RIP Stephen Hawking

The Herald reports:

He was given two years to live at the age of 21. For the next 55 years he defied the odds –
and astounded the world with his theories on the cosmos.

The world’s greatest scientist – and one of its finest minds – Professor Stephen Hawking, died peacefully at the age of 76 earlier today (NZT) at his home in Cambridge, north of London.

In a statement, the physicist’s 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.

“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.”

He is almost unarguably the most well known scientist of his generation.

In 1962, when Stephen Hawking turned 21, he was diagnosed with a degenerative motor neuron disease similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Doctors said it would probably kill him within two years.

Soon afterwards, he went to Cambridge to start a PhD in cosmology. The next two years were the most difficult of his life as he struggled to find a suitable doctorate subject while the crippling disease took hold.

But, as Hawking’s body shut down, his mind began to expand new theories about black holes that would change our understanding of the cosmos.

When the disease was diagnosed, doctors gave him 14 months to live.

He was confined to a wheelchair by the time he was 30, and in 1986, aged 44, his voice was removed to save his life after an attack of pneumonia.

A stunning example of how much an individual can achieve despite such crippling disability.