The Legends of the earth in Science: Prof. Stephen Hawking, passed away today on the Pi Day (3.14). which is also Albert Einstein's birthday.
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is a British theoretical physicist and professor and author who has done groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology, and whose books have helped to make science accessible to everyone. He is known for his groundbreaking work with black holes and relativity, and is the author of several popular science books including 'A Brief History of Time.'
At age 21, while studying cosmology at the University of Cambridge, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Part of his life story was depicted in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything.
Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in the town of Oxford England to a family of thinkers and innovators.
"I still love how my birthday, 08/01/42, falls on the same date as Galilean Galileo's death"
A young Stephen Hawking with his sister Mary Hawking
Stephen Attended Oxford University at the age of 17, while there Stephen would devote thousands of hours to his academics a task a habit that he enjoyed doing. Stephen graduated from Oxford in 1962 with a first-class BA degree in Natural Science. However, during this time Stephen started to notice unusual problems with his health as he sometimes would trip and fall, or slur his speech.
Stephen would later attend Cambridge University in pursuit of a PhD in cosmology.
It was here during his Cambridge years that Stephen would find out that he had ALS. One day his father started to notice Stephen's unusual symptoms and decided to take him to the doctor. There they took a muscle sample from his arm and performed a various test. Doctors would later tell Stephen he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and at the age of 21, Stephen was told he only had two and a half years to live.
A throwback to college days. He went to University College, University of Oxford for physics, then Cambridge University for cosmology.
"At 21, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Docs said I had 2 and a half years to live."
After hearing this devastating news Stephen wanted to quit academics, as he felt that it no longer mattered. However, after having a dream one night of almost being executed he decided there was still things to do in his life. In 1963, at a New years eve party Stephen met a young girl by the name of Jane Wilde, both would later marry in 1965.
"Met my 1st wife in '63; Jane Wilde and I were married in '65."
After several years of living with ALS, Stephen now needed the support of a wheelchair to move around. In 1968 his first son Robert was born and later in 1969, his daughter Lucy was born (10 years later they would have another child by the name of Timothy). In the same year, Stephen became a member of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge.
Professor Stephen Hawking pays tribute to the first wife who saved him from depression after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Stephen Hawking and His Family
"I Started a family in the early 70's"
"Unfortunately, my focus on physics put a strain on my marriage. Jane and I separated in '90, which upset my children."
"I married my nurse, Elaine Mason in 1995. Other nurses reported her physical abuse of me, we divorced in 2006."
Stephen Hawking and His Passion
"As my physical condition deteriorated, my passion for physics and astronomy intensified. "
In 1969, with my pal Penrose, discovered that all matter in black holes collapses into a singularity, density is ∞.
In 1974, Stephens research into black holes made him a celebrity when he proved that black holes were not the vacuums that stored information. As radiation can escape the clutches of black holes. He was later named a fellow of the Royal Society at the age of 32.
"In '74, I realized black holes emit subatomic particles until the black hole evaporates completely."
"I was honoured with the Pius XI Gold Medal for Science from Pope Paul VI in 1975."
"I became Cambridge’s Lucasian Prof. of Mathematics (Isaac Newton's position back in the day) in 1979."
Later Stephen would have teaching stints at Cal-tech and Cambridge University. Hawking, however, saw his condition worsen as he continued to live, but by now he had defied all the odds and the dates given to him about how long he had to live. Stephen caught the eye of a young programmer from California and the programmer designed a special device for Stephen after he lost the ability to speak, do to the progression of the ALS disease.
"After my tracheotomy in '85, I lost my voice. S/O to Walter Woltosz for designing my special computer so I can talk!"
"Some cool videos explain how the computer works here:"
How Does Stephen Hawking Talk (video)
Stephen today is confined to a wheelchair without the ability to speak or move. However, he was not let the disease that is a big part of him define him. Stephen has said that in a way he is grateful for his disease because without it he would have not been who he is today. Stephen has continued to be a big part of the scientific community and he has written several books about the universe and its workings.
Stephen Hawking's Legacy
Let's begin with
Into The Universe With Stephen Hawking The Story of Everything
On January 8, 2007, scientist Stephen Hawking did something special for his 65th birthday—he took a trip up into zero gravity. He rode in the Zero Gravity Corporation’s modified Boeing 727 jet, which travelled up to 24,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida and performed a series of dips that let Hawking experience a total of about four minutes of weightlessness. Because Hawking suffers from a degenerative nerve disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a medical support team was on hand to monitor his blood pressure and cardiac readings. But the renowned physicist held up even better than expected, negotiating for two additional 30-second rounds of weightlessness while in flight.
