You're such a BOSON!

Reports are out. They have finally found the mysterious Higgs Boson, or the "God Particle" (apparently, derived from "Goddammed Particle").

What is this Boson? Below is an excerpt from http://physicsforme.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/higgs-boson-one-page-explanation/ , where several explanations for the Higgs Boson are posted. I found this one relatively simple, if you have a high school physics background...and actually remember it:

"The Need to Understand Mass

By Roger Cashmore Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK.

What determines the size of objects that we see around us or indeed even the size of ourselves? The answer is the size of the molecules and in turn the atoms that compose these molecules. But what determines the size of the atoms themselves? Quantum theory and atomic physics provide an answer. The size of the atom is determined by the paths of the electrons orbiting the nucleus. The size of those orbits, however, is determined by the mass of the electron. Were the electron’s mass smaller, the orbits (and hence all atoms) would be smaller, and consequently everything we see would be smaller. So understanding the mass of the electron is essential to understanding the size and dimensions of everything around us.

Speaking of Elements...

 Over at www.dailygalaxy.com,

 

Rare Earth Element Detected for the First Time in 12-Billion-Year-Old Stars in Milky Way's Halo

Fictional Elements

Creating fictional elements is an essential part of writing SciFi and Fantasy. What factors do writers and filmmakers consider when selecting or creating an element? 


Do they start with known, exisiting elements and morph them?
Do they start with a function or property and then use it to inspire the name?


According to Wikipedia, the Adamantium that surrounds Wolverine's skeletal structure was inspired by the Greek word adamant, "the embodiment of impregnable, diamond like hardness, or a very firm/resolute position". Okay, so how did Frank Herbert come up with "Spice" or "Melange", a narcotic used as currency in the Dune Books, that had interesting effects on human morphology, physiology and mental ability? If you know, comment below!


I found a wonderful Fictional Periodic Table on the net. As you scroll over each element, a short description pops up, including the element's source (book, film, t.v. show, etc). For example: Magicite from Final Fantasy; Trilithium from Star Trek; Caesiumfrankolithicmixialubidiumrixidixidexidoxidroxide from Red Dwarf:

Periodic Table of Fictional Elements

For those of you who want to dig deeper and who have access to Jstor or other online databases you can read "Chemical Elements in Fantasy and Science Fiction", a paper by Juliane Ober and Thomas Krebs. Heres the info:

    Chemical Elements in Fantasy and Science Fiction

    Juliane Ober and Thomas Krebs

    Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706

    Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706

    J. Chem. Educ., 2009, 86 (10), p 1141

    DOI: 10.1021/ed086p1141

    Publication Date (Web): October 1, 2009

Tell us about elements that you have created or that you think are interesting.

What is the coolest fictional element ever created?