Top Stanford physicist Shoucheng Zhang dies

Well-known Stanford University physicist and entrepreneur Shoucheng Zhang has died at the age of 55.

The death of the prominent Chinese-American scientist was confirmed in a Wednesday email sent on behalf of Danhua Capital, the venture capital company he helped start.

"It's with a heavy heart that we share with you the sudden passing of our beloved friend, the founding chairman, professor Shoucheng Zhang, who passed away on Dec 1," the email said. No cause of death was given, but media reports cited family members as saying he had been battling depression.