Life and achievements
Early life
Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, to Frank and Isobel Hawking, who were very academic. His father was a medical researcher, and his mother had done her graduation in philosophy, politics, and economics. The family was highly intellectual and, therefore, valued education. In 1950, when Hawking was eight, his family shifted to St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
Despite being an average performer initially, Hawking demonstrated outstanding ability, especially in mathematics and physics. He assembled his first computer with the assistance of his mathematics teacher, which might have been the reason for his subsequent choice of the field of theoretical physics.
Hawking went to University College, Oxford, at the age of 17, and although he wished to major in mathematics, there was no such option then, so he took physics instead. To make a long story short, he awakened to physics and started to study concepts in cosmology even though he could not get excited about physics initially.
Hawking got a first-class degree in physics and then went to Cambridge University for a doctoral study, during which he began working on cosmology and general relativity under the guidance of Dennis Sciama. After moving to Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with ALS when he was only 21 years old. The disease was a neurodegenerative disease that offered him a poor prognosis, but he continued working and became one of the best-known scientists in the world.
Legacy
Stephen Hawking will be remembered as one of the greatest theoretical physicists ever. He contributed immensely to understanding black holes, the creation of the universe, and time. His finding on Hawking radiation was a major blow to the traditionalist view of black holes, as they are not completely black but emit radiation and perhaps evaporate in the process.
This discovery connected the two previously unrelated theories, quantum mechanics and general relativity, and expanded the possibilities of further study in theoretical physics.
Thus, Hawking’s impact was not limited to the academic world only. His book A Brief History of Time became an international success, and the author became a household name. The book made complicated issues in cosmology easy to understand, making science interesting to many people.
Hawking wrote several other popular science books in his lifetime, and his attempts at making science accessible to the general public were well appreciated.
Despite the disease that left him paralyzed and unable to speak, Hawking did not give up; instead, he became a symbol of hope. Many people, especially those with disabilities, were encouraged by his ability to keep doing science while living with ALS.
This man continued to fight for the rights of people with disabilities while still being involved in public affairs. Aside from his scientific contributions, Hawking left a legacy on the discourse of artificial intelligence, the human species, and the moral concerns of scientific advancement.
Stephen Hawking died on March 14, 2018, at 76. His death was highly regretted by scientists, political leaders, and everyone else who had come to know him. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, right beside Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, which placed him in the company of some of the most brilliant people in history. His theories are still used in today’s physics and cosmology, and his story is still famous today as an example of the triumph of the human spirit.
Milestone moments
Jan 8, 1942
Birth of Stephen Hawking
Hawking was born in Oxford, England, on January 8, 1942.
His birth occurred on the 300th year of Galileo’s death, which Hawking would later accept as prophetic of his future in science.
Hawking’s family was very academic; his parents were Oxford-educated, and he was encouraged to ask questions early.
Hawking was not considered a bright child, but he showed an early aptitude for the sciences, especially physics and mathematics.
Such early exposure to intellectual ideas can be said to have shaped Hawking’s future academic endeavors.
The change of residence to St. Albans when Hawking was eight years old was central to determining his academic passions.
While in school, despite being a not-so-bright student at first, he developed a passion for the universe.
His early achievements included constructing a computer with friends and being good at mathematics, pointing to his future geniuses.
When Hawking got to university, he was already ready for the rigorous academic environment that Oxford and later Cambridge had to offer and where he would start to impact the theoretical physics field.
Jul 1, 1962
Cambridge University Admission for Graduate Studies
Hawking graduated from University College, Oxford, in 1962 with a first-class degree in physics and went on to Cambridge University to do his graduate work in cosmology.
This transition could have been the start of Hawking’s serious investigation into the birth of the universe and black holes, subjects that would come to define his scientific work.
When Hawking got to Cambridge, he was advised by Dennis Sciama, a physicist who would shape Hawking’s future.
It was during this time that Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, a condition that could have easily put paid to his goals.
At first, Hawking was upset when he was diagnosed with the illness, which would kill him in a few years, but he decided to dedicate himself to his work, immersing himself in his studies.
During this time, he began working with Roger Penrose, and together, they would revolutionize the concept of singularities and black holes.
It was at Cambridge that Hawking laid the foundation that made him one of the most renowned theoretical physicists in the world.
Mar 19, 1974
Finding of Hawking Radiation
In 1974, Stephen Hawking made one of his most significant scientific discoveries: the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, now called Hawking radiation.
Before these findings, it was thought that nothing could ever come out of a black hole.
Hawking’s calculations, however, revealed that black holes could lose mass and energy through radiation, which brought drastic consequences to the two theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity.
His work also proved that black holes are not entirely black but can disintegrate after some time.
Hawking radiation was first considered a myth, but later, it was accepted as a milestone in theoretical physics.
The discovery helped fill a significant gap between two of the most influential theories of modern physics – quantum mechanics and general relativity – as it proved that the laws of quantum theory work for black holes.
This revelation led to new avenues of research about the very fabric of the universe, the geometry of black holes, and whether or not a single theory could explain the fundamental forces and particles.
Hawking’s work on radiation remains one of the most important contributions to theoretical astrophysics and has been influential for decades.
Nov 14, 1988
The Publication of A Brief History of Time
In 1988, Stephen Hawking wrote his popular science book A Brief History of Time, which was supposed to introduce the reader to the most fundamental concepts of cosmology.
It was a number one Sunday Times bestseller on the list for 237 weeks.
It was bought in millions of copies worldwide, translated into many languages, and made Hawking a celebrity across the globe.
The book discussed topics like the Big Bang, black holes, and the nature of time, giving its readers a peep into the mind of one of the century’s most significant theoretical physicists.
A Brief History of Time was the work that made Hawking a celebrity and an academic known to the general public.
It also demonstrated how Hawking could explain scientific concepts to laypeople and excitingly.
Public appearances, interviews, and documentaries followed the book’s publication, and Hawking became a cultural phenomenon.
Its influence did not stop at science, as it was able to bring questions relating to the creation and destiny of the universe into the public domain.