Stephen William Hawking
- Born:
- January 8, 1942, Oxford, England
- Died:
- March 14, 2018, Cambridge, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Author
Early Life and Education
- Educated at St Albans School and University College, Oxford, where he studied physics.
- Began postgraduate research at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, specializing in cosmology.
- Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, or in Spanish, sometimes prompting searchers for "stephen hawking biography enfermedad de parkinson's", although ALS is distinct from Parkinson's.
Career and Major Achievements
- Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge (1979–2009).
- Made significant contributions to the understanding of black holes and the origins of the universe.
- Developed theories regarding Hawking radiation, the emission of radiation by black holes.
- Published numerous scientific papers and books popularizing science.
- Received numerous awards and honors for his scientific contributions.
Notable Works
- A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes (1988): A seminal popular science book.
- Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays (1993)
- The Universe in a Nutshell (2001)
- A Briefer History of Time (2005): Updated and expanded version of 'A Brief History of Time'.
- The Grand Design (2010): Co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow.
Legacy and Impact
Stephen Hawking's contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology have profoundly impacted our understanding of the universe. His ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to a broad audience made him a globally recognized figure, inspiring generations of scientists and popularizing science worldwide. Despite his physical limitations imposed by ALS, Hawking remained a leading figure in scientific research and public discourse until his death.