Subscribe now

Humans

Elusive review: The story of the Higgs boson defies normal narratives

Finding the Higgs boson is the compelling story behind Elusive: How Peter Higgs solved the mystery of mass. But Frank Close's book lives up to its title as both the man and his particle ultimately slip through the net

By Simon Ings

29 June 2022

New Scientist Default Image

Peter Higgs received a Nobel prize for his prediction of the boson named after him

Claudia Marcelloni/CERN

Elusive: How Peter Higgs solved the mystery of mass Frank Close

Frank Close

Allen Lane

 

IN HIS latest book Elusive, physicist Frank Close sets out to write about Peter Higgs, whose belief in the detectability of a very special particle that was to bear his name earned him a Nobel prize in 2013.

But Higgs’s life resists narrative. He has had a successful career. His colleagues enjoy his company. He didn’t over-publish or get into pointless spats. Now in his mid-nineties, Higgs…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 2nd of July 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account