GOLD

The Higgs boson -- aka the God particle -- grabs headlines these days, but physicists are working on other fascinating experiments that could impact our daily lives and provide fundamental insights into the nature of the universe. Here's a roundup of a few of the notable findings and lingering questions in the field of physics.

Gold prices rose on Friday as the dollar fell to a one-month low against a basket of currencies, including the euro, after European finance ministers agreed to boost the euro zone's debt crisis firewall to roughly 800 billion euros ($1.1 trillion).

Sixty-nine-year-old California hiker Robert Biggs claims that he was attacked by a mountain lion and saved by a bear.

Robert Biggs, 69 of Paradise, Calif, had a pretty wild encounter when he went out for a hike on Monday. Hiking near Whiskey Flats, Biggs stopped to watch a mother bear and her cub by a stream, but was jumped from behind by another animal when he turned to leave.

Positive jobs data from the U.S. and Germany were not enough to keep investors bullish Thursday, as a moderate asset sell-off continued, with traders apparently squaring up their positions in anticipation of earnings season.

Palladium prices are set to soar this year, buoyed by high levels of speculative buying, unwavering industrial demand and the general upward price pressure commodity metals are seeing in a zero-interest rate environment, according to a report issued Thursday.

Shares of AOL (NYSE: AOL), the seventh most-visited website, have gained nearly 7 percent this week after the company said a patent sale is an option to increase shareholder value.

Gold prices slipped below $1,660 an ounce in Europe on Thursday, extending their retreat from two-week highs into a third session, as the dollar recovered from a near one-month low and crude oil prices turned lower.

Although The Hunger Games movie was a huge box office success, racist comments pertaining to the character of Rue as well as criticism over Jennifer Lawrence's too curvy figure have flooded the Internet and sullied the artistic endeavor attempted by the film.

Stocks fell Wednesday as investors were disappointed by a weaker-than-expected reading on durable goods orders, while a plunge in oil prices dragged energy and material shares lower.

James Franco is known for his portrayals of famous Hollywood men and women alike, but his newest portrayal may be purely accidental and hilarious.

Gold-Ore Resources Ltd. said Wednesday it was increasing the underground reserves at its Bjorkdal gold mine in Sweden by 210 percent.

AuRico Gold Inc (NYSE:AUQ), a North American gold producer, reported higher earnings for the fourth quarter and the 2011 year on increased production.

Johnson and his partners are buying the Los Angeles Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt for a record $2 billion, yet another chapter in the life of a perennial comeback kid and a sign that the Dodgers are in good hands. Take a look back at Johnson's tumultuous but ultimately legendary career in our timeline of the American icon here, and see how his struggles in the past could help the L.A. Dodgers in the future.

Canadian gold miner Kirkland Lake Gold said it will buy Queenston Mining's 50 percent stake in certain joint venture properties for C$60 million ($60 million) to develop its inventory of the precious minerals.

Gold prices slid below $1,680 an ounce on Wednesday, extending the previous day's retreat from two-week highs as the momentum sparked by expectations for further monetary easing faded after the metal failed to break through key resistance.

Brown has come under fire for his decision to bench Bryant in a recent home game.

New York-born Harlan Goldstein, known to many foodies as the best Western chef in Hong Kong, can thank his mother for his culinary career.

Window dressing, the practice of stock fund managers buying up top performers as the quarter ends to boost the appearance of success, failed Tuesday to lift the major indexes into positive territory.

It seems that a conservative Houston newspaper has somewhat of a Clark Kent on their hands...except instead of being a reporter by day and superhero by night, Sarah Tressler is a reporter by day and stripper at night.

New details about Trayvon Martin's record as well as his personal interactions on Facebook and Twitter have emerged recently, as George Zimmerman supporters defend his Stand Your Ground right.