World-renowned physicist Peter Higgs, whose groundbreaking work led to the discovery of the Higgs boson, affectionately dubbed the “God particle,” passed away at the age of 94. Higgs, an emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh, died at his home in Edinburgh after a brief illness.

In 1964, Higgs unveiled a revolutionary theory about how particles acquire mass, based on the existence of an elusive and enigmatic boson. The work suggested that this boson is one of the creators of the Universe but remained undiscovered. At that time, his theory did not receive support, but nearly half a century later, in 2012, the Large Hadron Collider confirmed the existence of such a particle — the Higgs boson. The following year, Peter Higgs became a Nobel laureate in physics.

Despite his monumental contributions to science, Higgs remained modest and reserved, shying away from the attention that accompanied his achievements. However, it is already evident that the legacy of this pioneering scientist and educator will benefit many generations of researchers worldwide.

Colleagues and admirers emphasised Higgs’s profound influence on particle physics: CERN Director–General Fabiola Gianotti called him an “immensely inspiring figure,” while physicist Brian Cox stated that Higgs’s name will be remembered as long as physics exists. Honoring Higgs’s memory, the scientific community recognises the loss of a brilliant mind whose discoveries have reshaped our understanding of the Universe.