Will ‘God particle’ spur science-religion debate?
The Higgs boson is perhaps better known by its sexier nickname: the “God particle.” But many scientists, including the physicist for whom it is named, dislike the term.
In 1993 when American physicist Leon Lederman was writing a book on the Higgs boson, he dubbed it “the goddamn particle.” An editor suggested “the God particle” instead.
One thing is clear: the July 4 announcement of the discovery that marked a new chapter in scientific knowledge also reignited debate over the universe’s origins—and the validity of religious faith as scientific knowledge expands.
