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Stephen Hawking

Monday, Feb 6, 2012 1:01AM / Standard Entry / Members only

Stephen Hawking is a brilliant theoretical physicist and cosmologist. His mind compared to that of Albert Einstein, he is truly a scientific genius.

Born in 1942, he grew up in London. At school, he was a good, but not an exceptional student. After school he went to Oxford University, where he wanted to study Mathematics, but could not due to unavailability of fellows. Rather he developed his interest in Physics, especially in thermodynamics, relativity and quantum physics.

After graduating from Oxford, he left it in favor of Cambridge. He went there to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology.

He has contributed a lot to our understanding of this universe. He explained the black holes amid other phenomenon by giving a number of theories and theorems.

Another factor which creates another dimension in his already fascinating character is the fact that he has been suffering from a motor neuron disease. He was diagnosed with the disease when he was 21. He was told that he would not survive for more than a couple of years. But now, he has lived about 50 years with it-half a century! In 1985, he got infected with pneumonia to complicate his already deteriorating condition. He could not breathe easily and to relieve his lungs, a pipe was inserted to his windpipe bypassing his throat entirely. This rendered him completely deprived of the ability to talk.

Even then, he remained in high spirits and now uses an electronic device to imitate his voice. Slowly, he has also lost the ability to move and now is completely paralyzed.

He is a Professor at the University of Cambridge. His lectures, media talks and interactions are prepared beforehand. Although it appears that it is not a very strenuous process during such activities, the truth is revealed in a live conversation. In an interview he took 7 minutes to answer a question.

As far as his religious beliefs are concerned, he is an atheist. He does not believe in God. He states that the universe can be completely explained and its existence completely justified without believing in God.

He has also produced some literary works. His book A Brief History of time is a British best seller.

He has garnered much recognition of his work throughout the world. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, the highest American civil award. In addition to that, he has also got the Wolf Prize and the Copley Medal.

A really admirable personality, he celebrated his 70th birthday on 8th Jan, 2012. Some achievement for a man who was told he had months to live half a century ago.

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