The world of physics and science in general is in mourning following the death of Peter Higgs, the distinguished physicist behind the discovery of the Higgs boson, an elementary particle that provides mass to other particles. His theory, proposed in the 1960s, revolutionized particle physics and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013, as well as recognition for his fundamental contribution to our understanding of the universe.
Higgs, whose work changed modern science, has died at the age of 94. This visionary British scientist, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, spent most of his academic career in… University of EdinburghWhere he formulated the hypothesis that bears his name. Although his theory was initially met with skepticism, over time it became one of the pillars of theoretical physics.
What disease did Peter Higgs suffer from?
Peter Higgs’ health has deteriorated in recent years. Although he remained active in the scientific community and at public events, his family and close friends learned of his long illness, the details of which were kept private out of respect for his and his family’s privacy. This cautious side of his life reflects the modest and reserved character that has always characterized him.
Peter Higgs, the physicist who predicted the existence of the boson that now bears his name. Photo: Claudia Marceloni | CERN
What is the Higgs boson?
The Higgs boson, often called the “God particle,” is essential to understanding the basic structure of the universe because it provides an explanation for the origin of the mass of subatomic particles. Confirm its existence before Large Hadron Collider (LHC) 2012 was a landmark scientific event that validated the Higgs theory and strengthened the Standard Model of particle physics.
The Higgs boson has helped us understand the origin of mass in subatomic particles. Photo: France 23
What is the purpose of the Large Hadron Collider?
he Large Hadron Collider (LHC) It is the largest and most powerful particle accelerator in the world, and is located at CERN near Geneva. Its main purpose is to study the fundamental properties of subatomic particles. By colliding particles at speeds close to the speed of light, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) allows scientists to observe phenomena that reveal the fundamental laws of nature.
In 2012, researchers from the European Organization for Nuclear Research revealed the discovery of the Higgs boson thanks to the use of the collider. This discovery represents one of the most important developments in physics in recent decades. This revolutionary discovery included A With an investment of 10 billion US dollars, it is located in a 27-kilometre-long tunnel It is located under the border between France and Switzerland.
(Tags for translation) Peter Hague
