Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was one of the most influential and renowned scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries. He made groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, cosmology, and the origin of the universe. He also wrote several popular science books that made complex scientific concepts accessible to millions of readers around the world. He was widely admired for his courage and perseverance in overcoming a debilitating motor neuron disease that gradually paralyzed him and left him unable to speak except through a voice synthesizer. He was a vocal advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, as well as for the exploration of space and the search for extraterrestrial life. Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, England. His father was a medical researcher and his mother was a secretary. He had two younger sisters and an adopted brother. He showed an early interest in science and mathematics, but was not a very diligent student. He attended St Albans School and then won a scholarship to study physics at University College, Oxford. He graduated with a first-class honours degree in 1962 and then moved to Cambridge to pursue a PhD in cosmology. At Cambridge, Hawking met his first wife, Jane Wilde, a language student. They married in 1965 and had three children together. Hawking also met his doctoral supervisor, Dennis Sciama, who introduced him to the work of Roger Penrose on black holes and singularities. Hawking applied Penrose’s ideas to the entire universe and showed that it must have begun with a singularity, or a point of infinite density and curvature, in what is now known as the Big Bang theory. He also showed that black holes can emit radiation due to quantum effects, which is now known as Hawking radiation. These discoveries established Hawking as one of the leading experts on gravity and the universe. In 1963, shortly after his 21st birthday, Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare and incurable disease that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. He was given only a few years to live. However, he defied the odds and continued to work on his research and live an active life. He became a fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1965 and a member of the Royal Society in 1974. He also held several prestigious positions at Cambridge, including Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1979–2009) and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology (2004–2018). Hawking’s fame grew beyond the academic world when he published his first popular science book, A Brief History of Time, in 1988. The book explained the origin and structure of the universe in simple terms and became an international bestseller. It was followed by several other books, such as The Universe in a Nutshell (2001), A Briefer History of Time (2005), The Grand Design (2010), and Brief Answers to the Big Questions (2018). Hawking also appeared in many documentaries, TV shows, films, and even comic books. He played himself on Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Simpsons, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory, and Monty Python Live (Mostly). He also lent his voice to Pink Floyd’s song Keep Talking (1994) and narrated the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Hawking’s personal life was not without challenges and controversies. His marriage to Jane ended in divorce in 1995 after he fell in love with one of his nurses, Elaine Mason. He married Mason later that year, but their relationship was marred by allegations of abuse and infidelity. They divorced in 2006. Hawking also faced criticism from some religious groups for his atheistic views and his rejection of the idea of a creator or a purpose for the universe. He also expressed concern about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, nuclear war, climate change, and overpopulation for the future of humanity. He advocated for the colonization of other planets as a way of ensuring the survival of the human species. Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge on March 14, 2018, at the age of 76. His death was mourned by millions of people around the world, who paid tribute to his scientific achievements, his inspirational spirit, and his sense of humour. His ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey, near the graves of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, two other giants of science. His final words to the public were: "Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up."