Stephen William Hawking (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who made significant contributions to the understanding of gravity, black holes, and the nature of the universe.
Key Contributions
- Theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation (now known as Hawking radiation)
- Work on gravitational singularity theorems with Roger Penrose
- Bestselling author of A Brief History of Time
- Longtime Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge
Legacy
Despite being diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and given only a few years to live, Hawking defied medical expectations and continued his scientific work for more than five decades. His ability to communicate complex ideas to the public made him one of the most recognizable scientists in the world.