A Brief History Of Stephen Hawking | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

A Brief History Of Stephen Hawking

"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all."

74
A Brief History Of Stephen Hawking
Flickr

As the rest of the world awakens to the death of Stephen Hawking, the world of STEM in particular is left reeling from the giant meteorite that just blasted into our hearts.

Born in England on January 8, 1942 during the midst of World War II, Hawking seemed to be surviving against the odds already. His parents were both graduates of the prestigious Oxford and Hawking grew up in a very intelligent, if not a bit eccentric, family. Education was a top priority for his parents and so they sent him to St. Albans, a well-distinguished school where Hawking could be found taking apart a clock or telephone to build a computer. He was initially not academically successful in grade school, although deemed “Einstein” by his fellow students. With time, a better understanding of math and science grew in him, with the help of an inspiring teacher. Hawking attended Oxford after his secondary school years, studying physics and chemistry, despite being urged by his father to study medicine.

In 1963, just before his 21st birthday, while he was a doctoral student of cosmetology at University of Cambridge, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

"It is a waste of time to be angry about my disability. One has to get on with life and I haven't done badly. People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining,” Dr. Hawking once said.

This motor neuron disease affected his use of all voluntary movements, causing his muscles to weaken. Eventually, Hawking’s symptoms worsened to include slurred speech. Severe depression began to take over his life. His professors recommended him to quit his studies and he was given two years to live.

Yet, here we are, 55 years later: Stephen Hawking obtained his PhD in applied mathematics and theoretical physics, won the prestigious Adams Prize for his essay on singularities, started a family with Jane Wilde and went on to write several award-winning books, including A Brief History of Time. Hawking used a speech synthesizer that allowed him to speak in a computerized voice with an American accent. In 1979, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, the most famous academic chair in the world.

No other person has left such an impact on history. From determining that black holes are not totally silent but instead emit radiation to predicting that, following the Big Bang, black holes as tiny as protons were created, Hawking made significant, even controversial, strides in the realms of general relativity and quantum mechanics.

“You can ask what will happen to someone who jumps into a black hole,” Dr. Hawking said in an interview in 1978. “I certainly don’t think he will survive it.”

“On the other hand,” he continued, “if we send someone off to jump into a black hole, neither he nor his constituent atoms will come back, but his mass energy will come back. Maybe that applies to the whole universe.”

Stephen Hawking, however, will be best known for translating the secrets of the universe into a more understandable language for the common people. Explaining ideas such as the nature of gravity and origin of the universe in a way that accessible to everyone, Hawking became an inspiration and opened up opportunities for kids to test all limits.

In his book A Brief History of Time, Dr. Hawking concluded that “if we do discover a complete theory” of the universe, “it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists.”

He is a champion of fighting against all adversities. Hawking has traveled to every continent, including Antarctica. He celebrated his 60th birthday by going up in a hot-air balloon. A few months after his 65th birthday, he took part in a zero-gravity flight. The disability that once threatened to take his life was now turned into a strength.

Dr. Hawking states, “I want to show that people need not be limited by physical handicaps as long as they are not disabled in spirit.”

We have lost a great man who contained within him an insurmountable amount of knowledge. I fell in love with science because I am in pursuit of such knowledge. It is the thirst to have a grasp on such ideas and uncover information not previously known that continues to drive the world of STEM forward.

Science’s greatest champion has passed and we now seek someone to fill his void. Perhaps it will be a child inspired by Dr. Hawking’s works who continues to unravel the universe and discover its secrets.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

146141
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

36021
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

31964
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments