Biography of Stephen Hawking

Born in Oxford exactly 300 years after Galileo’s passing, Stephen William Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and given just a few years to live. Defying every expectation, he went on to transform our understanding of the cosmos. His work on black holes and the origins of the universe, especially the idea that black holes emit radiation now called Hawking radiation, remains foundational. Communicating through a speech synthesizer, he wrote the bestselling A Brief History of Time, bringing complex ideas to millions with clarity and wit. A devoted father and Cambridge professor for over 30 years, his playful spirit and courage inspired the world. He passed peacefully on March 14, 2018—Einstein’s birthday—leaving us to continue gazing upward, reminded that even from a wheelchair one can touch the stars.