British physicist Peter Higgs, known for his pioneering work on the Higgs boson particle, passed away at the age of 94. The University of Edinburgh made the announcement on April 8, confirming that he died peacefully at home after a brief illness. Higgs was a professor at the university for nearly half a century and is remembered as a great teacher and mentor who inspired many young scientists.
Higgs’ groundbreaking theoretical work helped explain how particles acquire mass, a fundamental concept in physics. His theory of the Higgs boson particle led to him receiving the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2013, along with Belgian physicist Francois Englert. This theory was confirmed by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN nearly fifty years after its proposal.
Peter Mathieson, Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, paid tribute to Higgs as a gifted scientist whose work has contributed significantly to our understanding of the world. His legacy will continue to inspire scientists for generations to come. Higgs’ vision and imagination have left a lasting impact on the field of physics.
The family of Peter Higgs has requested privacy during this time of mourning, but they are grateful for all those who supported him throughout his career and contributions to science.
