STEPHEN HAWKING
1942-2018
AFTER A lifetime of adversity, scientific discovery and global acclaim, Stephen Hawking, the renowned British physicist, has died at the age of 76.
The wheelchair-bound scientist, who has been feted by monarchs, prime ministers and popes, passed away peacefully at his home yesterday morning.
In a statement, his children Lucy, Robert and Tim said: “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years.”
As news of his death emerged, tributes poured in from around the world – not just from scientists but also actors, musicians, charities and politicians.
Professor Hawking, one of the world’s finest scientific minds, was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease in 1964 at the age of 22 and was given just a few years to live.
He defied this prognosis but was eventually confined to a wheelchair and became dependent on a computerised voice system for communication.
Despite this, he continued to travel the world giving lectures and writing scientific papers about the basic laws that govern the universe.
Prof Hawking explained the Big Bang and black holes in his best-selling book A Brief History
Of Time which has gone on to sell more than 25m copies.
Scientist and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Prof Hawking was “one of the greats”.
“There are many good theoretical physicists who make a big contribution, but there aren’t that many greats,” he added.
“And by that I mean that I think there are physicists in a thousand years’ time who will still be talking about Hawking radiation, they will be using his fundamental results on black holes.”
Nasa described Prof Hawking as an “ambassador of science” and the University of Cambridge said he was “an inspiration to millions” and that his work will leave “an indelible legacy”.
Prof Hawking arrived at the University of Cambridge in 1962 as a PhD student, and rose through the ranks to become the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a position once held by Sir Isaac Newton, in 1979.
The flag was flying at half-mast at Gonville and Caius College in honour of the professor, who was a fellow of the college for more than 50 years, and a book of condolence has been signed by people from around the world.
Leading tributes from his fellow scientists was fellow Cambridge alumnus Astronomer Royal Lord Professor Martin Rees, who remembered the young Hawking as a “familiar figure navigating his wheelchair around the city’s streets”.
Lord Rees said: “His name will live in the annals of science; millions have had their cosmic horizons widened by his bestselling books, and even more, around the world, have been inspired by a unique example of achievement against all odds – a manifestation of amazing will power and determination.”
Professor Carsten van de Bruck, from the University of Sheffield’s School of Mathematics and Statistics, said Prof Hawking’s legacy on gravitational physics and cosmology was “immense”.
“He pointed out that black holes are not truly black but radiate due to quantum mechanical processes,” he said.
“This allowed scientists to take a first glimpse on a theory which combines the principles of quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of gravity.”
Prof van de Bruck said that despite his busy schedule and fame, Prof Hawking was very approachable.
“He participated in seminars, contributed in discussions and joined for lunch whenever possible.
“He wanted to create the best environment for science and was keen for young scientists to flourish.”