Peter Higgs, physicist who unlocked mysteries of the universe, dies aged 94
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Professor Peter Higgs, a distinguished particle physicist who secured the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the Higgs boson, has passed away at the age of 94. His theory on this elementary particle played a significant role in the advancement of knowledge about the cosmos.
Higgs, who passed away at his residence on Monday, witnessed the momentous theoretical research that he and his colleagues conducted in the 1960s. This was eventually validated by experiments conducted at the Cern particle accelerator almost 50 years later.
The Higgs boson was discovered in 2012 at Cern, which is situated in Geneva, Switzerland. It brought to a close the Standard Model of particle physics. This famous discovery proved that a fundamental field, which was first postulated by Higgs, exists within the universe. Moreover, this field enables the stars, planets, and life within to have mass.
On Tuesday, various members of the scientific community paid their respects to the late physicist. Cern, a scientific organization that was established in 1954 to explore the mysteries of the universe through particle physics, gave high praise to Higgs for his remarkable achievements.
Fabiola Gianotti, who serves as the director-general of Cern, stated that he was an incredibly motivating person for physicists everywhere who had a talent for expressing a complex scientific field in a clear and insightful manner.
Gianotti, along with many others, expressed her deep sorrow over the loss of Higgs, who played a vital role in Cern's history and achievements. She also highlighted Higgs's exceptional humility. His passing will be greatly felt.
According to Mark Thomson, who is a professor of particle physics at Cambridge University and is currently in the running to become the next director-general of Cern, Higgs was an immensely important figure in the field of theoretical physics. He was referred to as a "giant" due to his significant contributions to science.
Thomson expressed that his work, along with that of other individuals, brought about a significant transformation in our comprehension of the most fundamental elements of the universe. He added that the formation of this theory was a gigantic conceptual jump that originated from an intelligent mind.
Professor Brian Cox, a physicist and popular TV personality from the UK, wrote a post on X saying that the Higgs Boson will forever be associated with the name of Higgs in the scientific community.
Higgs focused on studying the tiny realm of quantum fields, which have the power to determine the boundaries of what can and cannot happen in nature, according to Cern. Specifically, he developed a theory about how the Higgs field, named after himself, granted particles their mass shortly after the explosive creation of the universe known as the Big Bang.
Higgs and other scientists have provided valuable knowledge that has allowed for continuous exploration into the history and future of the universe. A proposed expansion project worth €16bn is being evaluated by Cern's 23 member countries to construct a particle accelerator which is more than three times bigger than the current Large Hadron Collider that has a doughnut-shape.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2013 for his contribution in the respective field. He shared the recognition with François Englert, who is a Belgian theoretical physicist.
Edinburgh university stated that Higgs was an excellent educator and guide. He dedicated most of his professional life to teaching at the university.
Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, who holds the position of Edinburgh's principal and vice-chancellor, expressed his admiration for the exceptional qualities of Peter Higgs. He acknowledged him as a talented scientist whose insights and creativity have contributed to our understanding of the universe.
The groundbreaking research he conducted has encouraged a multitude of scientists, and his impact will persistently stimulate future generations.
