Stephen Hawking, who has died aged 76, was Britain ’ s most famous modern- day scientist , a genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe .
Born on January 8, 1942 — 300 years to the day after the death of the father of modern science , Galileo Galilei — he believed science was his destiny .
But fate also dealt Hawking a cruel hand .
Most of his life was spent in a wheelchair crippled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) , a form of motor neuron disease that attacks the nerves controlling voluntary movement.
Remarkably , Hawking defied predictions he would only live for a few years , overcoming its debilitating effects on his mobility and speech that left him paralysed and able to communicate only via a computer speech synthesiser .
“ I am quite often asked : how do you feel about having ALS?” he once wrote. “ The answer is , not a lot .
“ I try to lead as normal a life as possible , and not think about my condition , or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many. ”
Stephen William Hawking, though , was far from normal .
Inside the shell of his increasingly useless body was a razor-sharp mind , fascinated by the nature of the Universe , how it was formed and how it might end .
“ My goal is simple, ” he once said . “ It is complete understanding of the universe , why it is as it is and why it exists at all . ”
Much of that work centred on bringing together relativity — the nature of space and time — and quantum theory — how the smallest particles in the Universe behave — to explain the creation of the Universe and how it is governed .
– Life on Earth at risk –
In 1974, he became one of the youngest fellows of Britain ’ s most prestigious scientific body , the Royal Society , at the age of 32.
In 1979 he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, where he had moved from Oxford University to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology .
A previous holder of the prestigious post was the 17th -century British scientist Isaac Newton.
Hawking eventually put Newton’ s gravitational theories to the test in 2007 when, aged 65, he went on a weightless flight in the United States as a prelude to a hoped- for sub-orbital spaceflight .
Characteristically , he did not see the trip as a mere birthday present .
Instead, he said he wanted to show that disability was no bar to achievement and to encourage interest in space , where he believed humankind’ s destiny lay .
“ I think the human race has no future if it doesn ’ t go into space, ” he said .
“ I believe life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden global warming , nuclear war , a genetically engineered virus or other dangers. ”
More recently he said artificial intelligence ( AI ) could contribute to the eradication of disease and poverty , while warning of its potential dangers.
“ In short, success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation .
“ Alongside the benefits , AI will also bring dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons , or new ways for the few to oppress the many , ” Hawking said in 2016, at the opening of a new AI research centre at Cambridge University.
– Pop culture and politics –
Hawking’ s genius brought him global fame and he became known as a witty communicator dedicated to bringing science to a wider audience .
His 1988 book “ A Brief History of Time” sought to explain to non- scientists the fundamental theories of the universe and it became an international bestseller, bringing him global acclaim.
It was followed in 2001 by “ The Universe in a Nutshell” .
In 2007, Hawking published a children’ s book , “ George’ s Secret Key to the Universe ” , with his daughter , Lucy , seeking to explain the workings of the solar system , asteroids , his pet subject of black holes and other celestial bodies .
Hawking also moved into popular culture , with cameos in “ Star Trek : The Next Generation” and “ The Simpsons ” , while his voice appeared in Pink Floyd songs.
Beyond scientific debate Hawking also weighed into politics, describing Donald Trump as “ a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator ” ahead of his election as US president .
Hawking also warned Britain ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016 against leaving the European Union : “ Gone are the days when we could stand on our own against the world . ”
– Making the most of ‘ every minute ’ –
Hawking first married Jane Wilde in 1965 and had three children. The couple split after 25 years and he married his former nurse , Elaine Mason , but the union broke down amid allegations , denied by him , of abuse .
The love story between Hawking and Wilde was retold in the 2014 film “ The Theory of Everything” , which won Britain ’ s Eddie Redmayne the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the scientist .
The Oscar triumph was celebrated by Hawking, who has reportedly said there were moments watching the film when he thought he was watching himself .
He was also the subject of a 2013 documentary, “ Hawking” , in which he reflected on his life: “ Because every day could be my last, I have the desire to make the most of each and every minute. ”
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