Stephen Hawking on 'road to recovery'

[JBeukema]

Cambridge University says scientist Stephen Hawking on 'road to recovery' from chest infection | Washington Examiner

 

[jan]

I hope he's ok...it would be such a shame to lose a mind such as his.

 

[Sinatra]

"Hawking's A Brief History of Time is the most unread book in the history of literature."

How very true. Many have purchased the book over the years - yet very few have read it, or even know much of Hawking and his graceful attempts to delve into the workings of the universe. They know the general popular culture rendition of Hawking as "brilliant" and the fact he has resided in the confines of a wheelchair for many years makes his story give off a certain romanticized tragedy - all of which actually diminish the man and his work.

Hawking is no Einstein - his theories have not shaken the foundations of the sciences to the core, nor has he managed the worlwide celebrity of Albert, but in his own way, Hawking is the superior human being - a man given a soon to be realized death sentence over 40 years ago - the same year he met his wife, a devoted Christian whose influence upon Hawking the man, and scientist, is indelible.

Like Einstein before him, Hawking's work dances coyly amidst the possibilities of a god. Where Einstein whispered of some pre-formed cosmic order of design, Hawking deftly paints a story of a universe in search of meaning and purpose, wherein each of us plays our own part - both great and small - and it is that purposeful search that one hears Hawking's own whisperings of possible Divinity.

When Hawking leaves this earth, to join Einstein in the process of transformative energy, it will sadden me to know too few actually took the time to learn of this human being. They shall read the already prepared press releases that regurgitate the myth, nothing more, and so much less.

Nice to see we will have just a bit longer to enjoy Stephen...

 

[waltky]

The passing of Dr. Stephen Hawking...

Stephen Hawking dies aged 76
14 Mar.`18 World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

He died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said. The Briton was known for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. At the age of 22 Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease. The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser. In a statement his children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said: "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."

They praised his "courage and persistence" and said his "brilliance and humour" inspired people across the world. "He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever." A book of condolence is due to be opened at Conville and Caius College in Cambridge, where Prof Hawking was a fellow. Prof Hawking was the first to set out a theory of cosmology as a union of relativity and quantum mechanics. He also discovered that black holes leak energy and fade to nothing - a phenomenon that would later become known as Hawking radiation.

Stephen Hawking was portrayed on TV and film by Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne​

Through his work with mathematician Sir Roger Penrose he demonstrated that Einstein's General Theory of Relativity implies space and time would have a beginning in the Big Bang and an end in black holes. The scientist gained popularity outside the academic world and appeared in several TV shows including The Simpsons, Red Dwarf and The Big Bang Theory. He was portrayed in both TV and film - recently by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything, which charted his rise to fame and relationship with his first wife, Jane.

Stephen Hawking arrives on the red carpet with former wife Jane Hawking (l) and daughter Lucy Hawking (r).​

Factfile: Stephen Hawking

* Born 8 January 1942 in Oxford, England
* Earned place at Oxford University to read natural science in 1959, before studying for his PhD at Cambridge
* By 1963, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given two years to live
* Outlined his theory that black holes emit "Hawking radiation" in 1974
* In 1979, he became the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the Cambridge - a post once held by Sir Isaac Newton
* Published his book A Brief History of Time in 1988, which has sold more than 10 million copies
* In the late 1990s, he was reportedly offered a knighthood, but 10 years later revealed he had turned it down over issues with the government's funding for science
* His life story was the subject of the 2014 film The Theory of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne

MORE

 

[AvgGuyIA]

Did they revived him? I thought he was dead.

 

[JoeMoma]

Did they revived him? I thought he was dead.

His head will live on.

 

[waltky]

Tributes pour in for Dr. Hawking...

Stephen Hawking: Tributes pour in for 'inspirational' physicist
14 Mar.`18 - Scientists, politicians and actors have paid tribute to world renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who has been called an "inspiration to millions".

The British scientist, famed for his work on black holes, died peacefully at his home in Cambridge aged 76. Astronomer Royal Lord Rees, one of the world's most eminent scientists, described his life as a "triumph". Others described him as a "unique individual" whose death "has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake". Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease at the age of 22 and was told he had only a few years to live. He was known for his theories on black holes and relativity and went on to publish several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. The University of Cambridge, where Prof Hawking completed his PhD and went on to become Lucasian Professor of Mathematics - a role once held by Sir Isaac Newton - described him as "an inspiration to millions".

