While working at CERN in 1968, Veneziano discovered that the Euler Beta function used as a scattering amplitude, the so-called Veneziano amplitude, has many features useful for explaining the physical properties of strongly interacting particles. This amplitude is now interpreted as the scattering amplitude for four open string tachyons.

Veneziano's work led to intense research trying to explain the strong force by a field theory of strings about one fermi in length. The rise of quantum chromodynamics, a rival explanation of the strong force, led to a loss of interest in string theories. Interest in string theories revived in the 1980s. More recently, Veneziano has worked in string cosmology.

Society Memberships

• National Academy of Sciences of Turin (1994);
• Lincei National Academy {1996);
• French Academy of Sciences (2002).

Awards

• I. Ya. Pomeranchuk Prize, Moscow, 1999
• Gold medal della Repubblica Italiana come Benemerito della Cultura, 2000
• Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, from the American Physical Society, 2004
• Enrico Fermi Prize from the Italian Physical Society, 2005
• Albert Einstein Medal, 2006
• Oskar Klein Medal, 2007
• Commendatore al merito della Repubblica Italiana, 2007