The theories of Stephen Hawking

Some of the late physicist’s theories revolutionised the way we view the universe, but others still leave scientists scratching their heads

What did the late physicist prove with his hypotheses, and what remains unproven?

Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest theoretical physicists of the modern age. Otherwise known for his appearances in popular media and his lifelong battle against a debilitating illness, his true impact on posterity comes from his brilliant five-decade career in science. Beginning with his doctoral thesis in 1966, his groundbreaking work continued nonstop right up until his final paper in 2018, completed just days before his death at the age of 76.

Hawking worked at the intellectual cutting edge of physics, and his theories often seemed bizarrely far out at the time he formulated them. Yet they’re slowly being accepted into the scientific mainstream, with new supporting evidence coming in all the time. From his mind-blowing views of black holes to his explanation for the universe’s humble beginnings, here are some of his theories that were vindicated, and others that are still up in the air.

“His theories seemed bizarrely far out at the time he formulated them”