Stephen Hawking, who was born in 1942, studied physics in Oxford and later went on to Cambridge for his postgraduate research in cosmology​

Queues have formed at Gonville and Caius College - where Prof Hawking was a fellow for more than 50 years - to sign a book of condolence. Buckingham Palace said the Queen will be sending a message of condolence to Prof Hawking's family. Prof Hawking's children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said in a statement: "His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. "He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love'. We will miss him forever." Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, broadcaster Prof Brian Cox called him "one of the greats" and said physicists in 1,000 years' time "will still be talking about Hawking radiation", his theory about black holes.

Benedict Cumberbatch said Prof Hawking was a "true inspiration for me and for millions around the world"​

British astronaut Tim Peake, who flew in space in 2016, said Prof Hawking "inspired generations to look beyond our own blue planet and expand our understanding of the universe". And the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, praised Prof Hawking's "colossal mind and wonderful spirit". Many friends and fans have also hailed his humour, with actor Eddie Redmayne, who portrayed Prof Hawking in 2014 film biopic The Theory of Everything, calling him "the funniest man I have ever met". Fellow actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who also played the physicist in a 2004 BBC TV film, remembered his "wickedly funny sense of humour". "He virtually created the publishing genre of popular science. I will miss our margaritas but will raise one to the stars to celebrate your life," he added.

Figures from the worlds of science and technology praised Prof Hawking's "colossal" mind​

Meanwhile, Lord Rees - who holds the most prestigious post in astronomy in the UK - recalled meeting Prof Hawking at Cambridge University in 1964, describing him as "unsteady on his feet and speaking with great difficulty" following his diagnosis with the degenerative disease. "Even mere survival would have been a medical marvel, but of course he didn't just survive. He became one of the most famous scientists in the world," Lord Rees said "He was diagnosed with a deadly disease, and his expectations dropped to zero. He himself said that everything that happened since then was a bonus." "And what a triumph his life has been," Lord Rees added.

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See also:

The best selling scientist who battled disease
14 Mar.`18 - Stephen Hawking - who died aged 76 - battled motor neurone disease to become one of the most respected and best-known scientists of his age.

A man of great humour, he became a popular ambassador for science and was always careful to ensure that the general public had ready access to his work. His book A Brief History of Time became an unlikely best-seller although it is unclear how many people actually managed to get to the end of it. He appeared in a number of popular TV shows and lent his synthesised voice to various recordings. Stephen William Hawking was born in Oxford on 8 January 1942. His father, a research biologist, had moved with his mother from London to escape German bombing. Hawking grew up in London and St Albans and, after gaining a first-class degree in physics from Oxford, went on to Cambridge for postgraduate research in cosmology.

As a teenager he had enjoyed horse-riding and rowing but while at Cambridge he was diagnosed with a form of motor neurone disease which was to leave him almost completely paralysed. As he was preparing to marry his first wife, Jane, in 1964 his doctors gave him no more than two or three years of life. But the disease progressed more slowly than expected. The couple had three children, and in 1988 - although Hawking was by now only able to speak with a voice synthesiser following a tracheotomy - he had completed A Brief History of Time - a layman's guide to cosmology. It sold more than 10 million copies, although its author was aware that it was dubbed "the most popular book never read". He received honorary degrees, medals, prizes and awards throughout his career and was honoured with a CBE in 1982. He was reportedly offered a knighthood in the 1990s but later revealed he had turned it down over issues with the government's funding for science.

Celebrity

Hawking discovered the phenomenon which became known as Hawking radiation, where black holes leak energy and fade to nothing. He was renowned for his extraordinary capacity to visualise scientific solutions without calculation or experiment. But it was perhaps his "theory of everything", suggesting that the universe evolves according to well-defined laws, that attracted most attention. "This complete set of laws can give us the answers to questions like how did the universe begin," he said. "Where is it going and will it have an end? If so, how will it end? If we find the answers to these questions, we really shall know the mind of God."

