Renowned physicist Peter Higgs, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work on the Higgs boson particle, has passed away at the age of 94.
Higgs, honored with the Nobel Prize in 2013 for his revolutionary contributions in 1964 elucidating the role of the boson in endowing particles with mass and binding the universe together, died at his residence in Edinburgh on Monday.
Following extensive experiments, commencing notably in 2008, the validation of his theory came from physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Switzerland in 2012. The Nobel Prize was jointly awarded to François Englert, a Belgian theoretical physicist whose work in 1964 also significantly contributed to the discovery.
A distinguished member of the Royal Society and a Companion of Honour, Higgs dedicated much of his illustrious career to Edinburgh University. In his honor, the university established the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics in 2012.
Professor Peter Mathieson, the university’s principal, remarked, “Peter Higgs was an extraordinary individual – a truly gifted scientist whose insights and creativity have deepened our understanding of the cosmos.”
Professor Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General at Cern, hailed Higgs not only for his groundbreaking scientific contributions but also for his humility and excellence as an educator.
The evening preceding the particle’s discovery announcement, Higgs was feted at a gathering hosted by John Ellis, former head of theory at Cern. Ellis described him as “a titan of particle physics” and emphasized the profound impact of his theoretical contributions on our understanding of the universe.
Jon Butterworth, a collaborator on the Atlas project, lauded Higgs as “a hero” within the particle physics community, noting his significant influence on the field and his commitment to advancing scientific outreach.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which confers the Nobel Prize, highlighted the pivotal role of the Higgs particle in the standard model of physics, underscoring its fundamental importance in shaping our comprehension of the cosmos.
Despite his reluctance for public attention, Higgs’s profound contributions to physics and his modest demeanor earned him widespread admiration and respect. He is survived by his sons Chris and Jonny, daughter-in-law Suzanne, and two grandchildren. His wife, Jody, passed away in 2008.
