世纪杨振宁：弦断有谁听

Core Viewpoint - The article reflects on the life and contributions of Yang Zhenning, a prominent physicist, highlighting his achievements, struggles, and enduring legacy in the field of physics. Group 1: Early Life and Education - Yang Zhenning was born over a century ago and experienced significant turmoil during his childhood, including fleeing from military conflicts [3][4]. - He faced challenges as a Chinese student in the U.S., including discrimination when trying to purchase a home [5]. - Yang Zhenning excelled academically, being the only student accepted into a physics program under a scholarship initiative in 1945 [13]. Group 2: Major Contributions and Achievements - He won the Nobel Prize at the age of 34 for his work on "parity violation," a groundbreaking theory in physics [6][7]. - Yang Zhenning's collaboration with Mills led to the development of the Yang-Mills theory, which unified three fundamental forces, marking a milestone in 20th-century physics [7][8]. - His work has been compared to that of Newton, Maxwell, and Einstein, establishing him as one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century [8]. Group 3: Later Life and Legacy - Even in his later years, Yang Zhenning remained active in research, publishing over 30 SCI papers and contributing to the establishment of numerous top-tier physics laboratories [5][22]. - He expressed concerns about the future of high-energy physics and opposed the construction of large particle colliders in China due to cost-effectiveness considerations [28][29]. - Yang Zhenning's reflections on his life reveal a sense of pragmatism and a desire for future generations to excel in science [26][30].