Hawking later went on to marry one of his nurses, Elaine Mason, in 1995. They were married for 11 years before they divorced​

Hawking's celebrity status was acknowledged even by The Simpsons - he was depicted drinking at a bar with Homer, suggesting he might steal Homer's idea that the universe is shaped like a doughnut. He appeared in a special documentary about BBC comedy series Red Dwarf during which he spoke about why he enjoyed the show and also starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation as a hologram of his image. The rock group Pink Floyd used his distinctive synthesised voice for the introduction to Keep Talking, on their 1994 album The Division Bell. Undeterred by his condition, he continued his work as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, and in 2001, his second book - Universe in a Nutshell - was published.

Erratic[/CENTER]

 

[miketx]

The passing of Dr. Stephen Hawking...

Stephen Hawking dies aged 76
14 Mar.`18 World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

He died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said. The Briton was known for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. At the age of 22 Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease. The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser. In a statement his children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said: "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."

They praised his "courage and persistence" and said his "brilliance and humour" inspired people across the world. "He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever." A book of condolence is due to be opened at Conville and Caius College in Cambridge, where Prof Hawking was a fellow. Prof Hawking was the first to set out a theory of cosmology as a union of relativity and quantum mechanics. He also discovered that black holes leak energy and fade to nothing - a phenomenon that would later become known as Hawking radiation.

Stephen Hawking was portrayed on TV and film by Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne​

Through his work with mathematician Sir Roger Penrose he demonstrated that Einstein's General Theory of Relativity implies space and time would have a beginning in the Big Bang and an end in black holes. The scientist gained popularity outside the academic world and appeared in several TV shows including The Simpsons, Red Dwarf and The Big Bang Theory. He was portrayed in both TV and film - recently by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything, which charted his rise to fame and relationship with his first wife, Jane.

Stephen Hawking arrives on the red carpet with former wife Jane Hawking (l) and daughter Lucy Hawking (r).​

Factfile: Stephen Hawking

* Born 8 January 1942 in Oxford, England
* Earned place at Oxford University to read natural science in 1959, before studying for his PhD at Cambridge
* By 1963, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given two years to live
* Outlined his theory that black holes emit "Hawking radiation" in 1974
* In 1979, he became the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the Cambridge - a post once held by Sir Isaac Newton
* Published his book A Brief History of Time in 1988, which has sold more than 10 million copies
* In the late 1990s, he was reportedly offered a knighthood, but 10 years later revealed he had turned it down over issues with the government's funding for science
* His life story was the subject of the 2014 film The Theory of Everything, starring Eddie Redmayne

MORE

I read his book. But I had to get the conservative picture edition.

 

[skye]

RIP Stephen Hawking.

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

If any of you ever miss him...he lives on here forever.

Stephen Hawking Voice Generator (play/download) ― LingoJam

 

[bodecea]

Did they revived him? I thought he was dead.

Well, now he is....but the thread started in 2009....so he had about another 8 years.

 

[waltky]

How Dr. Hawking's views on disability changed...

Hawking: Did he change views on disability?
14 March 2018 - Stephen Hawking was both one of the world's most famous scientists and most famous disabled people.

His life was a juxtaposition of sparkling intellect and failing body. Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease when he was 22. The nerves that controlled his muscles were failing and he became trapped in his body, but his mind was still free. He reached the height of his field while being wheelchair-bound and communicating through a synthetic voice. So did he change society's perceptions of disability?

"I think he's done more than anyone else," said Prof Paul Shellard, who was a student of Prof Hawking. He told the BBC: "He's been an incredible exemplar of there being no boundary to human endeavour. "He identified what he could do well, exceptionally well, and focussed on that, not what he couldn't do." That made him a role-model and inspiration for many. Prof Hawking certainly raised awareness of motor neurone diseases.

One of his major contributions to disability in general was simply being visible - often at a time when disabled voices were missing from popular culture. He made small-screen appearances on The Simpsons, Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory. His life was dramatised by the BBC and in the film The Theory of Everything. Steve Bell, from the MND association, said: "He was probably the most famous person with a physical disability and it almost normalises it to see his absolute genius. "I think it affected a lot of people, seeing he's more than a trapped body. "The public's view of disability has changed."

But Prof Hawking's life was exceptional. He lived five decades longer than doctors expected. Many others with motor neurone disease die in the years after diagnosis. He was a theoretical physicist. His laboratory was in the mind, his scientific equipment was mathematics. Prof Hawking was able to continue to pursue his career in a way that would have been much harder in other scientific disciplines and impossible in many other professions. It remains an open question how much he would have achieved if he was disabled from birth rather than after graduating with a first at Oxford.

