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Why the Higgs Field Is Nothing Like Molasses, Soup, or a Crowd

The many flaws in the most common popular explanation of how the Higgs field works; violations of basic laws of physics and several misleading ideas.

It’s the kind of answer that serves if time is short and attention spans are limited; it is intended to sound plausible, even though the person delivering the “explanation” knows that it is wrong. Some years ago, I found a way to explain how the Higgs field works that is non-technical and yet correct — one that I would be happy to present to my professional physics colleagues without apology or embarrassment. Between the book, the above-mentioned series of webpages, and my answers to your questions, I hope that most readers who want to know more about the Higgs field can find the explanation that best fits their interests and background.

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