working at the CDF (Collision Detector at Fermilab) experiment confirmed the observation of a new particle, the Xi-sub-b.”

“The Xi-sub-b is categorized as are baryon, which are formed of three quarks. Commonly known baryons include the proton ( two up quarks and one down quark) as well as the neutron (two down quarks and one up quark). The existence of the Xi-sub-b has been predicted for some time, but it has been observed for the very first time just recently. It is described as a heavy relative of the neutron and is six times heavier than the proton or neutron. Conclusively, it is a member of the bottom baryons.”

Science making verifiable predictions that turn out to be true is so cool!

Quantum mechanics is one of my favorite branches of physics because it is so WEIRD.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

Why should this be important to anyone other than a science geek?

It is a fundamental advance in our understanding of the universe, we have observed the existence of something for the first time. I think only the most shortsighted of people would miss its significance, or the excitement of discovery.

The standard model of physics makes many predictions about the way the universe operates, every time one of those predictions is validated, as it was in this case, we can be a little more confident of our understanding the world around us.

 

[Arkadin]

We are living, despite the financial and other crazy things going on, in a very interesting and wonderful time. Can’t wait to see what else we learn.

 

[kimmielittle]

It is a fundamental advance in our understanding of the universe, we have observed the existence of something for the first time. I think only the most shortsighted of people would miss its significance, or the excitement of discovery.

The standard model of physics makes many predictions about the way the universe operates, every time one of those predictions is validated, as it was in this case, we can be a little more confident of our understanding the world around us.

 

[kimmielittle]

conceivablytech.com/8516/science-research/fermilab-scientists-discover-new-particle

“Fermilab today announced that scientists working at the CDF (Collision Detector at Fermilab) experiment confirmed the observation of a new particle, the Xi-sub-b.”

“The Xi-sub-b is categorized as are baryon, which are formed of three quarks. Commonly known baryons include the proton ( two up quarks and one down quark) as well as the neutron (two down quarks and one up quark). The existence of the Xi-sub-b has been predicted for some time, but it has been observed for the very first time just recently. It is described as a heavy relative of the neutron and is six times heavier than the proton or neutron. Conclusively, it is a member of the bottom baryons.”

I wished they named it after someone cool…like me

 

[Blacksword]

I had hoped they found the “God particle” that gives objects mass, the Higgs-Boson particle when I saw your story. Oh well, just hope CERN in Europe doesn’t beat us to it!

 

[Califman831]

It is a fundamental advance in our understanding of the universe, we have observed the existence of something for the first time.

is your quest to know the inner workings of the universe helping u to lead a holier life or is it just the accumulation of knowledge?

 

[bellasbane]

I had hoped they found the “God particle” that gives objects mass, the Higgs-Boson particle when I saw your story. Oh well, just hope CERN in Europe doesn’t beat us to it!

The “God particle” that gives objects “mass” - is that Catholic humor?

Are those Higgs-Bosons responsible for the number my scale keeps reporting whenever I step on it?

 

[gilliam]

We use to think the smallest things around were nutrons, protons and electrons. They made up matter that made up the universe… we called them atoms. The idea was if we understood atomic physics we would understand what God made and gain “godly knowledge”

Now we find out that inside these protons, nutrons, etc. there are more particles that we are calling quarks that if we understand we would understand what God made and gain “godly knowledge”

There is a pattern here, and I am not sure I like it.

 

[Dale_M]

Why should this be important to anyone other than a science geek?

I don’t understand physics well enough to explain the significance of the discovery. But here is what a reporter for Forbes said:

This discovery, like all baryon discoveries, is significant because it gives us a greater insight into how quarks interact. Particles composed of quarks, such as protons and neutrons, interact using the strong nuclear force. By contrast, leptons, such as electrons and neutrinos, don’t participate in strong interactions. So this discovery helps us understand the fundamental physics of the building blocks of matter.

news.yahoo.com/fermilab-scientists-discover-particle-033009299.html

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are those Higgs-Bosons responsible for the number my scale keeps reporting whenever I step on it?

