March 17, 2023: A brilliant mind passed away 5 years back on the 14th of March. Read all about Stephen Hawking and his accomplishments.
Stephen Hawking was a renowned British physicist, cosmologist, and author, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th and early 21st century.
He was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England and passed away on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge, England.
Hawking was known for his groundbreaking research in theoretical physics, particularly in the areas of black holes and the origins of the universe. He developed theories about the nature of time, space, and the laws of physics that have had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe.
Hawking was also a gifted writer and communicator, known for his ability to explain complex scientific ideas in a way that was accessible to a general audience. He wrote several popular science books, including "A Brief History of Time," which sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 40 languages.
Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis1 (ALS) at the age of 21, a disease that gradually paralyzed him over the course of his life. Despite this, he continued to work tirelessly, using a speech-generating device to communicate his ideas to the world.
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis1 (ALS)?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a rare neurological disease that affects motor neurons—those nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Voluntary muscles are those we choose to move to produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. ALS has no cure and there is no effective treatment to reverse its progression.
ALS is a type of motor neuron disease. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken, start to twitch (fasciculations), and waste away (atrophy). Eventually, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements.
ALS doesn't affect your ability to taste, touch, or smell, or hear.
There is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS. However, treatments can make living with the disease easier.
Source: NIS https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als
Hawking completed his undergraduate degree in physics from University College, Oxford, in 1962 and his PhD from Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1966. He also served as a research fellow in Trinity Hall.
In 1974, he was inducted into the Royal Society, a worldwide fellowship of scientists, as one of the youngest ever Fellows at the age of 32.
In 1979, he was appointed as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a position held by Isaac Newton in 1669. They also released his doctoral thesis to the public on its website in the year 2017.
Hawking's work and legacy have inspired countless scientists, researchers, and students around the world, and he remains a widely respected and beloved figure in the scientific community.
During his career, Hawking supervised 39 successful PhD students.
One of Hawking's most famous contributions to science is his work on black holes. He showed that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation, which was a groundbreaking discovery that challenged previous understandings of black holes.
Hawking's work helped to uncover the existence of singularities in the universe, points where the laws of physics break down and become meaningless. This led to new insights into the nature of the universe and the possibility of time travel.
Stephen Hawking's work on the Big Bang theory contributed significantly to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe. According to his research, the Universe began as an incredibly hot and dense point known as a singularity, which underwent rapid expansion in a burst of energy and matter known as the Big Bang.
Hawking's theory also proposes that the Universe has no boundary or edge, but rather exists as a closed surface that is finite yet unbounded, much like the surface of a sphere. He suggested that the Universe may be infinite in size, and that it will continue to expand indefinitely.
He predicted the existence of mini-black holes at the time of the Big Bang. These tiny black holes would have been incredibly hot, shedding mass until they vanished - potentially ending their lives in a powerful explosion.
Popularity of physics:
Perhaps one of Hawking's most significant contributions was popularizing physics and making it accessible to a wider audience. His books, including "A Brief History of Time," have sold millions of copies and inspired countless people to take an interest in science.
In late 2006, Hawking revealed in a BBC interview that one of his greatest unfulfilled desires was to travel to space; on hearing this, Richard Branson offered a free flight into space with Virgin Galactic, which Hawking immediately accepted. Besides personal ambition, he was motivated by the desire to increase public interest in spaceflight and to show the potential of people with disabilities.
On 26 April 2007, Hawking flew aboard a specially-modified Boeing 727–200 jet operated by Zero-G Corp off the coast of Florida to experience weightlessness.
in picture: Hawking taking a zero-gravity flight in a reduced-gravity aircraft, April 2007.
Source: wikipedia
Throughout his life, Hawking received numerous honours and awards, including the Albert Einstein Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Stephen Hawking received numerous awards throughout his career. Some of his notable awards include:
- CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1982
- Companion of Honour in 1989
- Wolf Prize in Physics in 1988
- Prince of Asturias Awards in 1989
- Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009
- Fundamental Physics Prize in 2012
- BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in 2015
These are just some of the many awards and honors that Hawking received for his groundbreaking contributions to physics and cosmology.
Stephen Hawking was a brilliant scientist and a great thinker, and he is also remembered for his inspiring and thought-provoking quotes.
Some of Stephen Hawking’s most remembered quotes:
The Theory of Everything, a movie named after one of his books, is considered as one of the best biographical films ever made.
Released in 2014, the movie chronicles Hawking's life from his days as a PhD student at Cambridge University to his rise as a world-renowned physicist and author.
The film portrays Hawking's relationship with his first wife, Jane Wilde, who supported him throughout his illness and career. It also explores the challenges he faced as his condition worsened, and how he continued to work and communicate his ideas despite being unable to speak.
The movie is a powerful tribute to Hawking's life and work, highlighting his contributions to science and his personal struggles with ALS. It is a moving and inspiring story that showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of the mind to overcome adversity.
Stephen Hawking passed away on March 14, 2018, at the age of 76.
The exact cause of his death was not released by his family, but it is believed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep. Hawking had defied the odds of his diagnosis, living for over five decades longer than the typical life expectancy of someone with ALS.
A statement released by his three children said: "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world.
"He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever."