Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA ( i/stivn hk/; born 8 January 1942) is

an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre
for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.[16][17] His scientific works
include a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the
framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation,
often called Hawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set forth a theory
of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum
mechanics. He is a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum
mechanics.[18][19]
He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest
civilian award in the United States. Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematicsat
the University of Cambridge between 1979 and 2009 and has achieved commercial success
with works of popular science in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in
general; his book A Brief History of Time appeared on the British Sunday Times best-seller
list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.
Hawking has a rare early-onset, slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as motor neurone disease in the UK and as Lou Gehrig's
Disease in the US, that has gradually paralysed him over the decades.[20][21] He now
communicates using a single cheek muscle attached to a speech-generating device.
Contents
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1Early life and education

o 1.1Parents
o 1.2Primary and secondary
o 1.3Undergraduate
o 1.4Graduate
o 1.5Disability
2Personal life
o 2.1Marriages
3Career
o 3.119661975
o 3.219751990
o 3.319902000
o 3.42000present
4Views
o 4.1Future of humanity
o 4.2Science vs. philosophy
o 4.3Religion
o 4.4Politics
5Disability outreach
6Appearances in popular media
7Awards and honours
8Bibliography
o 8.1Popular publications
8.1.1Co-authored
8.1.2Forewords
o 8.2Children's fiction
o 8.3Films and series
o 8.4Selected academic works

9See also
10References
o 10.1Sources
11External links