Stephen Hawking has Died - March 14th, 2018

[berkeman]

I like Hawking's sense of humor, especially in this cameo appearance in Star Trek. I laughed so hard the first time I saw it -- "Wrong again, Albert!" LOL

 

[Amrator]

I think we should also remember how amazing it was that we got to keep him for so long given his illness manifesting itself so early. He was diagnosed in the early 60s, meaning that he lived with ALS for the larger part of his life.

Edit: I also came to think that even if his direct contributions to science are important and numerous. His biggest contribution is probably that of a science educator and inspirer. Imagine how much science is currently being done by people who, like me, were inspired to enter academia after reading his books. I am surely not the only one.

What would you say his greatest contribution to physics was? The singularity theorems? Hawking radiation?

 

[Lisa!]

RIP Prof. Hawking.

 

[Evo]

One of our members had an office across the hall from him a couple of years ago and could hear him. An amazing man, he's contributed so much. R.I.P.

 

[Orodruin]

What would you say his greatest contribution to physics was? The singularity theorems? Hawking radiation?

I am not a specialist in his field, but I would go with Hawking radiation. It is a physical effect that is a priori observable (even if too weak to be so for us at the moment). It is the kind of prediction that wins Nobel prizes if confirmed (of course it will not be confirmed any time soon, but just to give a flavour). For me, the singularity theorems, while important for the understanding of GR is not at the same level.

 

[ohwilleke]

An obit reviewing his accomplishments by a physicist in the field.

http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2018/03/stephen-hawking-dies-at-76-what-was-he.html

Only a few years later, in 1974, Hawking published a seminal paper in which he demonstrates that black holes give off thermal radiation, now referred to as “Hawking radiation.” This evaporation of black holes results in the black hole information loss paradox which is still unsolved today. Hawking’s work demonstrated clearly that the combination of General Relativity with the quantum field theories of the standard model spells trouble. Like the singularity theorems, it’s a result that doesn’t merely indicate, but prove that we need a theory of quantum gravity in order to consistently describe nature.

Half of science is asking the right questions, even if you can't solve them all in your own lifetime.

 

[Physiona]

R.I.P Professor Steven Hawkings.
You were and always will be a sensational role model to me in the immense areas of physics and mathematics. The universalism of physics won't be the same without you in presence amongst us. You truly are science's shining star.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

 

[robphy]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-obituary by Roger Penrose

Hawking’s academic family tree
https://academictree.org/physics/tree.php?pid=4583

 

[gabcsika]

I had a bad feeling few months ago when I did not finish to read his PhD thesis. I said 'Oh, I will finish it soon, he is a (forever) living legend, I have time'. That was a blame. This is now sadly actual to finish it reading. I did not want finish his famous thesis to read this way. Really not.
He was a lighthouse in theoretical physics, and will be missing to everyone who wanted to see (a little bit) deeper into the Universe...

 

[clope023]

Life before Death.
Strength before Weakness.
Journey before Destination.
RIP Professor.

 

[QuantumQuest]

RIP Professor Hawking. A great thanks is the least I can say for your amazing contributions to Physics.

 

[dRic2]

When I was 10/11 I used to read his book "A brief history of time". I couldn't understand anything, but I was so exicted about it for no reasons. Just to be able to read it was enough. I remember when I thought I had a glimps of something I used to run to my granpa (the scientist of the family) and try to explain it. Then he asked me a question I didn't know how to answer so I went back straight to the book. Growing up my interest in scienze fade away (I don't know why) and I started to enjoy leterature. Two years ago my passion for science came back and recently I was planning to read some of his books. It took a while to the news to "hit" me, but now I am very very sad.

RIP Professor Hawking.

 

[ohwilleke]

I had a bad feeling few months ago when I did not finish to read his PhD thesis. I said 'Oh, I will finish it soon, he is a (forever) living legend, I have time'. That was a blame. This is now sadly actual to finish it reading. I did not want finish his famous thesis to read this way. Really not.
He was a lighthouse in theoretical physics, and will be missing to everyone who wanted to see (a little bit) deeper into the Universe...

The great thing about scholars is that their legacy persists long after they are gone. He will be alive to you for as long as you keep reading his PhD thesis and other writings, just as Einstein and Dirac and so many others live on today in their intellectual legacies and have work which can be read in the original today long after they are gone.

 

[Prof Sabi]

I wanted to meet him once it was my wish from VII th standard and my dream shattered RIP

 

[Harsha Avinash Tanti]

We lost Some thing Very Important yesterday. The greatest mind of our era.

 

[Thinkaholic]

76 years old is much better than 25 years old.
RIP Stephen. He may be dead now, but his legacy and impact on science will live on for as long as there are humans in the Universe!

 

[lightarrow]

Great Stephen Hawking! As scientist and as person. RIP.

