Higgs Boson: Sort of Confirmed

Waffles: they’re not just for breakfast any more. The announcement about the Higgs boson was today, and the folks giving the press conference were twisting themselves in knots to avoid saying they have proof! of the elusive particle, when it’s quite clear that they’re fresh off high-fiving and fist-bumping every physicist they encounter saying, “Yeah, baby! We done it!”

What does this even mean?: “As a layman, I think we have it. But as a scientist, I have to say, ‘What do we have?’” Feathers + waddling + quacking = duck. You proved it exists! Good, Lord, people: do a victory lap and have a beer already!

Here’s the original post I wrote about the pending announcement when it was still a rumor. Go ahead and stamp this one “confirmed.” More at Ars Technica.

What-the-what?! (HT Alan Yoshioka)