So some of us revert to humour, noting that if the boson gives mass to matter it should be a “priest particle”, or we risk opprobrium by joking about “holy mass”.

Others of a more religious bent seek to place the findings in the context of their belief about the origins of existence. But for most all this chatter about matter has little significance.

Here in South Africa, where  science received a boost with the  recent announcement of the co-hosting of the square kilometre array project, we hope  the Higgs boson will add to that energy.

A few South Africans were involved in the lengthy Higgs  research. May the announcement   encourage more youngsters to delve into physics in all its guises. 

May it ignite the imaginations of more young South Africans to follow the trail blazed by the likes of  Siyabulela Xuza, formerly of St John’s, who has a planet named after him.