[Gary Boldwater]

This is wonderful! Just 100 years ago man was riding animals for tranportation. Just 40 years ago man flew into space. Just 30 years ago man walked on the moon. Today, scientists completely understand the beginnings of the universe!!
The greatest leap in all of science was in giving up its old ways. The old way required scientists to set out to disprove a theory (hypothesis), after relentless testing to prove it. One contradictory experiment could undo a whole theory (hypothesis). Today, that is no longer a concern. A single test proves a theory (not a hypothesis) and new dimensions and particles are created to explain any contradictions!
In the last 25 years, no man has set foot on the moon, orbital space travel is more dangerous than ever and third world countries may eclipse America's space achievements. We are not spending enough money on government science!

[js1138]

Today, scientists completely understand the beginnings of the universe!!

Yes, but just one of many in this amazing multiverse. ;^)

[RightWhale]

We are not spending enough money on government science!

An interesting assertion, although unrelated to the precedent ironic observations.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Today, scientists completely understand the beginnings of the universe!!

Well...they're getting there. They'll have to wait until this thing is switched on in 2007.

And then what happens if Atlas shrugs?

[Ichneumon]

The old way required scientists to set out to disprove a theory (hypothesis), after relentless testing to prove it. One contradictory experiment could undo a whole theory (hypothesis).

That's still what they're doing. All this test will determine is which theories *don't* match their differing predictions about what this test might find. Whatever the test results, it will reject some theories (maybe all current theories, if something really unexpected is observed).

Today, that is no longer a concern. A single test proves a theory (not a hypothesis) and new dimensions and particles are created to explain any contradictions!

Hardly. First, contrary to misleading language in this press article, no single test will "prove" any theory (although it can greatly *support* one and further firm up the likelihood of its being correct), because science doesn't deal in "proofs" of that sort. The reason is that there's always the possibility of some future observation which requires a further unexpected tweak (or rarely, a fundamental rewrite).

Second, particles aren't "created to explain contradictions". That's not how theoretical physics works. Instead, fundamental mathematical models is made which seems to explain current physical laws, and then the necessary consequences of those models are examined to see what else they predict (e.g., which other particles of what particular type must necessarily exist if the model is true, etc.). And then they perform experiments to see whether those necessary predictions hold water or not.

In the case of the "Standard Model", the mathematical consequences of that model imply that a certain type of particle, dubbed the "Higgs boson", would have to exist -- not in order to "explain contradictions", but because that (among other things) is what the mathematical model itself implies must exist if the model is true.

And if this "mathematically predicted" particle is detected after all and its properties match the predictions, then this is a very strong indication that the "Standard Model" is correct, or at least on the right track.

It's similar to how the position, motion, and mass of the planet Pluto was predicted before it was ever found, due to the mathematical implications of gravitational theory and the observed "wobbles" in the orbits of the known planets.