Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs, the man behind the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, has died aged 94.
The “truly gifted” scientist predicted the existence of the new subatomic particle as far back as 1964.
His theory would not be confirmed until 2012, when experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at Cern finally proved the particle’s existence.
The following year, Prof Higgs, emeritus professor at Edinburgh University, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work, along with Francois Englert.
A statement from the university said: “It has been confirmed that Professor Peter Higgs has passed away at the age of 94.
“He died on Monday 8 April peacefully at home following a short illness.
“His family has asked that the media and public respect their privacy at this time.”
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, said: “Peter Higgs was a remarkable individual – a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us.
“His pioneering work has motivated thousands of scientists, and his legacy will continue to inspire many more for generations to come.”
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