Incredibly sad news from Apple just a matter of minutes ago: Steve Jobs has died today at the age of 56.

Jobs has been fighting pancreatic cancer since 2004. Just over a month ago, he officially resigned as CEO, vowing to be a very active chairman of the Apple board, making today's news painfully abrupt.

Chances are, you encounter something on a daily basis that probably would not exist were it not for the mind of Steve Jobs, truly one of history's greatest technical and even cultural innovators. It's a sad day for all of us here at Popular Science, who daily honor the spirit of innovation Jobs embodied more than anyone else on this planet. He will be dearly missed.

A tribute page on Apple.com quotes from Jobs's successor Tim Cook's message to the company: "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

An email address, [email protected], has been established for those who wish to share their thoughts, memories and condolences. All of us here at PopSci extend our best wishes to his family, friends and loved ones.

[Apple]