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The God Particle
PRE-DISCOVERY NOTES:
The God Particle, aka the Higgs Boson, is a theoretical elementary particle that has yet to be discovered. As of now, it exists as a gap in the 'Standard Model' of particle physics. The only way to observe the elusive God Particle is to accelerate subatomic particles close to the speed of light and smash them together using particle colliders.
Some people think that colliding particles at the energies required to find the Higgs Boson will cause an apocalypse by creating a black hole that will engulf the solar system. Others even believe that God will peek his face out from behind the celestial curtains.
The work begins as an abstract audio realization of a circular particle accelerator culminating into a massive collision. The piece then takes on a false narrative, consisting of black holes and sonic representations of God himself.
UPDATE:
As of the Higgs Boson discovery on July 4, 2012 (between 125-126 GeV), it is safe to say that none of these delusions came to fruition.
As expected, a few aspects of this piece have, in some ways, become obsolete; however, it still serves to point out the ridiculousness of those who have complicated progress in finding the particle. Well-intentioned scientists were met with expensive and unnecessary religious/political opposition. Even the term, 'The God Particle,' has demonstrated to be problematic as the biblical implication has aided in fear mongering. While this discovery will hopefully put some of these concerns to rest, other scientific disciplines will still experience similar backlash from the uninformed public, political/religious leaders, and media——many of whom continue to deny global warming, evolution, and even the moon landing! Although there's nothing wrong with healthy skepticism (after all, the scientific method is based on it), this anti-scientific 'speculation' hinders the development of human knowledge. Time has proven, and will continue to prove, that scientific research and rational thinking does a much better job at describing reality.
The God Particle, aka the Higgs Boson, is a theoretical elementary particle that has yet to be discovered. As of now, it exists as a gap in the 'Standard Model' of particle physics. The only way to observe the elusive God Particle is to accelerate subatomic particles close to the speed of light and smash them together using particle colliders.
Some people think that colliding particles at the energies required to find the Higgs Boson will cause an apocalypse by creating a black hole that will engulf the solar system. Others even believe that God will peek his face out from behind the celestial curtains.
The work begins as an abstract audio realization of a circular particle accelerator culminating into a massive collision. The piece then takes on a false narrative, consisting of black holes and sonic representations of God himself.
UPDATE:
As of the Higgs Boson discovery on July 4, 2012 (between 125-126 GeV), it is safe to say that none of these delusions came to fruition.
As expected, a few aspects of this piece have, in some ways, become obsolete; however, it still serves to point out the ridiculousness of those who have complicated progress in finding the particle. Well-intentioned scientists were met with expensive and unnecessary religious/political opposition. Even the term, 'The God Particle,' has demonstrated to be problematic as the biblical implication has aided in fear mongering. While this discovery will hopefully put some of these concerns to rest, other scientific disciplines will still experience similar backlash from the uninformed public, political/religious leaders, and media——many of whom continue to deny global warming, evolution, and even the moon landing! Although there's nothing wrong with healthy skepticism (after all, the scientific method is based on it), this anti-scientific 'speculation' hinders the development of human knowledge. Time has proven, and will continue to prove, that scientific research and rational thinking does a much better job at describing reality.
8-channel audio available upon request.
