Stephen Hawking, the World's Greatest Scientist, Has Died

Stephen Hawking, scientist,cosmologist, astronomer and mathematician has died aged 76. He overcame his debilitating disease to publish wildly popular books, probing the mysteries of the universe.  He was known as modern cosmology’s greatest star as his insights shaped modern cosmology.
The British theoretical physicist was known for his ground breaking work with black holes and relativity and was the author of several popular science books including the landmark “A Brief History of Time,” which has sold more than 10 million copies and inspired global audiences.
His family released a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning confirming his death at his home in Cambridge.
Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.
They said, “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world”
“He once said: ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.”
With fellow physicist Roger Penrose, Hawking merged Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum theory to suggest that space and time would begin with the Big Bang and end in black holes.
Hawking also discovered that black holes are not completely black but emit radiation and will likely eventually evaporate and disappear.
Hawking suffered from neurodegenerative Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was diagnosed in 1963, when he was 21, and doctors initially only gave him a few years to live.
The disease left Hawking wheelchair-bound and paralyzed. He was able to move only a few fingers on one hand and was completely dependent on others or on technology. Hawking used a speech synthesizer that allowed him to speak in a computerized voice with an American accent.
“I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many,” he wrote on his website.
“I have been lucky that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope.”
>Juthy Saha