Do we know that the Higgs boson actually exists, or was something that fulfilled our expectations created by the design of the experiment? Did the experimenters run a "negative control?"
I am reminded of this adage, "You look for what you know. You find what you look for." In the case of particle physics, the word "know" should be replaced with "suspect."
Do we know that the Higgs boson actually exists, or was something that fulfilled our expectations created by the design of the experiment? Did the experimenters run a "negative control?"
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There is no question that repeating discoveries in different laboratories and with different scenarios is important to establishing facts. Einstein's predictions were validated in many laboratories.
An inherent problem with "big science" is that unless you also have an LHC of comparable or larger power, you can't repeat the work. I am not criticizing in the least the scientific integrity and genius of the people at CERN. I am simply saying that unique results from unique equipment pose a special problem for verification. CERN is a very expensive piece of equipment. Those who provide its funding expect some new results. That pressure cannot be ignored.
John
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