Stephen William Hawking
- Born:
- January 8, 1942, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
- Died:
- March 14, 2018, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Author, Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge
Early Life and Education
- Attended St Albans School.
- Initially wanted to study mathematics at University College, Oxford, but his father steered him towards medicine.
- Ultimately studied physics and chemistry at Oxford, graduating with a first-class honours degree in physics.
- Began graduate studies in cosmology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
- Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease, at the age of 21.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed theories on black holes, including the prediction that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation.
- Made significant contributions to the understanding of quantum gravity.
- Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge from 1979 to 2009.
- Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge.
- Awarded the Companion of Honour (CH) in 1989.
Notable Works
- A Brief History of Time (1988) - a popular science book that became a bestseller.
- Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays (1993)
- The Universe in a Nutshell (2001)
- A Briefer History of Time (2005) (with Leonard Mlodinow)
- The Grand Design (2010) (with Leonard Mlodinow)
Film and Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Himself | Episode: "Descent, Part 1" |
| 1999 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | Episode: "They Saved Lisa's Brain" |
| 2012 | The Big Bang Theory | Himself | Multiple episodes |
| 2014 | The Theory of Everything | N/A | Biographical film about his life |
Legacy and Impact
Stephen William Hawking, often the subject of a 'stephen hawking mini bio jackie' search for quick facts, left an indelible mark on the fields of theoretical physics and cosmology. His work on black holes and the origin of the universe has profoundly influenced scientific understanding, while his popular science books made complex concepts accessible to a wide audience. His life, marked by both intellectual brilliance and physical adversity, served as an inspiration to millions worldwide.