World Renowned Scientist, Stephen Hawking, Dies At The Age Of 76

The world-renowned theorist, physicist and cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, lost his lifelong battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease at the age of 76 on Wednesday, March 14.

“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,” the family said in a statement, as reported by ABC News. “His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever.”

A brief look at his life

Stephen Hawking, an extraordinary human being, held the Lucasian Professorship in mathematics at Cambridge, the same seat which was filled by Isaac Newton previously.

He is most famously known for his work on Black holes. Hawking theorized that, contrary to the prevailing scientific belief that black holes were inescapable for all forms of matter and energy, they actually emitted a form of radiation.

When he was in his third year in Oxford, just 21, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. People suffering from the ALS usually die within 5 years of diagnosis and Stephen’s doctor gave him 2 years to live. But his will beat the disease and he lived for 36 more years.

He devised an advanced computer system which helped him talk as a public figure. He used his position as a scientist to talk about topics such as the existence of extraterrestrial life to the nature of philosophy. His book A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes published in 1988, has sold 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling science books of all time.