Stephen Hawking and His Achievements

Scientist, today is marked by the death of the prestigious British scientist Stephen Hawking, the British theoretical physicist who challenged the limits of the cosmos and human life. Stephen Hawking is probably the most known physicist of the public since the time of Einstein and is undoubtedly an example of vitality and endurance for all the obstacles he had to overcome throughout his life.

Stephen Hawking: Early Life and College

On January 8th, 1942, Stephen Hawking was born to a successful family in Oxford, England. Both his parents had attended Oxford University and his father, Frank, was a medical researcher. Stephen wasn’t a great student at school, but he loved learning. His dad wanted him to become a medical doctor, but Stephen really wanted to study math at Oxford University as well, but it didn’t have a math degree at that time, so he chose physics and chemistry instead. Stephen became a member of a rowing team when he was in college. After he graduated college, he decided to continue his education and went to graduate school to get his Ph.D., the highest university degree available.

Diagnosed with ALS

While Hawking was working on his PhD at Cambridge University, he had some health problems. He began tripping for no reason, and his speech became hard to understand. His family encouraged him to go to the doctor. Stephen was diagnosed with a disease called ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affects your brain and your spine. Stephen would slowly lose his ability to walk and speak, and he would be confined to a wheelchair. The doctors also told him he may not have long to live.

Although Hawking was initially depressed over his diagnosis, he decided that there were things he wanted to accomplish in his life. He began to study and work harder than ever before. He wanted to earn his PhD degree before he died. At the same time, he met and fell in love with a girl named Jane Wilde. From that moment, Hawking had to reasons to live – science and Jane. Hawking has lived a full and productive life with the help of science and modern medicine. He studied how space and time are related, including the scientific study of black holes in space and how they work in the universe. He also had been successful as a college professor.

In 1985, Stephen got really sick and doctors were able to save him, but he was unable to speak. He could only use his eyebrows to communicate. Eventually, he was able to use a special voice synthesizer, allowing him to talk by moving his cheek muscles and using a mouse pad.

Facts about Stephen Hawking:

Stephen enjoyed math and science in school where he earned the nickname “Einstein”.
Hawking said his disease made him work harder. He realized he had things to do in his life.
Hawking was born on 300^th anniversary of the death of the famous scientist Galileo. He was born during World War II. His parents moved from London to Oxford to keep him safe during the war.
Hawking couldn’t speak or walk. He used a special computer program to talk for him.
His work on the universe and black holes has changed the way scientists think about the universe.
Hawking believed time travel is possible and people may some day live on other planets.

Stephen Hawking quotes:

“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.”
“I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I’m an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.”

Stephen Hawking’s example is the best proof that people never should doubt that something is possible. This great scientist proved that if you really want something in your life, you can do it, but you need passion and belief it can work.