Who was Stephen Hawking?

By Ajooni Kaur

Stephen Hawking was a renowned British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who made significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics. He was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, and passed away on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge, England. Hawking is best known for his work on black holes, the nature of the universe, and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation. Despite being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at a young age, which gradually left him paralyzed and unable to speak on his own, Hawking continued his groundbreaking research and became one of the most recognized scientists of our time. His book “A Brief History of Time” is a widely popular science book that explains complex scientific concepts in a more accessible way for the general public.

Childhood of Stephen Hawking

Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, to Frank and Isobel Hawking. His family later moved to St. Albans, a town near London, when Hawking was eight years old. As a child, Hawking displayed an early interest in science and the universe. He was known to be curious and fascinated by how things worked, often taking apart and rebuilding electronics and gadgets. In 1959, Hawking enrolled at the University of Oxford, where he studied natural science. He later pursued graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, where he focused on theoretical physics and cosmology.

Health challenges

During his early 20s, Hawking was diagnosed with a rare motor neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Doctors initially gave him a very short life expectancy, but Hawking defied the odds and continued his work. Despite his deteriorating physical condition due to ALS, Hawking remained determined to pursue his passion for science. He used a wheelchair and eventually communicated using a computerized speech synthesizer, which became his iconic voice.

Summary

Stephen Hawking’s childhood experiences, intellectual curiosity, and resilience in the face of adversity played a significant role in shaping his remarkable journey as one of the most influential scientists of our time.