The global scientific community is mourning the death of Antonino Zichichi, who passed away at the age of 96. A towering figure in 20th-century physics, Zichichi played a central role in advancing nuclear and particle physics and was one of Italy’s most influential scientific minds.
Internationally renowned for his work at CERN in Geneva, Zichichi devoted his life to the study of the fundamental laws of nature. He was also the founder of the Ettore Majorana Centre in Erice, which became a unique hub for scientific dialogue, even during the most tense years of the Cold War, bringing together researchers from both sides of the Iron Curtain.
Among his most important scientific contributions was the discovery of nuclear antimatter, specifically antideuterium. His visionary approach also led to the creation of the Gran Sasso National Laboratories, now one of the world’s leading centers for research into elementary particles and dark matter, reinforcing Italy’s role at the forefront of high-energy physics.
Beyond the laboratory, Zichichi was one of Italy’s most prominent and controversial science communicators. Through television appearances and bestselling essays, he introduced complex concepts such as supersymmetry to a mass audience, while also sparking debate for his firm views on the relationship between science and faith.
Through initiatives like the “Erice Declaration,” Zichichi championed the idea of science without borders, promoting cooperation in the face of global challenges ranging from pollution to nuclear risk. With his passing, science loses not only a brilliant researcher, but a visionary who believed deeply in knowledge as a foundation for peace and human progress.