Stephen Hawking reported to have died

[Event Horizon]

News reports are saying the brilliant Professor Steven Hawking has died at the age of 76.

He was responsible for the seminal text, "A Brief History of Time" amongst other books and papers

The man was a legend in his own lifetime, and was even featured in the American cartoon "The Simpsons" which a lot of people regard as a an honour.

This is a sad day for science, and a sad day for his family. I'm sure there going to be a lot of tributes for him over the coming days. Iam sure he will be sorely missed.

RIP Steven. Time to rest now, thankyou for your ingenious work.

[Watson]

Yes.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43396008?ns_ ... ws_central

A good age considering the earlier prognosis?

[Event Horizon]

Yes, I would say that given his Motor Neuron disease he would be life limited. Fortunately this seems not to have been the case, and 76 isn't too shabby given the problems he had. If I live as long I won't be disappointed.

Such an influential guy. He confirmed the singularity event, predicted black holes at the center of galaxies and so much more. All backed up with the math for those that understand such rarefied stuff. He changed the scientific view of the universe with just the power of his intellect. Amazing guy.

[JohnD]

For everyone there is always a time to say goodbye.

Goodbye Stephen Hawking. To the great annals of science go thee.

[Event Horizon]

I wonder if Professor Hawking was the closest man in modern times to the great Albert Einstein? A towering intellect that probed and proved concepts we could barely imagine without his guidance. One of a very rare breed.

[BadgerJelly]

I wonder if Professor Hawking was the closest man in modern times to the great Albert Einstein? A towering intellect that probed and proved concepts we could barely imagine without his guidance. One of a very rare breed.

No, he wasn't. That would be the simple answer.

[JohnD]

Now there's a discussion to be a fly of the wall at. Albert, Stephen and Gabriel.
Topic: Origins

[hyksos]

Professor Stephen Hawking has died on Albert Einstein's birthday.

...there is something strange in the air.

[zetreque]

Professor Stephen Hawking has died on Albert Einstein's birthday.

...there is something strange in the air.

I think that depends on the time zone? Relative to the observer.

[BadgerJelly]

Professor Stephen Hawking has died on Albert Einstein's birthday.

...there is something strange in the air.

I think that depends on the time zone? Relative to the observer.

;)

I imagine Hawking would appreciate the irony of pulling out our astrological charts to figure out when he'll be reborn as the savior of physics in some future dystopian world. haha!

Just a thought ... has anyone check the batteries? Maybe he chair just needs a recharge? :D

Anyway, jokes aside his book was the first serious, and difficult, book I read. I also remember the use of his voice on some mobile advert that has resonated with me to this day ...

"All we need to do is make sure we keep talking."

And as a figure of what a human is capable of under the face of physical adversity he will no doubt remain a role model for many in the years to come.

[toucana]

Steven Hawking 's death was reported on 3-14-2017

or 3.142... International Pi Day ;-)

[TheVat]

Was going to point out both the Pi day and Albert's birthday coincidence, but am in a time zone where I am late to the party. Or wake. He played an excellent game of poker on an episode of Star Trek Next Gen. I am loath to compare physicists (where would Einstein have been without Poincare and Lorentz? Or Planck? Or Maxwell?) with tape measures. He was a great one. And his longevity with MND was remarkable.

[Watson]

Many years ago, I wrote to him. Pen, paper, envelope, stamp and followed up with a nice walk to the post box on the corner. Back then the inbox hung outside beside the front door. And yes, about 10 days later I got a reply. It was a polite and brief reply on behave of Steven, from his assistant.

[toucana]

This is the epitaph Steven Hawking wished to have written on his gravestone.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stephen-hawking-death-dies-equation-discovery-tombstone-radiation-nobel-a8254966.html

It's the entropy equation for Hawking-Beckstein radiation emission in black holes.

to my great surprise, I found there seemed to be emission from the black hole. At first, I thought this must be a mistake in my calculation. But what persuaded me that it was real, was that the emission was exactly what was required to identify the area of the horizon with the entropy of a black hole.

“I would like this simple formula to be on my tombstone.” - Steven Hawking

[zetreque]

I have often wonders how much of his lack of mobility lead to his achievements.
Being less mobile and already interested in physics might lead a person to spending more time thinking about and working on specific advanced concepts which would result in more achievements in that area.

Being mobile might bring more of a chance to get side tracked doing other things.

[Event Horizon]

Prof. Hawking said that getting motor neuron disease was the catalyst that spurred him on. He said that until the diagnosis he was "Tired of life". He was given two years to live when he was about 22. He went on to say that in a way, it was the best thing that happened to him, and perhaps it was.
He was able to conceptualize his ideas, but you don't need a working body to do that.

He will be a role-model for disabled people everywhere, him proving that virtually anything was still possible.

His acerbic wit and cheeky humour just served to make him more endearing.

There is a huge amount of praise and thanks going his way (a bit of hyperbole too, but that's natural enough)

I might even manage to finish his book one day, but my maths aren't really up to it. I can understand the concepts well enough though.

[zetreque]

I read "The Universe in a Nutshell" a while back.

In addition to wondering about his mobility lending him time to work on physics I also wonder where he got his money from to have the time.

[Event Horizon]

Scholarships, grants, and whatever his professorship earned him. Guest speaking, TV appearances, book sales and sponsorships all helped I expect. He may even have held intellectual property and patents.

[mitchellmckain]

I wonder if Professor Hawking was the closest man in modern times to the great Albert Einstein? A towering intellect that probed and proved concepts we could barely imagine without his guidance. One of a very rare breed.

There are some points of similarity. But such comparisons are always problematic, because much of what makes them great is the circumstances which gave them the opportunity to contribute so much. Most "great" people in history were extremely privileged, for there still is a great deal of genius which is never realized because of circumstances. Thus instead of making such comparisons, I think it makes more sense to simply say that he did good with challenges and opportunities which he had in his life.

[Watson]

This gave me interest in finding my files from back then. I have not looked at them in decades other than to move them from house to house. I found the letter from Steven Hawking's assistant, and others. I had a brief correspondence with Allan Guth, all back in 1991. It will be interesting to see what I have on file.

[Watson]

I meant Stephen. I corrected myself based on the thread title, which mislead a few of us.

[Event Horizon]

I apologise for the mis-spelling of Stephens' name. For some reason I forgot it had an alternate spelling. A mental abberation on my part. Sorry.

[TheVat]

The man had two birds in his name.

StepHEN HAWKing.

Been savin' that one.

Probably should have saved it a little longer. and then some.