No, he is right. In particle physics standard deviation from the normal distribution of results is used to show that a result is significant and new (i.e. a pre

No, he is right. In particle physics standard deviation from the normal distribution of results is used to show that a result is significant and new (i.e. a previously unknown partcle) rather than just random noise.[1][2] The 'sigma' notation is then used to show how many standard deviations away the result is, such as in the Higgs discobery, when a '5 sigma' standard was used to confirm discovery. [3] The references linked probably explain this a lot better than I have. [1] http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/five-sigmawhats-that/ [2] http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/8752/standard-deviation-in-particle-physics [3] http://understandinguncertainty.org/explaining-5-sigma-higgs-how-well-did-they-do