'Supersymmetry' physicist Wess dead at 72

Julius Wess, one of the world's most prominent theoretical physicists, has died in Germany at age 72.

Wess and his colleague Bruno Zumino published a 1973 paper that was the first iteration of what came to be known as the Wess-Zumino model. The theory helped clarify the function of particles known as fermions and botons that make up matter like electrons and photons, The New York Times reported Monday.

Wess' research was part of a field of research broadly known as super symmetry, which could help scientists explain the dark matter that makes up the majority of the universe.

The scientist, who was born in Austria but did much of his research in the United States and Germany, died Aug. 8, in Hamburg, Germany, the Times said.

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