--
lightarrow

 

[Dadface]

In addition to his other attributes Stephen Hawking had a great sense of humour.

 

[collinsmark]

Here's Stephen Hawking's stint on the Simpsons*.



*It was referenced in the video in the previous post by @Dadface.

 

[Vanadium 50]

The greatest mind of our era

I have a hard time with that. Hawking was an excellent scientist, a great popularizer and a sterling role model. He certainly deserves his fame. But "greatest mind of our era"? That's a bit over the top.

 

[collinsmark]

Sixty Symbols released this new video today ("today" being Mar 14, 2018).

 

[Orodruin]

I have a hard time with that. Hawking was an excellent scientist, a great popularizer and a sterline role model. He certainly deserves his fame. But "greatest mind of our era"? That's a bit over the top.

In addition, it depends on how you define "era".

 

[Adam Kohnle]

Although my role model for physics is Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking is my role model as a person, if that makes sense. Stephen Hawking defied all odds and fought ALS and far surpassed his life expectancy. The fact that he died on Albert Einstein's birthday is truly extraordinary and is an amazing coincidence, especially since both of them are my 2 role models.

 

[gleem]

Stephen Hawking a great scientist to be sure but also a remarkable human being. From his human side when asked by Dianne Sawyer in an interview about what advice he gave to his children he said:

"Here are the most important pieces of advice that I've passed on to my children," Hawking said. "One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is rare and don't throw it away."

 

[martinbn]

I have a hard time with that. Hawking was an excellent scientist, a great popularizer and a sterling role model. He certainly deserves his fame. But "greatest mind of our era"? That's a bit over the top.

I don't have a problems with that. The set is not linearly ordered, so there are more than one greatest element. So "greatest mind of our era" seems fine, but "the greatest mind of our era" is probably inaccurate.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

The greatest mind of our era.

I have a hard time with that. Hawking was an excellent scientist, a great popularizer and a sterling role model. He certainly deserves his fame. But "greatest mind of our era"? That's a bit over the top.

In addition, it depends on how you define "era".

I don't have a problems with that. The set is not linearly ordered, so there are more than one greatest element. So "greatest mind of our era" seems fine, but "the greatest mind of our era" is probably inaccurate.

Thus perhaps "One of the greatest minds of the recently modern scientific era" is perhaps more accurate and perhaps kind of necessarily true! ...

A few years back I had similar feelings when (me back then being a Physics undergaduate student) I was informed of prof. R. P. Feynman's death (another great mind of that/this era ...). At first I couldn't believe it (and, to be honest, I still haven't for both! Inside of me they are still alive ...). They both gave their brave fights to live and undoubtedly taught me 3 things (strongly imprinted in my memory):
1. Life is worth living and worth fighting for in any case (or at least in most cases).
2. Science is [a goal] worth pursuing ...
3. Never trust doctors ... (jk )

Although my role model for physics is Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking is my role model as a person, if that makes sense. Stephen Hawking defied all odds and fought ALS and far surpassed his life expectancy. The fact that he died on Albert Einstein's birthday is truly extraordinary and is an amazing coincidence, especially since both of them are my 2 role models.

Note also:

Born on Galileo’s death

(Jan 8)

[Amazing Physicists' coincidences, considering also the scientific relation/subjects between these 3 names (Galileo, Einstein, Hawking [in time order ...]) - reflecting also the evolution of ideas in physics ... (and a still/ever expanding/evolving subject [i.e. 'Mechanics-Relativity-Cosmology'])]

 

[pinball1970]

I don't get what he did, I only have to read to the number of comments from scientists/students on here that use the phrase " he inspired..."

 

[Amrator]

I don't get what he did, I only have to read to the number of comments from scientists/students on here that use the phrase " he inspired..."

Ohwilleke already posted this link in this thread:
http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2018/03/stephen-hawking-dies-at-76-what-was-he.html

 

[pinball1970]

Ohwilleke already posted this link in this thread:
http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2018/03/stephen-hawking-dies-at-76-what-was-he.html

read a few posts not all. apologies if I repeated, I suppose that is going to happen with this guy. I have my orginal brief history which I am taking into work tomo for a guy who wants to know what he did. Spine is a bit knackered, told him to look after it.

 

[BillTre]

Saw this yesterday.
Very simple, but completely recognizable.

 

[haushofer]

I used that lego-picture a couple of weeks ago during a talk for high school students. It was a hit! :D

Of course, someone's passing away is sad. But given the extra 55 years of time he got and my impression that he had a most interesting and satisfying life, feelings of gratitude and joy predominate. Long live Hawking, in all his papers, thoughts, popular literature and popular culture! :D

 

[praveenplanemo]

RIP Prof S.W Hawking

 

[mark!]

RIP. He will always be one of my biggest heroes.

 

[Jupiter60]

It is sad that he never went to outer space. There were plans to send him to space.

 

[david2]

didn't know he was that old.

RIP