Sayling Away

Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)

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Stephen Hawking, the groundbreaking theoretical physicist, passed away peacefully at his home in Cambridge early Wednesday at the age of 76. Although I suspect many of our children know him only through the TV show “Big Bang Theory,” he was truly one of the great minds of our time.

Hawking had a rare early-onset slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s that gradually paralyzed him over the decades, but he fought every day to stay alive and working. Even after the loss of his speech, he was still able to communicate through a speech-generating device, initially through use of a hand-held switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle. His grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world, and as the European Space Agency wrote, he “showed us there are no limits to achieving our dreams”

One of his greatest impacts was bringing his complex theories to the general public through his bestselling book, “A Brief History of Time.”

His contributions to his field were enormous: the existence of singularities and the theory that the universe might have started as a singularity, the second law of black hole dynamic, new ideas in quantum gravity and quantum mechanics, and the concept that the universe had no boundary in space-time – before the Big Bang, time did not exist and the concept of the beginning of the universe was meaningless. You physicists out there will understand this better than I.

Someone said that with his death, a star on earth blinked out. I would like to think another one blinked in, out there, in our heavens. I hope Hawking is finding the answers to his questions.

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Sue Vincent
7 years ago

A lovely thought, Noelle. There is much to admire in this man.

Sue Vincent
7 years ago
Reply to  noelleg44

I think we all were, Noelle. And his humour.

Teagan R. Geneviene
7 years ago

A truly amazing person, Noelle. I hope he finds those answers too… but the most important thing is that he asked those questions. So many people don’t bother to question anything. Hugs.

Bruce Goodman
7 years ago

My favourite Hawking “thing” was when he sent his students to repeat Ernest Rutherford’s splitting of the atom experiment, using nothing other than what they could find at their local rubbish/trash pit! A lovely tribute, thanks Noelle.

Bruce Goodman
7 years ago
Reply to  noelleg44

Not sure how they did it, but apparently they did! The point I think he was making was that Rutherford was an eminently practical person and he made do even when resources ran out!

willowdot21
7 years ago

A truly great mind. 💜

willowdot21
7 years ago
Reply to  noelleg44

Yes indeed 💜

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
7 years ago

What a great tribute to a great man.

bitaboutbritain
7 years ago

Wonderful tribute. Excellent closing thought!

Tofino Photography
7 years ago

great article about Stephen!

Norah Colvin
7 years ago

What an amazing mind, and such a coincidence that he passed on Pi Day. I enjoyed his books and videos immensely. So much to learn, and even more to comprehend.

factfictionfake
7 years ago

A legend whose memory will live with the stars with a legacy that will grow like a supernova.

roughwighting
7 years ago

Ohhh, I agree with you. Definitely, a nearby star just grew brighter. Thanks for this summary of Hawking’s amazing life.

roughwighting
7 years ago
Reply to  noelleg44

Wow – sounds wonderful.

robbiesinspiration
7 years ago

A great tribute to an incredible man, Noelle.

Mukhamani
7 years ago

An amazing person. Thank you for sharing.

Pete Denton
7 years ago

He was a truly great man and anyone told they had 2 years to live in 1963 who managed to reach 2018 had tremendous fighting spirit.

writerchristophfischer

A beautiful post honouring a remarkable man. His cameo’s in “The Big Bang Theory” sitcom showed yet another beautiful side to him.

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