2017-02-08 Wed

Stephen William Hawking was born on 8 January 1942 in Oxford, England. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history. His work on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes, has revolutionized the field, while his best-selling books have appealed to readers who may not have Hawking’s scientific background.

While Hawking was working on his PhD at Cambridge University, he began to have health issues. His speech became slurred and he became very clumsy. After going through a series of tests, doctors discovered that Hawking had a disease called ALS. At that time, the doctors said he only had a few years to live.

Although Hawking was initially depressed over his diagnosis, he decided that there were things he wanted to accomplish with his life. He began to study and work harder than ever before. He wanted to earn his PhD before he dies. Around the same time, he met and fell in love with a girl named Jane Wilde. Between his work and Jane, Hawking had a reason to live. Despite the initial grim diagnosis from his doctors, Hawking has lived a full and productive life with the help of science and modern medicine. Although he is confined to a wheelchair and cannot talk, he can communicate using a touch pad computer and a voice synthesizer.

Palau issued a stamp in 2000 of 33 cents portraying a young Hawking and aside there is a diagram of geometry of space around a black hole.

He once said “it is a waste of time to be angry about my disability. One has to get on with life and I haven't done badly. People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining”.