The father of a theoretical subatomic particle dubbed "the God particle'' says he's almost sure its existence will be confirmed in the next year.

British physicist Peter Higgs first postulated the existence of the particle in the makeup of the atom more than 40 years ago.

Higgs, speaking during a visit the site of a massive new atom smashing accelerator in Switzerland, says scientists in both Europe and North America are about to confirm his theory.

Nobel laureate Leon Lederman has dubbed the theoretical boson "the God particle'' because its discovery could unify understanding of particle physics and help humans "know the mind of God.'

Higgs predicted the existence of the boson while working at the University of Edinburgh to explain how atoms -- and the objects they make up -- have weight.

Without the particle, the basic physics theory -- the "standard model'' -- lacks a crucial element, because it fails to explain how other subatomic particles -- such as quarks and electrons -- have mass.