Hawking Effect!

Stephen William Hawking was born on 8 January 1942 in England. He was a theoretical physicist* and cosmologist**. Hawking was the first to set forth a cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. 

Although at school Hawking was known as “Einstein,” he was not initially successful academically. With time, he began to show considerable aptitude for science subjects. 

Hawking began his university education at the University of Oxford in October 1959 at the age of 17. He developed a reputation for brilliance and brashness. 

During his final years at Oxford, his health deteriorated. The diagnosis of motor neuron disease came when Hawking was 21.

During the late 1960s, Hawking’s health condition worsened. He slowly lost the ability to write which made him develop compensatory visual methods. However, he was fiercely independent and unwilling to accept help or make concessions for his disabilities. After much persuasion he accepted the use of a wheelchair but soon became notorious for his wildness in driving the same. 

Hawking obtained his Ph.D. in March 1966. His essay “Singularities and the Geometry of Space-Time” won the prestigious Adams Prize. His significant scientific works include the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, known today as Hawking radiation. The discovery is widely accepted as a significant breakthrough in theoretical physics.  

Hawking had a tracheotomy*** in 1985 that eliminated his ability to communicate verbally. A software program was developed by Walter Woltosz that gave Hawking the ability to spell words using a button he could click with his hand. This program, called Equalizer, uses a very simple interface that scans through the alphabet and allows each letter to be selected one by one. Using this technique, Hawking wrote his books, essays, and lectures at a painstaking four words per minute! 

Awards and Honours:

In 1974 Hawking was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).

Was awarded Eddington Medal in 1975 and the Hughes Medal the following year.

Albert Einstein Medal in the year 1978 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford.

In 1989, Hawking was named a Companion of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II. He reportedly declined a knighthood.

“A Brief History of Time” is a documentary film about Stephen Hawking. The title is derived from Hawking’s bestselling book by the same name. The book is an explanation of cosmology whereas the film is a biography of Hawking’s life.

- Compiled by: R. Akshya,