The Search for the God Particle
The most sought-after thing in the world, the answer to that eternal question, "What is at the heart of the universe?" may be the Higgs boson -- sometimes referred to as the "God particle." Scientists believe this is what gives mass to fundamental particles like electrons, quarks and gluons, and that it must pervade all space. It could explain how the universe was formed, but so far, its existence is just a theory. The Large Hadron Collider could possibly be the means to find it [source: Achenbach].
1. What is the spiritual aspect of quantum physics?
Throughout history, humans -- whether through shamans invoking animal spirits or priests using the rites of the Christian church -- have believed that the spirit world can influence events on Earth. Now, scientific studies are showing that our thoughts may indeed create our own reality. Bohr said reality was dependent on an "observer effect," that observation can influence events. While many scientists discounted this idea, recent experiments are showing that it may have some merit [source: Lyon]. The repetitive words and actions of a religious service may alter reality, the studies show, and the more people who observe and participate in these rites, the more powerful the waves of energy produced, confirming what the faithful say they've known all along.
