• Monday July 4 marks 10 years since one of the most celebrated scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century: the discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle that is key to understanding the universe. Getty Images
    Monday July 4 marks 10 years since one of the most celebrated scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century: the discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle that is key to understanding the universe. Getty Images
  • Peter Higgs, now 93, predicted the existence of the particle that bears his name in 1964. Photo: CERN
    Peter Higgs, now 93, predicted the existence of the particle that bears his name in 1964. Photo: CERN
  • Former European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) director generals Christopher Llewelyn-Smith, CERN scientific director Lyn Evans, Herwig Schopper, Luciano Maiani and Robert Aymard on July 4, 2012, during a seminar in Geneva on the latest update in the 50-year bid to explain a riddle of fundamental matter in the search for a particle called the Higgs boson. AFP
    Former European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) director generals Christopher Llewelyn-Smith, CERN scientific director Lyn Evans, Herwig Schopper, Luciano Maiani and Robert Aymard on July 4, 2012, during a seminar in Geneva on the latest update in the 50-year bid to explain a riddle of fundamental matter in the search for a particle called the Higgs boson. AFP
  • The Large Hadron Collider while under construction at CERN. It is a 27-kilometre pipe in which particles are flung at each other at almost the speed of light. PA
    The Large Hadron Collider while under construction at CERN. It is a 27-kilometre pipe in which particles are flung at each other at almost the speed of light. PA
  • The Large Hadron Collider started up in 2008 and was the first of its kind powerful enough to generate enough evidence for the Higgs — which is produced in about one in every billion of these collisions. PA
    The Large Hadron Collider started up in 2008 and was the first of its kind powerful enough to generate enough evidence for the Higgs — which is produced in about one in every billion of these collisions. PA
  • Peter Higgs theorised in 1964 that particles whizzing around the universe pick up their mass by travelling through an invisible field — a bit like a vehicle ploughing through snow. Getty Images
    Peter Higgs theorised in 1964 that particles whizzing around the universe pick up their mass by travelling through an invisible field — a bit like a vehicle ploughing through snow. Getty Images
  • Visitors take pictures at the tunnels during an open day at the CERN particle physics research facility in Meyrin, Switzerland. Getty Images
    Visitors take pictures at the tunnels during an open day at the CERN particle physics research facility in Meyrin, Switzerland. Getty Images
  • The CERN Computer / Data Centre and server farm is seen during a behind the scenes tour at CERN. Getty Images
    The CERN Computer / Data Centre and server farm is seen during a behind the scenes tour at CERN. Getty Images
  • A technician works in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. AP
    A technician works in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. AP

What is the Higgs boson and when is the 10th anniversary of its discovery?


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Monday, July 4, marks 10 years since one of the most celebrated scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century: the discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle that is key to understanding the universe.

What is the Higgs boson?

A tiny particle that explains how things get their mass.

British physicist Peter Higgs theorised in 1964 that particles whizzing around the universe pick up their mass by travelling through an invisible field — a bit like a vehicle ploughing through snow.

But there was a missing piece of the puzzle. If the Higgs field existed, there should be a special particle — or boson — associated with it: the Higgs boson.

In 2012, physicists found it, completing one of science’s most important jigsaws and proving the existence of the Higgs field.

Why is it called the Higgs boson?

Peter Higgs, now 93, is the scientist whose theories sparked the 48-year search for the particle.

Bosons are named after SN Bose, an Indian physicist who corresponded with Albert Einstein.

It has also been labelled the “God particle”, although many scientists are said to dislike the term.

When was it discovered and when is the 10th anniversary?

The breakthrough was declared on July 4, 2012, by scientists at Cern, the vast physics laboratory in Switzerland where Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989.

In a cautious but excited statement, Cern scientists said they had found a new particle consistent with the properties they would expect of Higgs.

The following March, they announced that it was indeed believed to be a Higgs boson, based on further data analysed since the initial discovery.

But Cern regards the particle’s initial discovery in 2012 as the defining moment, meaning the anniversary falls on Monday, July 4, 2022.

Peter Higgs and fellow physicist Francois Englert were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2013 for their work on the mass theory.

Peter Higgs, now 93, predicted the existence of the particle that bears his name in 1964. Photo: Cern
Peter Higgs, now 93, predicted the existence of the particle that bears his name in 1964. Photo: Cern

How was it discovered?

Cern is home to the Large Hadron Collider, the 27-kilometre pipe in which particles are flung at each other at nearly the speed of light.

It started up in 2008 and was the first of its kind powerful enough to generate enough evidence for the Higgs — which is produced in about one in every billion of these collisions.

A forerunner, the Large Electron-Positron Collider, had run throughout the 1990s without finding the Higgs boson.

The LHC had a false start after a magnet failure put its operations back by a year.

The Higgs particle has a lifespan of less than a billionth of a trillionth of a second, but decays into other particles such as photons which give the game away.

It took more than two years for enough clues to be gathered, but a key statistical threshold was reached on July 4, 2012, that made it virtually impossible that the results indicating the Higgs were coming about by chance.

How has the discovery helped us?

The discovery of the Higgs boson was a milestone in our understanding of the world around us, opening up new areas of research for physicists at Cern.

More broadly, Cern credits the push for the Higgs boson with generating spin-off benefits in cancer treatment and aerospace.

It says further benefits to humanity might materialise in future, like how the discovery of electricity had seismic effects that could hardly have been predicted at the time.

What is being done to mark the anniversary?

Scientists have been invited to Cern on Monday to reflect on the work done since Higgs and consider the future of physics.

A day later, the LHC will whirr back into life after more than three years of upgrades and maintenance, in what is known as its third run.

Intended to run for almost four years, the latest experiments will probe deeper into the nature of the Higgs boson, while also probing other mysteries of the universe such as dark matter.

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Results

2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.

3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.

4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm

Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh317,671

On sale: now

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos

Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km

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About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

The biog

Name: Marie Byrne

Nationality: Irish

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption

Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston

Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

It's up to you to go green

Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.

“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”

When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.

He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.

“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.

One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.  

The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.

Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.

But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”

Updated: July 04, 2022, 8:18 AM