Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) A renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, who made ground-breaking contributions to our understanding of black holes, the nature of the universe, and the origin of time and space. He was widely regarded as one of the most brilliant scientists of his generation and one of the greatest minds of all time.

Hawking was born in Oxford, England and showed an early aptitude for mathematics and science. He earned his PhD from Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed his interest in the theory of black holes. In 1963, he was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neuron disease (ALS) that left him paralysed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Despite the challenges posed by his condition, he continued to work and make seminal contributions to our understanding of the universe.

Hawking’s most famous contribution was his work on black holes, which demonstrated that black holes are not entirely black, but instead emit radiation. This became known as Hawking radiation, and it revolutionized our understanding of black holes and their behaviour. He also proposed the concept of imaginary time, which suggests that time behaves like another dimension and that the universe has no beginning or end.

In addition to his scientific contributions, Hawking was also a popular author and public figure. His book “A Brief History of Time” became an international best-seller and made complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. He was also a passionate advocate for the disabled community and used his platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Hawking died in 2018, but his legacy lives on. His contributions to science and his efforts to make complex scientific concepts accessible to a wide audience will continue to inspire and influence future generations of scientists and mathematicians.