The Incredibly Complex Life Of Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was given only two years to live in 1963 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet he managed to rise above his disability and lived to be 76 years old, passing away on March 14, 2018. He was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. His work focused on black holes and the universe as a whole and it has changed the way that people view space and time, and helped to make complex scientific concepts accessible and understandable to the general public. Here are some fascinating facts about Hawking’s life and his groundbreaking work.

Contrary to popular belief, Hawking wasn’t the best student starting out.

Born on the 300th Anniversary of Galileo’s Death

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Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, to Frank and Isobel Hawking. Interestingly, he was born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo’s death. Both of his parents had attended the University of Oxford where his father studied medicine and his mother philosophy, politics, and economics.

Originally living in London, his parents moved to Oxford to avoid the bombings of World War II. Here, Isobel gave birth to Stephen as well as two daughters, Phillipa and Mary, and adopted a son named Edward. His family eventually moved to St. Albans, Hertfordshire, where they were considered to be highly intelligent and a bit unconventional.