Chen Ning Yang, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist whose groundbreaking work on parity violation reshaped modern physics, died in Beijing on October 18 at age 103. A towering figure in 20th-century science, Yang’s legacy spans continents and decades.
Born in 1922 in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Yang moved to the United States in the 1940s to pursue graduate studies. At just 35, he shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics with Tsung-Dao Lee for experimental proof that challenged a century-old assumption about mirror symmetry in subatomic particles.
Beyond the Nobel, Yang’s research contributed to statistical mechanics and gauge theory, laying foundations for the Standard Model. He published over 200 papers, mentored generations of scientists, and received honors from institutions worldwide, including election as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Yang’s journey was not just scientific. He bridged cultures, advocating for collaborations between researchers in the Chinese mainland and abroad. His centennial years saw him continue to teach and inspire at universities and conferences across Asia and North America.
As the world reflects on his passing, Yang’s story reminds us that curiosity fuels progress. His century of inquiry and global mentorship leaves a blueprint for young innovators and changemakers seeking to push the boundaries of knowledge.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
