S. W. Hawking

S. W. Hawking
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Name	S. W. Hawking
Birth name	Stephen William Hawking
Birth date	8 January 1942
Birth place	Oxford, England
Death date	14 March 2018
Death place	Cambridge, England
Fields	General relativity, Quantum gravity, Cosmology
Alma mater	University College, Oxford (BA), University of Cambridge (PhD)
Doctoral advisor	Dennis Sciama
Known for	Hawking radiation, Penrose–Hawking theorems, A Brief History of Time
Awards	Albert Einstein Award (1978), Wolf Prize in Physics (1988), Copley Medal (2006), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009)
Spouse	Jane Wilde Hawking (m. 1965; div. 1995), Elaine Mason (m. 1995; div. 2006)

S. W. Hawking was a theoretical physicist and cosmologist whose groundbreaking work fundamentally shaped modern understanding of gravity, black holes, and the universe. Despite being diagnosed with a debilitating motor neuron disease, he achieved global fame as a scientific communicator, most notably through his bestselling book A Brief History of Time. His research, particularly on Hawking radiation, bridged the gap between general relativity and quantum mechanics, making him one of the most celebrated scientists since Albert Einstein.

Early life and education

Born in Oxford during World War II, he grew up in St Albans and attended St Albans School. His early academic prowess earned him a place at University College, Oxford, where he studied physics and graduated with a first-class degree in natural science. He then began his graduate studies in cosmology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, under the supervision of Dennis Sciama. It was during his first year at University of Cambridge that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a prognosis that profoundly influenced his determination and focus.

Career and research

Appointed as a research fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, he began his pioneering work on singularity theorems in collaboration with mathematician Roger Penrose, extending the work of Albert Einstein. His most famous discovery, Hawking radiation, theorized that black holes are not completely black but emit thermal radiation due to quantum effects near the event horizon. He held the prestigious Lucasian Professor of Mathematics chair at Cambridge for three decades, a post once held by Isaac Newton. His later work involved the no-boundary proposal with James Hartle and investigations into the information paradox concerning black holes.

Personal life

He married Jane Wilde Hawking in 1965, and they had three children together, a relationship chronicled in the film The Theory of Everything. The marriage ended in 1995, and he later married his nurse, Elaine Mason. He was an iconic figure, known for his synthesized voice and his wheelchair, becoming a symbol of triumph over physical adversity. He maintained a strong public presence, engaging in debates with peers like Kip Thorne and appearing on shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Simpsons.

Awards and honours

His contributions were recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Albert Einstein Award, the Wolf Prize in Physics, and the Copley Medal of the Royal Society. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. Despite his fame, the Nobel Prize in Physics eluded him, as his theoretical predictions, like Hawking radiation, lacked definitive observational proof during his lifetime.

Publications and media

He authored the landmark popular science book A Brief History of Time, which spent over four years on the Sunday Times bestseller list. Other notable works include The Universe in a Nutshell, A Briefer History of Time, and the children's book series co-written with his daughter, Lucy, beginning with George's Secret Key to the Universe. His life and work have been the subject of numerous documentaries, including Hawking, and the aforementioned biographical drama The Theory of Everything.

Legacy and impact

He revolutionized theoretical physics by demonstrating that black holes have temperature and entropy, forcing a profound reconsideration of gravitational physics. His ability to communicate complex ideas about the cosmos to the public inspired a generation to engage with science. Institutions like the Stephen Hawking Centre at the Perimeter Institute and the Stephen Hawking Building at University of Cambridge bear his name. His final paper, submitted shortly before his death, addressed the black hole information paradox and was co-authored with colleagues from Cambridge University and Harvard University.

Category:English theoretical physicists Category:20th-century cosmologists Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford