Explain the significance of the Higgs boson in the Standard Model of particle physics, particularly regarding its role in mass generation and the unification of fundamental forces.

The Higgs boson, often termed the “God particle,” is crucial in the Standard Model as it provides mass to other elementary particles through the Higgs mechanism. By interacting with the Higgs field, particles acquire mass, an essential component of our understanding of the universe. The discovery of the Higgs boson also supports the electroweak unification theory, showing how electromagnetism and the weak nuclear force can be integrated at high energy levels, although it leaves open questions about how this unification extends to include the strong force and gravitation.