I wouldn’t doubt it. But I think my mortgage is made of those newly discovered heavy particles. It’s quite a burden.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

is your quest to know the inner workings of the universe helping u to lead a holier life or is it just the accumulation of knowledge?

Do people live holier lives for the invention of refrigeration or discovery of vaccination? No, but those discoveries have certainly saved lives and alleviate a lot of suffering. Scientific progress allows for improvements in the quality of human life, and gives us all more time (e.g. longer lives) and more ability (e.g. printing press) to consider the divine mysteries.

Of course you might object that you can’t imagine how the existence of this particle could benefit anyone. I will respond that you just don’t have enough scientific imagination. The more we know about the universe we live in, the more ability we have to help others.

 

[Blacksword]

The “God particle” that gives objects “mass” - is that Catholic humor?

Are those Higgs-Bosons responsible for the number my scale keeps reporting whenever I step on it?

Ha ha! No, it’s complicated, but quantum physics predicts a fundamental particle should exist that is responsible for giving objects their mass. They call it the Higgs-Boson particle, but it’s colloquially referred to as the God particle, because it’s basically the quantum particle that holds objects, from our cells to our bodies to planets, together. The way I’ve heard it described is to picture the way mud, when you try walking into it, increasingly slows you down the deeper you get and the more it accumulates. This particle would be like a quantum mud that allows objects to hold together, “clumping” particles so they don’t all just fly apart at light speed I guess. Try this link on it, it’s sort of the current big remaining mystery in particle physics.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson

 

[Blacksword]

Do people live holier lives for the invention of refrigeration or discovery of vaccination? No, but those discoveries have certainly saved lives and alleviate a lot of suffering. Scientific progress allows for improvements in the quality of human life, and gives us all more time (e.g. longer lives) and more ability (e.g. printing press) to consider the divine mysteries.

Of course you might object that you can’t imagine how the existence of this particle could benefit anyone. I will respond that you just don’t have enough scientific imagination. The more we know about the universe we live in, the more ability we have to help others.

This is very well said. Thank you for such an insightful post.

 

[Califman831]

Do people live holier lives for the invention of refrigeration or discovery of vaccination? No, but those discoveries have certainly saved lives and alleviate a lot of suffering. Scientific progress allows for improvements in the quality of human life, and gives us all more time (e.g. longer lives) and more ability (e.g. printing press) to consider the divine mysteries.

Of course you might object that you can’t imagine how the existence of this particle could benefit anyone. I will respond that you just don’t have enough scientific imagination. The more we know about the universe we live in, the more ability we have to help others.

I didnt object, I just asked how this will help people, but instead of an answer I got intellectual snobbery. A long life does not make one holier, and there is a very little difference between a long one and a short one, if one is not in God’s grace you’ll end up in the same hellfire no matter how well you understand the universe. You remind me of a story called the emperor’s new clothes, perhaps you need to google it.

 

[agnes_therese]

Why should this be important to anyone other than a science geek?

It’s very interesting to the many who appreciate scientific discoveries for what they reveal about God’s awesome creation.

 

[Blacksword]

I didnt object, I just asked how this will help people, but instead of an answer I got intellectual snobbery. A long life does not make one holier, and there is a very little difference between a long one and a short one, if one is not in God’s grace you’ll end up in the same hellfire no matter how well you understand the universe. You remind me of a story called the emperor’s new clothes, perhaps you need to google it.

You know, I really don’t think the response was intellectual snobbery. And there’s no need to be argumentative about this discovery. If you aren’t interested in it, then why post on the subject at all?

 

[Califman831]

You know, I really don’t think the response was intellectual snobbery. And there’s no need to be argumentative about this discovery. If you aren’t interested in it, then why post on the subject at all?

I was hoping to get an idea of the potential fruits of this new discovery. What are the positive real world applications or is it something to be found in mainly in the new science books and on jeopardy? There is also the potential that this discovery will be the new atomic bomb or the next Frankenstein.