What is the Higgs Boson?

[Blackhole]

Could someone please explain exactly what the Higgs Boson is and why it is so essential to our understanding of the Universe? Also, if the Higgs Boson particle is proven to exist, what does that mean for 'next steps' to unlocking the next big discovery in Theoretical Physics?

[Noclevername]

The Higgs Boson is thought to be the elementary particle of the Higgs Field which provides mass to all matter in the Universe.

[Shaula]

Basically one of the big mysteries of particle physics is mass. Where does it come from? Why do some particles have it and some do not?

The Higgs boson is an answer to at least some of that. It also, as a bonus, helps us to understand the fundamental forces a little better. The Higgs mechanism is a theory that shows how vector bosons (things like photons, gluons, W/Z - things that carry forces that particle feel) can, under certain circumstances, become massive when they started out massless. If this mechanism is in play then we expect to see certain left over particles associated with the Higgs field that is part of the mechanism. These are Higg bosons.

The neat thing is that mathematically the EM and weak force are related, the only differences being to do with mass and something that fits perfectly into the Higgs scheme. So we seemed to have all the ingredients to explain why W and Z bosons are heavy and photons are massless. Except that pesky Higgs. But that may have shown up.

It is hoped that the mechanism also explains all mass but so far there is no consistent mechanism that explains what is happening in anything like the detail of the core Higgs mechanism for bosons. If this new particle is the Higgs then it should really help with that though.