Peter Higgs, the Nobel prize-winning physicist renowned for proposing the existence of a new particle called the Higgs boson, passed away at the age of 94 in his home in Edinburgh on Monday. His groundbreaking work, which earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2013, revolutionized our understanding of the universe by elucidating how the boson provides mass to particles, thereby binding the cosmos together.
Higgs’s theory, formulated in 1964, was corroborated by experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland in 2012. This landmark discovery led to the awarding of the Nobel Prize jointly to François Englert, another theoretical physicist whose contributions were instrumental in the particle’s identification.
A distinguished member of the Royal Society and a Companion of Honour, Higgs dedicated the majority of his professional career to Edinburgh University. In recognition of his monumental achievements, the university established the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics in his honor in 2012.
Peter Mathieson, the university’s principal, hailed Higgs as a remarkable scientist whose visionary insights have enriched humanity’s understanding of the world. His pioneering work continues to inspire countless scientists across generations.
Fabiola Gianotti, the director general at CERN, fondly remembered Higgs as not only an outstanding physicist but also a humble individual with an exceptional ability to elucidate complex scientific concepts. She expressed deep sorrow at his passing and acknowledged his invaluable contributions to CERN’s history.
John Ellis, the former head of theory at CERN, described Higgs as a giant in the field of particle physics whose theories laid the foundation for our understanding of fundamental forces in the universe. The discovery of the Higgs particle validated Higgs’s profound insights into the workings of the cosmos.
Jon Butterworth, a collaborator of Higgs, praised him as a hero to the particle physics community and lauded his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. Despite his aversion to the limelight, Higgs utilized his public profile to advocate for science and promote its societal importance.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences underscored the significance of Higgs’s work, emphasizing that the existence of the Higgs particle is fundamental to the standard model of physics and our very existence.
Despite his monumental achievements, Higgs remained a humble and reserved individual who shunned attention. He leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his scientific contributions, touching the lives of his family, including his two sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.
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