(Video Above of Stephen Hawking Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom)
The world just lost an icon. Fox News reports:
Stephen Hawking, the famed theoretical physicist who defied a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to live virtually his entire adult life with the disease – in a wheelchair and paralyzed but making constant contributions to a world few could understand – has died at age 76, a family spokesman said.
He was not modest about what he wanted to do. “My goal is simple,” he once said. “It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.”
Hawking reached his eighth decade, but was forced to miss a scientific debate to mark his 70th birthday in January 2012 because he was discharged from a hospital only two days earlier. His personal assistant told the Daily Telegraph at the time his speech was getting noticeably slower, sometimes only a word a minute.
As part of the events surrounding his birthday, Hawking gave a rare interview to New Scientist magazine and declared there was still one puzzle left for him. Asked what he thought about most during the day, Hawking replied, “Women. They are a complete mystery.”
Some of those that met him memorialized Hawking on Twitter:
His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it’s not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018. pic.twitter.com/nAanMySqkt
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) March 14, 2018
In loving memory of Stephen Hawking. It was an honor to have him on The #BigBangTheory. Thank you for inspiring us and the world. pic.twitter.com/9rWoYqIToy
— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) March 14, 2018
Terribly sad to hear of the death of Stephen Hawking. Reading about his work made me realize my dream was to become a cosmologist, and I did. I met him on several occasions: first as a star-struck 14-year-old, later as a colleague. His influence was immense and he will be missed.
— Katie Mack (@AstroKatie) March 14, 2018
He lived more than half a century past his doctors’ projection for ALS & humanity is the better for it. Great scientist, humanist, public intellectual, & inspiration to billions. Honored to have met him at Caltech. Stephen Hawking 1942-2018. Now he belongs to the ages. RIP pic.twitter.com/yRemQSGcvw
— Michael Shermer (@michaelshermer) March 14, 2018
We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Stephen Hawking. He was an inspiration to us all and we were lucky enough to spend time with him on several occasions. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues ???? pic.twitter.com/SdazVlGKK0
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) March 14, 2018
Video of Stephen Hawking’s final speech:
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