The term "God particle" is a nickname that was given to the Higgs boson by the physicist Leon Lederman in his book titled "The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the Question?" The term itself can be a bit misleading or sensationalized, so let's try to explain it in simpler language.
The Higgs boson is a subatomic particle that was discovered in 2012 through experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is a fundamental particle associated with a field called the Higgs field. According to the theory, particles acquire mass through their interaction with this field.
The Higgs field is like an invisible sea that permeates all of space. When particles move through this field, they experience resistance, similar to how you feel resistance when walking through water. This resistance or interaction with the Higgs field is what gives particles their mass.
Now, the term "God particle" was coined by Leon Lederman because he wanted to emphasize the significance of the Higgs boson in our understanding of the universe. He chose this name because he thought it would make people pay attention to the particle's importance. However, many scientists don't prefer this term because it can create confusion or imply religious connotations.
So, in simpler terms, the Higgs boson is a particle associated with a field that helps explain why particles have mass. Its discovery was a significant milestone in particle physics and contributed to our understanding of the fundamental forces and the origins of the universe.