The renowned physicist enjoyed the sensation of weightlessness while 24,000 feet over the Atlantic.
“It was amazing. The zero-G part was wonderful, and the high-G part was no problem,” Hawking said. “I could have gone on and on. Space, here I come.”
"Experienced zero gravity for my 65th birthday!"
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Stephen Hawking being presented by his daughter Lucy Hawking at the lecture he gave for NASA's 50th anniversary, April 2008.
Hawking was making the case in this lecture that going into space is critical to our survival as a species.
"Co-wrote a children's book in 2007 with my daughter, Lucy."
His inspiring lecture even included his daughter Lucy who has co-authored a book with him to get kids excited about science called, "George’s Secret Key to the Universe." They are working together to get young people excited about studying math and science again like they were during Apollo. "We live in a society that is increasingly governed by science and technology, yet fewer and fewer young people long to go into science," said Dr Hawking.
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Stephen Hawking meets former South African president Nelson Mandela at Mandela's Foundation office in Johannesburg on May 15, 2008.
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U.S. President Barack Obama was presenting Stephen Hawking and 15 others with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 12 August 2009 in the White House.
Describing Prof Hawking, 67, who gained public fame with his book A Brief History of Time, the president said: ''From his wheelchair, he has led us on a journey to the farthest and strangest reaches of the cosmos. In so doing, he has stirred our imagination and showed us the power of the human spirit.''
Speaking after the ceremony, Prof Hawking said: "Thank you for joining me to celebrate this evening. I was delighted to be awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama, today at the White House. The ceremony was a great occasion, and I very much enjoyed meeting President Obama and the First Lady, as well as my fellow award winners. This has been a wonderful day.
"It is a great privilege to receive the Medal of Freedom. Freedom is very important for scientists. We need the freedom to develop our theories, and further our work. To exchange ideas, and communicate our discoveries to each other, and the public. We also need the freedom to raise ideas which are difficult, or which shake common perceptions of ourselves, or our place in the universe.
"In that, I am much more fortunate than some of my forebears in science.
"The astronomer, Galileo Galilei, was imprisoned by the Catholic church, for suggesting that the Earth went around the sun, rather than the other way round. He died under house arrest on 8th January 1642. I was born exactly 300 years later. If I had proposed some of my theories in the age of Galileo, I would definitely have spent much of my career behind bars. This would not have stopped me thinking about the universe, but it would have been much less comfortable for me. I’m proud to have been able to contribute to our understanding of the universe. I’m also glad that my work has reached a popular audience because I believe it is important that the public should know, and have the chance to understand, the seemingly mysterious work of scientists. But this universe would be an empty place indeed if I had not had the love and support of my family and friends. If there were medals for that, then I would have very many to give out myself.
"I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this trip to Washington DC possible, and I would like to thank Dominick Chilcott, for hosting this party this evening to celebrate. Please join me in a toast, to Freedom."
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Stephen Hawking (C) and Jane Wilde Hawking (L) attend the EE British Academy Film Awards at The Royal Opera House on February 8, 2015 in London, England.
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Pope Francis meets Stephen Hawking at Vatican science conference the Pontifical Academy of Sciences November 25-29, 2016.
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As a member of the Advisory Board of Starmus Festival, Stephen Hawking had a major role in acknowledging and promoting science communication. The Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication is an annual award initiated in 2016 to honour members of the arts community for contributions that help build awareness of science.
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Stephen Hawking made many pop cultural appearances in films, TV shows, books, and comics. Hawking has been referenced and made direct appearances in shows like The Simpsons, Futurama, and The Big Bang Theory as well as the X-Men comics, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Doctor Who.
He provided the voice for himself in three episodes of Futurama.
Publications
"A Brief History of Time" was released in 1988 and became a surprise best-seller."
Co-authored
Children's fiction
Co-written with his daughter Lucy.
Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76 at his home in Cambridge, England, early in the morning of 14 March 2018. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest physicists of our time. He is often compared to great historical physicists like Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton, though he denies he belongs in such a prestigious group. Hawking had lived a happy life until the age of 76 with his family, a man who has surpassed his initial death sentence by 54 years.
(Click image to enlarge)
