Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and well-respected scientists to have ever lived. He was known for his work in the field of theoretical physics and regarded not just as a genius in his field, but one of the smartest people in the world. While most scientists gain notoriety only in their field, Hawking was known worldwide as not only a scientist but also a public figure and a best-selling author for books on his work in the fields of theoretical physics and cosmology. Until his relatively recent death in 2018, he tirelessly continued his work not only to advance his field but also to help the general public better understand it.

The Early Years and Academic Prowess: From Einstein to Cambridge

He was born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's death, and even from a young age, he was fascinated by the mysteries of the universe. His classmates called him Einstein, and he graduated early. After much disagreement with his father, who wanted him to study medicine at Oxford like him, he went to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. His academic work became revolutionary, with him contributing significantly to our current understanding of black holes. As his field is theoretical physics, many of his theories remain unproven, such as his belief in the Many Worlds Hypothesis, but many have been proven as well.

Defying the Diagnosis: The Triumph Over ALS

While he was a student at Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, also known as ALS. When Stephen Hawking received his ALS diagnosis, his doctor told him he shouldn't expect to live for more than two more years. Remarkably, he lived for more than fifty-five additional years, relying on a wheelchair for much of that time.

A Communicator of Complex Ideas: The Theory of Everything and Beyond

A particularly severe health scare left Hawking unable to speak, but he collaborated with Intel to create a text-to-speech device he could operate on the fly with his left cheek. This experience gave him a newfound appreciation for brevity, which inspired him to write his book "The Theory of Everything" to help explain difficult concepts clearly to a broader audience. The book remained a best-seller in the UK for four and a half years straight.

Conclusion: Legacy of a Visionary

Despite the obstacles life placed in his path, Hawking never allowed them to slow him down and continued to be a visionary. In adapting, he discovered new ways to perceive the world, which helped him share his knowledge and fueled his determination to learn as much as he could because he never knew how much time he'd have left to learn. While our current understanding of the universe is ever-evolving, it cannot be denied that his work forms the foundation of much of that understanding.

For more information about Stephen Hawking’s remarkable life, please visit: https://www.hawking.org.uk/biography.