Halloween Costume on Particle Physics

Subatomic particles collide in a nuclear reactor.

Halloween is a chance for you to express your love for some of your favorite interests. For physics geeks, it is also a chance to make a clever play on your field of specialty. One good idea for a particle physics costume is to dress as the Higgs Boson particle, the theoretical "God particle" that gives mass to everything in the universe. As a hot topic of scientific study and in the popular media, the Higgs Boson is a perfect opportunity to show off your knowledge, impress your friends and start an interesting conversation.

Things You'll Need

• White T-shirt
• Black marker
• Hard hat
• Paper

Instructions

1. Decorate your white T-shirt for a Higgs Boson particle costume. Draw a large question mark with a black marker on the front and back of the shirt to signify that the particle remains a mystery to physicists. Alternatively, write "Higgs" on the front of the T-shirt and "Boson" on the back.

2. Wear a yellow hard hat to signify the Large Hadron Collider where physicists are looking for the Higgs Boson particle. Write "CERN" on the front in black marker to signify the the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where the Large Hadron Collider is housed.

3. Write "mass" on many slips of paper using the black marker. Keep them in your hand and give them out to everyone you meet at a Halloween party. This is to signify the fact that the Higgs Boson particle gives mass to everything in the universe.

References

• Exploratorium: The Higgs Boson