Today, disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than people without disability. Prof Hawking's only advice on disability was to focus on what could be achieved. "My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit, as well as physically," he said in an interview with the New York Times.

Hawking: Did he change views on disability?

 

[yiostheoy]

Well he recovered all right.

Same way as every living thing eventually recovers -- into the grave.

 

[waltky]

Dr. Stephen Hawking given a big send--off...

Hundreds line Cambridge streets to honor Stephen Hawking
Mar 31,`18 - The life of renowned physicist and author Stephen Hawking was celebrated Saturday in the English city of Cambridge.

The life of renowned physicist and author Stephen Hawking was celebrated Saturday in the English city of Cambridge, with hundreds of well-wishers lining the streets for a glimpse of the hearse carrying his remains to a private funeral. There was a spontaneous burst of applause outside St. Mary the Great church when the hearse arrived. The bells of the church tolled 76 times, one for each year of Hawking’s remarkable life. Hawking was remembered as a brave man who triumphed over motor neurone disease by continuing his research into space and time even after paralysis set in and his muscles faded. Some 500 invited guests attended the funeral for Hawking, who died on March 14.

The funeral cortege arrives at Great St Marys Church, where the funeral of theoretical physicist Prof Stephen Hawking is being held, in Cambridge, Britain, March 31, 2018.​

Actor Eddie Redmayne, who portrayed the scientist in the 2014 biographical film “The Theory of Everything,” gave a reading from Ecclesiastes during the service. There was also a reading by Astronomer Royal Martin Reese and eulogies by one of Hawking’s children and a former student. Hawking’s family released a statement saying they chose to hold the funeral “in the city that he loved so much and which loved him.” Flags were lowered to half-mast in many parts of Cambridge to pay tribute to Hawking. The service was officiated by the Rev. Cally Hammond, Dean of Cambridge University’s Gonville and Caius College, where Hawking was a fellow for 52 years. A private reception was held afterward at Trinity College.

Hawking was known for his groundbreaking research into black holes and other phenomena. He was also the best-selling author of “A Brief History of Time” and other books and a pop culture figure known for, among other things, his appearance on “The Simpsons” TV series. Hawking will be cremated at a later date and his ashes are to be interred at London’s Westminster Abbey near the remains of fellow scientist Isaac Newton.

Hundreds line Cambridge streets to honor Stephen Hawking

See also:

At Stephen Hawking Funeral, Eddie Redmayne and Astronomer Royal Give Readings
MARCH 31, 2018 — Hundreds of people lined the streets of the British city of Cambridge on Saturday, breaking into applause as the hearse carrying the remains of the famed scientist Stephen Hawking arrived at a local church for a private funeral for 500 invited guests. Dr. Hawking died on March 14 at age 76 after capturing popular imagination with his writings about space and time.

His book “A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes,” published in 1988, has sold more than 10 million copies and inspired a documentary film by Errol Morris. His own story was the basis of an award-winning 2014 feature film, “The Theory of Everything.” The actor Eddie Redmayne, who portrayed Hawking in the 2014 biographical drama, gave a reading from Ecclesiastes during the service at St. Mary the Great Church. There was also a reading by Martin Rees, Britain’s Astronomer Royal, and eulogies by one of Hawking’s children and a former student.

The coffin of Stephen Hawking arriving at St Mary the Great Church in Cambridge, England.​

The service was officiated by the Rev. Cally Hammond, the dean of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University, where Dr. Hawking was a fellow for 52 years. Flags were lowered to half-mast in many parts of Cambridge to pay tribute to him. Dr. Hawking, who suffered from motor neuron disease, was known for his groundbreaking research into black holes and other phenomena.

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Cambridge as the hearse carrying the remains of Mr. Hawking arrived.​

Even as he gradually lost control of his muscles, he traveled the globe to scientific meetings, visiting every continent, including Antarctica; wrote best-selling books about his work; married twice; fathered three children; and was not above appearing on “The Simpsons,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” or “The Big Bang Theory.” Dr. Hawking will be cremated at a later date, and his ashes are to be interred at Westminster Abbey in London near the remains of his fellow scientist, Isaac Newton.

At Stephen Hawking Funeral, Eddie Redmayne and Astronomer Royal Give Readings