
Stephen Hawking
- theoretical physicist
- cosmologist
- writer
- astrophysicist
- mathematician
- pedagogue
- science writer
- university teacher
- physicist
- non-fiction writer
- astronomer
- television actor
- autobiographer
- science fiction writer
- Trekkie
- scientist
- Born 1942-01-08
- Died 2018-03-14 (aged 76)
- Nationality United Kingdom
Biography
Nothing here yet
Known for
Filmography
See full filmography| Role | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Theory of Everything | Movie | Stephen Hawking | 72 |
Career timeline
Award won Role or nomination
1942 age 0
Born2014 age 72
CreditThe Theory of Everything2018 age 76
Died
Worked with most
Family and influences
Influenced by
Nothing recorded for: Spouse, Partner, Parents, Children, Siblings, Studied under, Taught.
Photos
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Photo:Tanya HartCC BY-SA 2.0
Photo:NASAPublic domain
Quotes
The subject of this book is the structure of space-time on length-scales from 10<sup>-13</sup>cm, the radius of an elementary particle, up to 10<sup>28</sup>cm, the radius of the universe. ...we base our treatment on Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. This theory leads to two remarkable predictions about the universe: first, that the final fate of massive stars is to collapse behind an event horizon to form a 'black hole' which will contain a singularity; and secondly, that there is a singularity in our past which constitutes, in some sense, a beginning to the universe.
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
I regard [the many worlds interpretation] as self-evidently correct. [T.F.: Yet some don't find it evident to themselves.] Yeah, well, there are some people who spend an awful lot of time talking about the interpretation of quantum mechanics. My attitude — I would paraphrase Goering—is that when I hear of Schrödinger's cat, I reach for my gun.
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
Many people would claim that the boundary conditions are not part of physics but belong to metaphysics or religion. They would claim that nature had complete freedom to start the universe off any way it wanted. That may be so, but it could also have made it evolve in a completely arbitrary and random manner. Yet all the evidence is that it evolves in a regular way according to certain laws. It would therefore seem reasonable to suppose that there are also laws governing the boundary conditions.
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
If you are disabled, it is probably not your fault, but it is no good blaming the world or expecting it to take pity on you. One has to have a positive attitude and must make the best of the situation that one finds oneself in; if one is physically disabled, one cannot afford to be psychologically disabled as well. In my opinion, one should concentrate on activities in which one's physical disability will not present a serious handicap. I am afraid that Olympic Games for the disabled do not appeal to me, but it is easy for me to say that because I never liked athletics anyway. On the other hand, science is a very good area for disabled people because it goes on mainly in the mind. Of course, most kinds of experimental work are probably ruled out for most such people, but theoretical work is almost ideal. My disabilities have not been a significant handicap in my field, which is theoretical physics. Indeed, they have helped me in a way by shielding me from lecturing and administrative w
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
There ought to be something very special about the boundary conditions of the universe and what can be more special than that there is no boundary?
Stephen Hawking, CC BY-SA 4.0
TV appearances
Nothing here yet
Facts
Personal details
- Nationalities
- United Kingdom
- Cause of death
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Languages
- English
- Notable works
- A Brief History of Time, Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays, The Universe in a Nutshell, On the Shoulders of Giants, God Created the Integers, The Dreams That Stuff Is Made of: The Most Astounding Papers of Quantum Physics and How They Shook the Scientific World, My Brief History
- Education
- St Albans School, University College, Oxford, Bachelor of Arts, Trinity Hall, doctorate, Byron House School, St Albans High School for Girls, University of Cambridge