What's the big deal with the HIGGS BOSON?

In simplest terms:

Why is discovering the Higgs important?

What implications will it have on our understanding of the Universe and on our daily lives?

Really curious. Thanks!!!

It is a particle predicted by the standard model but one which eluded discovery for decades. In other words a critical piece of objective evidence to support the standard model.

It is the particle which gives all others the property of mass and since mass is a fundamental property of nature, it's hugely important because it confirms the direction for particle physics has been correct for all these years.

Whether we can exploit this property for human benefit is another matter. (no pun intended)

Like many discoveries, exploitation may not come for decades or even centuries if ever.

I think it's the Higgs field which gives mass to particles. The Higgs boson is simply an excitation in the Higgs field, in the same way that an electron is an excitation of the electric field.

@OP Discovering the Higgs is important because it is a prediction of the standard model of particle physics, which describes the 3 of the 4 fundamental forces of nature. Basically, it strengthens our belief in the standard model.