Physics king Stephen Hawking passed away

Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science whose vision helped shape modern cosmology and inspired millions of people around the world, has died at the age of 76 at his home in Cambridge, England, according toGuardianDr. Hawking is the founder of cosmology and the father of the famous theory of black holes emitting radiation (Hawking radiation).

His family confirmed the scientist's death this morning. In a statement, Hawking's children Lucy, Robert and Tim said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man. His work and legacy will live on for many years to come. His courage, perseverance, intelligence and sense of humour inspired people all over the world. He once said: 'The universe would not be much of a place if it were not home to the people you love.' We will miss him very much."

"Since Albert Einstein, no scientist has attracted so much public attention and been loved by tens of millions of people around the world," Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at New York University, shared about Hawking in an interview.

Dr. Hawking is the author of "A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes," published in 1988. The book sold more than 10 million copies and was the inspiration for a documentary by Errol Morris. The 2014 film about Hawking's life, "The Theory of Everything," received multiple Oscar nominations, and actor Eddie Redmayne, who played Dr. Hawking, won the Oscar for Best Actor.

In 1963, while still a graduate student, Dr. Hawling discovered he had spinal muscular atrophy, a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a disease that destroys the body's nervous system. Doctors gave him only two years to live.

However, the form of Hawking's disease progressed more slowly than normal, allowing him to live for more than half a century. The disease reduced Hawking's ability to control his body, leaving him only able to wiggle his fingers and move his eyes, but did not affect his intelligence or ability to think. Dr. Hawking became a pioneer in the field of gravity and the properties of black holes, bottomless gravitational pits so deep and dense that not even light can escape.