Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of the Higgs boson, commonly referred to as the "God particle," has died at the age of 94, according to the University of Edinburgh. Higgs, who was an emeritus professor at the university, passed away on Monday after a brief illness.

In 1964, Higgs proposed the existence of a new particle known as the Higgs boson, which played a crucial role in explaining how matter forms in the aftermath of the Big Bang. It took nearly half a century for scientists to confirm the existence of this elusive particle, with the breakthrough occurring in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider, located in a vast underground tunnel spanning the Swiss-French border.

Higgs' theory revolutionized our understanding of subatomic particles and their relationship to mass, thereby contributing significantly to the development of the Standard Model of physics, which explains the fundamental laws governing the universe.

Referred to as a "remarkable individual" by Edinburgh University Vice Chancellor Peter Mathieson, Higgs' pioneering work has inspired countless scientists and will continue to shape the future of physics for generations to come. His visionary ideas and imaginative thinking have enriched our knowledge of the world around us.

Higgs' contribution to science provided a vital piece of the puzzle regarding the origins of the universe. His work helped unravel one of the most fundamental mysteries surrounding the Big Bang, revealing how something could be created from seemingly nothing 13.7 billion years ago.

The confirmation of the existence of the Higgs boson was a challenging feat that required the collaboration of thousands of scientists, decades of research, and the collection of vast amounts of data from trillions of colliding protons. Only with the aid of the Large Hadron Collider, one of the world's largest particle accelerators built by CERN, were scientists able to simulate the extreme conditions present in the early universe.

One of the most poignant moments in Higgs' illustrious career came in 2013 during the presentation of his groundbreaking discovery at CERN in Geneva. Overwhelmed by the confirmation of his theory, Higgs was moved to tears, wiping his glasses while sitting in the lecture hall.

Born in Newcastle, England, on May 29, 1929, Higgs pursued his education at King's College, University of London, ultimately earning a PhD in 1954. He dedicated a significant portion of his career to the University of Edinburgh, where he became the Personal Chair of Theoretical Physics in 1980 before retiring in 1996.

Higgs received numerous honorary degrees from prestigious institutions, including Edinburgh, Swansea, Cambridge, St Andrews, and Manchester, acknowledging his immense contributions to the field of physics.

The passing of Peter Higgs marks the end of an era for the scientific community. His remarkable discoveries and insurmountable impact on our understanding of the universe will forever be remembered as a testament to his visionary brilliance.