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Dr. Stephen Hawking, 1924-2018 (Image curtesoy of
Dr. Stephen Hawking, 1924-2018
March 14 (3/14) is a day that has become an informal celebration of the number called pi, 3.14, a number that is used in many ways in the areas of physics, astronomy, engineering, and much, much more. Today, Pi Day is also a celebration of the life of British physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking, who passed away early this morning at his home in England at the age of 76. It is especially appropriate that today is also Einstein’s birthday. Einstein was the discoverer of the theory of General Relativity, the field in which Dr. Hawking did his most important work.
Dr. Hawking, former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a post held three centuries ago by Isaac Newton, had an immense impact on science, the communication of science to the public, and the perception of science through avenues such as pop culture.
Here are some snippets of his life:
DISCOVERIES
With the Oxford mathematician Roger Penrose, he showed that if there was a Big Bang, it must have started from an infinitely small point—a singularity.
Black holes don't just absorb energy, they also act like they are warm and radiate energy, now known as “Hawking radiation,” while gradually losing mass. This connection between heat and black holes fundamentally changed how science views black holes and gravity.
He predicted the existence of mini-black holes at the time of the Big Bang. These tiny black holes would have been incredibly hot, shedding mass until they vanished—potentially ending their lives in an explosion that would release vast amounts of energy.
In the 1970s, Hawking considered whether the particles and light (“information”) that enter a black hole were ultimately destroyed if the black hole evaporated. Hawking initially thought that this "information" was lost from the Universe. In 2004, Hawking conceded that the information must be conserved.
》》Read more about his accomplishments from the BBC.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Dr. Hawking rose to fame beginning in 1988, with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time. His goal was to write a book about cosmology at a level the public would appreciate—and that would be sold in airport bookshops. Over the years, this book has sold more than 10 million copies and has been translated into 40 languages. He wrote several books, in total, including a children’s series about physics, a series created with his daughter Lucy.
》》See a complete list of Dr. Hawkings book publications.
IMPACT ON POP CULTURE
Dr. Hawking had a famous sense of humor and enthusiastically participated in television and movie projects. He appeared on, or provided his synthesizer’s voice for, such shows as The Simpsons (which he called the “best show on American television”; 4 appearances, in total), Star Trek: The Next Generation (he played cards as a hologram of himself with fellow holograms Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton), The Big Bang Theory, Futurama, and more.
His life was portrayed in the 2014 film, The Theory of Everything.
》》Read more about his appears in pop culture from The Guardian.
A NOTE FROM THE ADLER
Dr. Hawking inspired our wonder for the Universe and curiosity to ponder big ideas and questions. Through his humor and humanity, he helped make science accessible. He will be greatly missed.
》》Read more about his life and legacy.
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