TOP 12 terrific facts to know about Stephen Hawking

Not only the scientific community, but millions of people around the globe are mourning the death of an influential scientist Stephen Hawking. While Hawking is accredited with some mind-boggling discoveries about Black Holes and the beginning of the Universe, here are the top ten lesser known interesting facts about the scientist that will help us understand him better, as a theoretical physics genius, as a man who never stopped to go beyond the realms of commonplace thinking; even if he was bound to the confines of a wheel chair.

1.Received mediocre grades in school

Yes, one of the renowned scientists of modern times was considered a slacker in his school days. He was also ranked the worst in his class when nine years old. However, Stephen had a penchant for how things work and rightfully aced the Oxford exams with a perfect score in Physics.

2.Liked Mathematics better than Biology

Stephen Hawking always had an aversion to studying biology or medicine as his father wanted him to. He was much inclined to learn about stuff that was precise, accurate devoid of descriptive ornamentation and so his interest to major in Mathematics. But he had to compromise by choosing Physics as Oxford didn’t offer Mathematics major.

3.Was a member of the Oxford Rowing team

The world's most famous scientist at once suffered from loneliness and isolation when in Oxford, until he joined the school's rowing team. This was before he was diagnosed with a physically disabling illness. For a scientist who was thought to be very eccentric, he has been even referred to as an 'adventurous type' by one of his mates.

4.When he had only two years to live

When Stephen was 21, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease which was a neurological ailment that caused patients to lose control of their voluntary movements. But Stephen went on to disprove them by marrying Jane and living quite a long life as opposed to doctors’ opinions that he would probably live only two more years.

5.Boundless Universe Theory

One of the major achievements that Stephen has is the finding of the boundless Universe Theory. He along with Jim Hartle in 1983 came up with the idea that the universe has no boundaries and is finite in space-time and will re-collapse eventually likely after 20 billion years.

6.NO Nobel Prize

Stephen Hawking was inducted into the Royal Academy of Science in 1974 following which he was also awarded the Pius XI Gold Medal for Science. He was also the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in Cambridge. He was also invested a Commander of the British Empire, Companion of Honour He has also been awarded with America’s highest civilian award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. But the Nobel Prize has always been elusive to the noted scientist.

7.Children's Author

Stephen Hawking also seems to have dabbled in the writing arts with his daughter Lucy King penning 'George's Secret Key to the Universe' which is about a young boy who rebels against his parents' aversion to technology.

8.Television Appearances

Stephen hawking apart from being a serious scientist had time enough to appear in television multiple times. His animated versions have made an appearance in American sitcom 'The Simpsons', 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Star Trek:Nex Generation' documentaries 'Stephen Hawking: Master of the universe and Into the universe with Stephen Hawking. He took his own advice of 'Life would be tragic if it weren't funny' seriously entertaining us with his humour jibes on TV as well.

9.Believes in Aliens

With a commanding knowledge about the workings of the universe, Stephen Hawking has admittedly said many a times that he believed in the presence of primitive life forms other than humans. He has once stated that aliens might ‘become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they could reach’.

10. A Brief History of Time

It's a no-brainer that most of the people know Stephen Hawking for this book. It could be considered a major breakthrough as the book made made serious and complex scientific marvels accessible to the layman. Stephen extensively wrote on cosmological phenomena such as Big Bang and black holes, general relativity and quantum mechanics. Not to mention the Hawking-Bekenstein radiation that propounded on the black body radiation that released by black holes due to quantum effects near the event horizon.

11.Hopes for the Human Race

Stephen Hawking, when he was 65 years old took a zero-gravity flight which happened to be his first time out of a wheelchair after four decades. Stephen also is known for nurturing an ambition to venture into space. With global warming and the possibility of nuclear wars, Stephen has also stated that the human race’s future lies in outer space. He also has expressed hopes that we would be able to travel to other planets to use their resources for survival.

12. The Theory of Everything

A biographical film on Stephen Hawking titled 'The Theory of Everything' directed by James Marsh hit the screens in 2014 which was well received by both audiences and critics as well. It's also worth mentioning here that the film went on to bag multiple nominations for the Academy Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globe amongst others. Make a little time to see this wonderful fictionalised life of Stephen Hawking.

Conclusion:

Stephen Hawking talked about stuff that were beyond the grasp of an ordinary mind, like black holes, time space , mysteries of universe. Now we feel a scientific community has lost a 'star'. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Not only the scientific community, but millions of people around the globe are mourning the death of an influential scientist Stephen Hawking.