We stand today on the eve of one of the most highly anticipated scientific announcements of all time: an "update in the search for the Higgs boson" (a delightfully understated description if there ever were one). Has the world ever been so excited about a particle before? No. But why? What is this Higgs boson, and is there more to it than just its catchy moniker, the "God particle"?

The video below explains with vim, vigor, and some entertaining illustrations what the particle is, why it matters, and will get you well prepared for tomorrow's news.

The Higgs Boson Explained from PHD Comics on Vimeo.