Belgian scientist François Angler, a particle physics expert and Nobel Prize winner of Physics in 2013 for his work on the Higgs boson, died at the age of 93, announced today the Free University of Brussels (ULB), where he had worked in the past.

The Higgs boson is considered by physicists as the cornerstone of the fundamental structure of matter, the elementary particle that gives mass to many others, according to the theory known as the "Specified Standard".

In 2013, François Angler was awarded the Nobel Prize jointly with British Peter Higgs (who died in 2024). Both set, as early as 1964, the theoretical bases that would lead to the discovery of the boson in 2012 in CERN's Swiss laboratory.

"With deep sadness ULB was informed of François Angler's death, which occurred on June 18, 2026 in Uckle," the university announced. "High personality of modern theoretical physics, leaves behind an excellent scientific heritage and an indelible imprint in the history of our University," the institution said.

François Englert (1932 – 2026)

It is with great sadness that we announce that Belgian theoretical physicist, François Englert, has passed away at the age of 93.

Read more: https://t.co/PkTgBPPEPFL pic.twitter. com/in3JaAzCTU— CERN (@CERN) June 19, 2026

Born November 6, 1932 in the municipality of Eterbec, Brussels, François Angler devoted more than seven decades to researching theoretical physics, a branch to which he obtained a doctorate after previously studying political engineering.

At the end of his studies he joined Cornell University in the United States, where he met American professor Robert Bruut. The latter followed him to Belgium to run together the ULB Department of Theoretical Physics and end up in the proposal of the "Braut-Angler-Higgs mechanism", laying the foundations for the 2012 discovery.

Receiving the Nobel Prize in 2013, François Angler had explained to the press that his work was always about "the search for an understanding, a rationalization of the world". "Unreasonable ideas have done enough harm to Europe. Science is necessary to build a culture worthy of this name," Angler said, who identified himself as unconventional and atheist.

Angler was the son of Jewish merchants from Brussels. He and his family had been forced to hide during World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied Belgium. He had been awarded the title of Baron by the King of Belgium.