Earlier today, CERN's scientists confirmed the existence of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson. So what exactly does that mean?

The "God particle" is predicted by the Standard Model in modern physics. It is understood to give other particles mass — including the quarks that make up the protons that make humans and other forms of life.

As Mashable's Pete Pachal explained last December, the existence of the Higgs boson essentially completes and affirms the Standard Model of particle physics. It also shows how particles acquire mass, which will help with the next phase of research and study.

Back in 2000, Stephen Hawking bet that scientists would never find the Higgs boson. Today, it looks like he owes physicist Gordan Kane $100.