World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has passed away at the age of 76, according to a statement released by his family today.
The acclaimed scientist’s work changed what we know about the universe and defined the field of modern cosmology, and he shared these gifts with the world. He was known for his sharp wit despite being wheelchair-bound and relying on speech synthesisers to communicate for much of his adult life. When he was first diagnosed with motor neuron disease at age 21 Hawking was given only two years to live, but he defied the odds and went on to be an incredible force for modern physics.
“He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,” his family said in a statement. “His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.”
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2017/10/you-can-now-read-stephen-hawkings-phd-thesis-for-free-here/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/tlycqlh14zz63aeybaxb.jpg” title=”You Can Now Read Stephen Hawking’s PhD Thesis For Free Here” excerpt=”You might not want anyone to read the work you put together as a university student — I sure don’t. But we’re not Stephen Hawking, world-famous physicist, whose PhD thesis you can now read for free online.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2016/11/the-csiro-is-looking-for-aliens-thanks-to-stephen-hawking/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/parkes_telescope_night-410×231.jpg” title=”The CSIRO Is Looking For Aliens, Thanks To Stephen Hawking” excerpt=”Breakthrough Listen, the 10-year, $100-million astronomical search for intelligent life beyond Earth launched in 2015 by Internet entrepreneur Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking today announced its first observations using CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2016/08/were-one-step-closer-to-proving-stephen-hawking-was-ring-that-black-holes-evaporate/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/vyuudbakj6bfjzb5wbfh.jpg” title=”We’re One Step Closer To Proving Stephen Hawking Was Right That Black Holes Evaporate” excerpt=”In the 1970s, Stephen Hawking made an audacious prediction that black holes aren’t totally black; they evaporate over time, emitting tiny amounts of radiation in the process. Now Israeli physicists have reported the strongest evidence to date that Hawking was right in a new paper in Nature Physics.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2016/02/watch-stephen-hawkings-bbc-lectures-on-black-holes-with-chalkboard-illustrations/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/xnnyxs6x1vesv32hxeg2.png” title=”Watch Stephen Hawking’s BBC Lectures On Black Holes With Chalkboard Illustrations” excerpt=”Now you can watch as well as listen as world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking expounds upon his latest ideas about the knotty black hole information paradox, playfully illustrated by chalkboard artist Andrew Park.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/stephen-hawkings-acat-changing-the-life-of-one-of-our-greatest-minds/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/qqjc3aayu26ufa6pxdmt.jpg” title=”Stephen Hawking’s ACAT: Changing The Life Of One Of Our Greatest Minds” excerpt=”Were it not for technology, one of the greatest minds of our time, that belonging to Professor Stephen Hawking, would lack a voice, a means to express ideas that greatly expand our understanding of the universe.”]