The quest to unravel the mysteries of the Higgs boson just got a whole lot more exciting. With new data from Run 3 at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), scientists are closer than ever to understanding this elusive particle’s behavior. The 15th Higgs Hunting workshop, held from July 15 to 17 at IJCLab in Orsay and LPNHE in Paris, brought together about 100 researchers to dive deep into the latest findings. But here’s where it gets fascinating: the workshop wasn’t just about reviewing data—it was a glimpse into the future of particle physics.
One of the standout moments focused on the Higgs boson’s interaction with the charm quark. The CMS collaboration unveiled a groundbreaking search using Higgs production alongside a top–antitop quark pair. This analysis, targeting Higgs decays into charm–quark pairs, achieved sensitivity levels rivaling the best existing constraints on this rare interaction. Meanwhile, ATLAS analyses showcased the power of the Run 3 dataset, hinting at a bright future for Higgs physics. For instance, Run 3 data has slashed uncertainties on the Higgs boson’s coupling to muons and Zγ by 30% and 38%, respectively. And this is the part most people miss: on the di-Higgs front, the sensitivity of measurements in the bbγγ final state has now surpassed the combined results from all Run 2 HH channels. This raises hopes of detecting a di-Higgs signal before the next long shutdown, scheduled from mid-2026 to the end of 2029.
The workshop also featured thought-provoking talks from leading experts. Juan Rojo (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) explored parton distribution functions in Higgs processes, while Thomas Gehrmann (University of Zurich) delved into recent advancements in Higgs theory. Mathieu Pellen (University of Freiburg) reviewed vector-boson fusion, and Jose Santiago Perez (University of Granada) summarized the effective field theory framework. Oleksii Matsedonskyi (University of Cambridge) discussed progress on electroweak phase transitions, and Alfredo Urbano (INFN Rome) connected Higgs physics to early-universe cosmology in a visionary talk. Benjamin Fuks (LPTHE, Sorbonne University) reignited interest in top–quark pairs with a toponium model, reminding us of their enduring allure.
After a scenic cruise on the Seine, participants shifted their focus to the future during the European Strategy for Particle Physics session. Led by ESPPU secretary Karl Jakobs (University of Freiburg), the discussion grew lively as researchers debated the path forward—especially if the FCC programme, the preferred plan, doesn’t materialize. But here’s the controversial part: what if the FCC doesn’t happen? Are we prepared for the alternatives? This question sparked intense debate, leaving many pondering the future of particle physics.
The next Higgs Hunting workshop is set for Orsay and Paris from September 16 to 18, 2026. Until then, the community will continue to push the boundaries of our understanding, one dataset at a time. What do you think? Is the FCC programme essential, or are there other paths to unlocking the universe’s secrets? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
