Remembering A Legend #1 - Stephen Hawking

Being a science graduate, I am fascinated with the subject; as it is absolutely inexhaustible. And when it comes to research, without a doubt, research findings and theories can make or mar a scientist.

Stephen William Hawking was a phenomenal being, who despite having been read the last rites when he was in his 20’s following a diagnosis of a motor neuron disease, lived 50 years beyond expectations.

Stephen Hawking was born on this day, January 8th 1942, and despite his pathetic health condition, he was the an accomplished and highly revered cosmologist, theoretical physicist, and author.

He held the position of the University of Cambridge’s Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology.

In his early years as a scientist, he specialized on theoretical cosmology and centered his research on the evolution of the universe based on the general relativity laws.

Hawking’s works on the universe were diverse and included the study of black holes, with regards to the “Hawking radiation”, which was predicated on the theory that black holes are emitting radioactive energy.

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He was also famous for his works relating to quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity.

At the age of 21 years, he had been diagnosed of a rare medical condition called “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” which would end up threatening his life.

He was initially diagnosed at the time to have just about two years to live; however, he would end up spending more than five decades on earth.

Undaunted by the disease and its limitation, Hawking pushed forward with his studies, research and theories, despite suffering from the disease all through his adult life.

He had been pursuing his doctorate degree at Cambridge University before when he was diagnosed of the ailment.

The disease rendered him almost completely paralyzed and speechless during the later years of his life. Towards the end, he was able to communicate via the use of a speech generating device.

Remaining dedicated to science which he had immense passion for, and which would earn him so much accolades and awards later on, he devoted all of his time to his research and work.

Between 1979 and 2009, Stephen Hawking was the University of Cambridge’s Lucasian Mathematics Professor for about thirty years.

Hawking received the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his various work on the study of cosmology and the universe. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society until his death.

Without a doubt, I do believe that the Late Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest minds of our time, who immensely impacted the field of theoretical science and cosmology, as we've come to know it.

@rickie