94-year-old Physicist Peter Higgs, who Proposed the Higgs Particle, Passes Away

Renowned British scientist Peter Higgs has passed away at the age of 94.

In 2013, he received the prestigious Nobel prize for Physics in recognition of his groundbreaking research on the boson and its role in the cohesion of the Universe.

According to a statement from Edinburgh University, he passed away in the city on Monday.

It praised him as a highly talented scientist whose exceptional vision and creativity have expanded our understanding of the world around us.

Prof Brian Cox expressed his admiration for Higgs on X (formerly known as Twitter): “I had the privilege of meeting him multiple times, and aside from his renowned contributions to physics – which he sometimes found embarrassing – he consistently displayed charm and humility.

“His legacy will endure as long as the field of physics continues to explore the intricacies of the Higgs Boson.”

During the 1960s, Higgs and other physicists dedicated their efforts to unravelling the mystery behind the mass of the fundamental particles that make up our Universe.

It ignited a quest for the ultimate goal of physics – a particle that could provide a unified explanation for three fundamental forces (electromagnetism and the weak and the strong nuclear forces) within a single theory.

In 2012, scientists made a groundbreaking discovery using the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. They were able to identify and name the particle as the Higgs boson.

One year later, Higgs’ groundbreaking work was finally acknowledged with the prestigious Nobel Prize, which he shared with Francois Englert of Belgium.

He was an introverted individual who felt uneasy about the spotlight his theory garnered. Upon hearing the announcement, he couldn’t help but shed a tear. However, he expressed to journalists, “It’s quite satisfying to be proven correct on occasion.”

The head of CERN, Fabiola Gianotti, shared with BBC News that Peter was a remarkable individual who served as a tremendous source of inspiration for physicists worldwide. He was known for his exceptional humility, his skill as an educator, and his ability to convey complex physics concepts in a clear and profound manner.

“I am deeply saddened, and his absence will be greatly felt,” she expressed.

Alan Barr, a Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, expressed his admiration for the significant influence Higgs had on our comprehension of the cosmos.

“He put forward the idea of a field that is present throughout the entire universe, encompassing everything from massive objects to tiny particles like electrons and top quarks.”

“He was also a genuine gentleman, displaying humility and politeness, consistently acknowledging the contributions of others, and providing gentle support to upcoming generations of scientists and scholars,” he remarked.

Pallab Ghosh explores the depths of the world’s largest particle accelerator, where the groundbreaking discovery of the Higgs boson was made.