Stephen Hawking: modern cosmology's brightest star dies aged 76

The physicist and author of A Brief History of Time has died, a family member has said

Ian SampleScience editor

 

Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died aged 76

 

For fellow scientists and loved ones, it was Hawking’s intuition and wicked sense of humour that marked him out as much as the broken body and synthetic voice that came to symbolise the unbounded possibilities of the human mind.

 

Hawking was driven to Wagner, but not the bottle, when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963 at the age of 21. Doctors expected him to live for only two more years. But Hawking had a form of the disease that progressed more slowly than usual. He survived for more than half a century and long enough for his disability to define him. His popularity would surely have been diminished without it.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-professor-dies-aged-76

 

-- The Guardian 2018-03-14

RIP. Without a shadow of a doubt one of the brightest minds in history, an inspiration to anybody and everybody

Sad news.   RIP.  

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/professor-stephen-hawking-dies-aged-76/ar-BBKbraY

Hawking radiation will forever shine and his name will live on in the ideas and science he has inspired. RIP.

Physicist Stephen Hawking, who conquered the stars, dies at 76

By Stephen Addison

 

FILE PHOTO: British scientist and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking attends a launch event for a new award for science communication, called the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, in London, Britain December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain some of the most complicated questions of life while himself working under the shadow of a likely premature death, has died at 76.

 

The UK's Press Association reported his death, citing a spokesman for the family.

 

Hawking's formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in the bizarre sub-molecular world of quantum theory, which he said could predict what happens at the beginning and end of time.

 

His work ranged from the origins of the universe itself, through the tantalising prospect of time travel to the mysteries of space's all-consuming black holes.

 

But the power of his intellect contrasted cruelly with the weakness of his body, ravaged by the wasting motor neurone disease he contracted at the age of 21.

 

Hawking was confined for most of his life to a wheelchair. As his condition worsened, he had to resort to speaking through a voice synthesiser and communicating by moving his eyebrows.

 

The disease spurred him to work harder but also contributed to the collapse of his two marriages, he wrote in a 2013 memoir "My Brief History."

 

In the book he related how he was first diagnosed: "I felt it was very unfair - why should this happen to me," he wrote.

 

"At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realise the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life."

 

Hawking shot to international fame after the 1988 publication of "“A Brief History of Time", one of the most complex books ever to achieve mass appeal, which stayed on the Sunday Times best-sellers list for no fewer than 237 weeks.

 

He said he wrote the book to convey his own excitement over recent discoveries about the universe.

 

“"My original aim was to write a book that would sell on airport bookstalls," he told reporters at the time. "“In order to make sure it was understandable I tried the book out on my nurses. I think they understood most of it."

 

(Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Neil Fullick)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-14

The world is a wee bit dumber today. RIP Dr. Hawking. 

An amazing mind for sure. He contributed so much to science.

 

The movie "The Theory of Everything" is a real interesting glimpse into his earlier years and personal life. 

 

RIP Professor Hawking. You contributions will continue to sculpt science and scientists for years to come.

 

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by Silurian

And on Piday, fittingly.

6 minutes ago, attrayant said:

And on Piday, fittingly.

And Einstein's birthday.

A brilliant scientist and great campaigner for the NHS, sad day, RIP Dr Hawkins knowing you made a difference.

47 minutes ago, z42 said:

RIP. Without a shadow of a doubt one of the brightest minds in history, an inspiration to anybody and everybody

He never inspired me in the slightest! barely understood a word he wrote or spoke, they say he was super intelligent? i will leave that for others to judge.

RIP

Inspiring, for sure.  But was he right?  Or just influential enough to convince a lot of people that he was? 

 

All we really know is that there is a consistency in the accepted theories.  It may be decades (or centuries) before we know if they were correct or not.

 

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by impulse

I admire the dignity with which he bore his illness and the manner in which he would occasionally allow others to send him up.

 

 

RIP

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15555565

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by evadgib

One of my heroes. I hate to see men of science pass on. There are so few, these days.

I read "A Brief History of Time" and he did a brilliant job of explaining very complex subjects.  

 

He will be missed by many.  

What a man! The mere fact that way back in 1963 he was given two years to live is remarkable in itself, but to achieve everything that he did against all the odds is truly phenomenal. A true legend R.I.P

One of the greatest scientists has died after an unusual long time of suffering from ALS. Very sad news.

 

Something the world will not forget

• his theories about black holes, big bang, and the mathematical proof that the universe originated by the big bang

• the incredible handling and enduring of his horrible disease (ALS) over such a long time.

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by puck2

RIP

The Theory of Everything (2014)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/

 

RIP Stephen Hawking.

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by Jack Mountain

 

...and it happened on Einstein's birthday.

 

48 minutes ago, Jools said:

1 hour ago, Jools said:

...and it happened on Einstein's birthday.

...and it happened on Einstein's birthday.

And your point is?

31 minutes ago, Tilacme said:

And your point is?

Another Black Hole?

1 hour ago, Tilacme said:

And your point is?

It happened on Einstein's birthday!

A personal hero of mine.

 

Spacetime just changed.

 

We won't see another like him in my lifetime.

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by Grouse

1 hour ago, Benmart said:

Another Black Hole?

Enough of those around. There are an estimated 10,000,000 (or more) black holes in the Milky Way alone.

Meanwhile on the lighter side...

 

4 hours ago, Jools said:

...and it happened on Einstein's birthday.

... and Pi day (3.14)