Peter Higgs, Nobel laureate in physics, has passed away
Peter Higgs, Nobel laureate in physics, has passed away
Britain's Peter Higgs, Nobel laureate in physics, has died at the age of 94, the University of Edinburgh has announced. The discoverer of the Higgs boson is known for his theory of the mass of elementary particles.
Peter Hicks, the British Nobel laureate in physics, has died at the age of 94. It was announced by the University of Edinburgh, where Hicks spent most of his life. Higgs became famous for his theory of the mass of elementary particles.
DBritish Nobel laureate in physics Peter Higgs has died. He died at the age of 94 on Monday at his home, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland announced on Tuesday. He spent most of his career at the university.
The Englishman gained world fame for his theory of the mass of elementary particles. The discovery of the Higgs boson, also known as the “God particle,” at the Cern Research Center in Switzerland catapulted the theorist into the physics hall of fame. Along with François Englert of Belgium, Higgs won the Nobel Prize in 2013 for his prediction of the mass particle.
Peter Hicks in Stockholm in December 2013 after winning the Nobel Prize in Physics
Source: AFP/Jonathan Knockstrand
“Peter Hicks was a remarkable man – a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination enriched our knowledge of the world around us,” said Peter Matheson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh. “His pioneering work has inspired thousands of scientists, and his legacy will inspire generations to come.”
Although both theoretical physicists came up with mass theory at the same time in the mid-1960s, Higgs's name prevailed, but not Englert's – much to the dismay of the publicity-shy and reticent physicist. He believed that he was getting more fame than he deserved. The development of the thesis and the invention of the particle was a team effort.
The atheist rejected the name “God particle” for his discovery
“I didn't think it would happen in my lifetime,” Hicks told New Scientist, confirming his theory. But the situation changed when large particle accelerators were built. The atheist rejected the name “God particle” for his discovery.
Hicks was born on May 29, 1929, in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, the son of a sound engineer. As a child he suffered from asthma and was initially taught by his mother. In addition to his academic career, he was also politically active.
Until his death, the scientist was very popular among his colleagues and the media. Over time, Hicks gave interviews less and less, preferring to focus on music, films and books, above all else, a spokesman for the University of Edinburgh once said.
. “Amateur alcohol specialist. Reader. Hardcore introvert. Freelance explorer.”