Stephen Hawking: The Greatest Scientist of Our Time
July 7th, 2012
Stephen Hawking has always been a person that I admired. Despite having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Hawking has been able to become one of the most influential scientists in the world. His is known particularly for his groundbreaking work in the physics and cosmology fields.
Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, England. He graduated from Oxford University at the age of twenty in 1962. It was at this point in his life where he began developing the first symptoms of ALS. While at the University of Cambridge for graduate school, Hawking lost his balance and fell down a flight of stairs. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and ultimately ALS, which has progressed throughout his lifetime.
While most people with ALS don’t live more than 10 years after they’re diagnosed, Hawking has managed to defy the odds. Despite losing his ability to speak, Hawking has still been able to make valuable contributions in science. Since his remarkable achievements have always piqued the interest of the public, Hawking has frequently been asked to give lectures or appear in works of popular culture. To communicate adequately with the public, he uses a speech generating device and a voice synthesizer.
His most notable works include the science books, A Brief History of Time, Black Holes and Baby Universes and The Universe in a Nutshell. He is also featured in a number of films and series, which are can be seen on Discovery Channel and National Geographic. If you’re interested in watching, you can get these channels with DIRECTV. Visit Direct4TV.com to learn more.