Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs - after whom the Higgs boson was named after - dies aged 94

The 'truly gifted' Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs - after whom the subatomic particle the Higgs boson was named - has died aged 94.

Peter Higgs was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013 for his work that led to the discovery of the subatomic particle the Higgs boson, which explains why particles have mass.

Professor Higgs, working with several other scientists, first proposed the idea of Higgs boson in 1964.

But it was not until the technology caught up nearly half a century later, with experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN finally confirming his theory in 2012.

Prof Higgs, emeritus professor at Edinburgh University, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work in 2013, along with Francois Englert.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs - after whom the subatomic particle the Higgs boson was named - has died aged 94

Professor Brian Cox tributes Peter Higgs, who today died at the age of 94

TV scientist Professor Brian Cox led tributes to the great physicist, writing on X/Twitter this evening: 'Very sorry to hear Peter Higgs has died.

'I was fortunate enough to meet him several times, and beyond being a famous physicist - I think to his embarrassment at times - he was always charming and modest.

'And of course his name will be remembered as long as we do physics in the form of the Higgs Boson. RIP Peter.'

Edinburgh University said in a statement on Tuesday: 'It has been confirmed that Professor Peter Higgs has passed away at the age of 94.

'He died on Monday April 8 peacefully at home following a short illness.

'His family has asked that the media and public respect their privacy at this time.'

The university's principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, 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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