SMP 11/2/13 | Weighty Thoughts on the Origin of Mass | Speaker: James Wells

Scholars have struggled with the concept of mass since time immemorial. Professor Wells will explain the usefulness of even speaking about "mass" and then describe how something so seemingly easy and intuitive can trip up the most brilliant minds upon closer scrutiny. He will describe the major leaps in understanding over the centuries, from the Ancients, to Newton, to Einstein, and to the discovery of the Higgs boson last year at CERN. The historical context will demonstrate why the Higgs boson discovery was such an extraordinary achievement in science, and how it opens up a host of deeper questions that physicists will struggle with for decades to come.

Detailed Information
All talks are free and refreshments will be served. Visitor parking for the seminars (Central Campus) is across the street from the Dennison Building in the U-M Church Street structure. There is a $2.00 parking charge implemented by U-M Parking Services.

Contact Information
For more information regarding the Saturday Morning Physics series, see the Physics Department website, or call 734.764.4437