Even though scientist Stephen Hawking was paralyzed and confined to a chair his mind continued to explore the mysteries of the universe.
Born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, U.K. to physician parents, Stephen lived his early life in a highly academic and serious family. He earned a first-class degree in physics from the University of Oxford and enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Cambridge in 1962.
In 1963 Hawking was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease that gradually led to complete paralysis of his body. He communicated with the help of a speech-generating device through a hand-held switch and eventually by using a single cheek muscle.
Hawking continued his work despite this immense setback and went on to make several significant discoveries. He believed that the study of black holes would result in a universal theory of physics. He proposed that the universe might have started as a singularity such as are found in black holes. He also managed to show that black holes emit radiation, which is known today as Hawking radiation. This discovery was a significant breakthrough in theoretical physics.
Hawking was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his contributions to science. In 2002, Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. He died on March 14, 2018 at the age of 76 after living with motor neuron disease for more than 50 years.
Picture Credit : Google
