A Giant in Physics Takes His Final Bow

Chen-ning Yang, a name that resonates with brilliance in the world of physics, has left us at the age of 103. His passing was confirmed by Xinhua, but the specifics of his illness remain undisclosed. Yang's contributions to science are monumental. He stood shoulder to shoulder with giants like Albert Einstein, shaping the 20th century's understanding of the universe. In 1954, he teamed up with Robert Mills to create a set of equations that would become as pivotal as Einstein's theory of relativity. These equations, now known as the Yang-Mills theory, unlocked the secrets of three of nature's four fundamental forces. They explained how the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions work at the tiniest scales, within the subatomic world. This theory didn't just stop there. It became the bedrock of the Standard Model, the backbone of modern physics. The Standard Model unifies these forces and explains the behavior of all known elementary particles. Yang's work didn't just advance science; it redefined it. His legacy is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.