Stephen hawking biography for children
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After a few years, he couldn't walk or talk and needed a special wheelchair. His invaluable contributions have significantly enhanced our comprehension of the universe we inhabit.
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Stephen Hawking, a renowned scientist, represented not only intellectual prowess but also resilience and strength, profoundly impacting the world despite living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating disease.
Diagnosed at the tender age of 21, it was predicted that Hawking’s life would be cut short within a few years as ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, progressively weakens muscles, making basic life functions increasingly difficult.
This is Professor Stephen Hawking.
He was one of the world’s greatest scientists.
He was born in Oxford in 1942.
He was an expert in space and cosmology (the science of the universe).
He said that he wanted to have a complete understanding of the universe.
He wrote best-selling books.
Watch: The achievements of Professor Stephen Hawking
In the 20th century, Professor Stephen Hawking made a huge difference to the world by solving some of the biggest mysteries of the universe and helping ordinary people to understand science.
"Black holes are stranger than anything dreamed up by science fiction writers but they are firmly matters of science fact."
Born in 1942, Stephen was clever, curious and loved mathematics!
He studied and worked at two of the world's most famous universities, Oxford and Cambridge.He said his goal was to have a complete understanding of the Universe.
But when he was 21, Stephen’s body developed a disease.
He worried that very smart AI might try to survive and get more resources for its own goals.
He was also concerned about a future where "superhumans" could design their own evolution. He feared aliens might try to take Earth's resources.
Hawking also warned about superintelligent artificial intelligence (AI). His school math teacher inspired him to study mathematics at university.
In the late 1980s, he became close to one of his nurses, Elaine Mason. Because Stephen didn't give up, we can all understand more about the Universe!
What did Stephen Hawking do?
- Stephen Hawking went to both Oxford and Cambridge universities.
- He discovered things about space and the universe.
- When he was 21, he found out he had motor neurone disease.
But it might also be the last, unless we learn to control the risks. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.”
- “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. These problems got worse, and his speech became a bit unclear. Even though he had trouble walking and speaking, he started giving public talks.
Jane also started a PhD in medieval Spanish poetry. So it was with Stephen Hawking. Consequently, if a spacecraft could be constructed to approach light speed, time within said craft would elapse more slowly compared to Earth time.
This implies a possibility where astronauts might voyage into Earth’s future, returning younger than those they initially left behind.
Stephen wasn’t a great student at school, but he loved learning.
Jane's book was later updated and made into a film called The Theory of Everything in 2014.
Supporting People with Disabilities
From the 1990s onward, Hawking became a role model for people with disabilities. He decided to only answer theoretical physics questions. Hawking himself chose the first people to receive these medals.
His essay "Singularities and the Geometry of Space–Time" won the important Adams Prize that year.
Working with Roger Penrose, Hawking expanded on the idea of singularities. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Each person who receives the fellowship gives a special talk called the ‘Hawking Lecture’.
Hawking himself was the first to receive this fellowship.
In March 1966, he earned his PhD degree in applied mathematics and theoretical physics.