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| Stephen Hawking |
If Stephen Hawking says something, the world listens. For years, astrophysicists can tell the seriously ill only a computer language. But for most of his themes are already hard to put into words: Is there a God? Why do we have people in the world? Is there other life in the vastness of the universe - and if so, should we contact? Whatever it says Hawking is considered, discussed, influenced the attitude of thousands of people. According to forecasts, the British doctors have died many years ago at a muscle weakness - on 8 January he will be 70 years old.
"I am of the view that all of us, not only the theoretical physicist, will like to know where we come," Hawking said in 1988 the success of his bestseller "A Brief History of Time" in the "mirror". The book in which he describes physical theories to the development of the universe, made him world famous.
Since then, he is regarded by the masses as a kind of genius. In scientific circles his work is also great recognition, among other things, he had 30 years the famous Luca-fish chair of mathematics at Cambridge University held - and was a descendant of Isaac Newton. However, he stands there, rather than a particularly good crowd.
Among his most significant achievements is that he predicted the early '70s that black holes - under certain circumstances, lose energy - huge, extremely massive objects in the cosmos. Based on Albert Einstein's leave it for years in search of a formula with which to merge the conflicting theories of relativity and quantum physics.
". I know there is a media hype, you need an Einstein-like figure who can call them," Hawking said early on his success with the masses, and added: "Probably my disability contributed to the sales success of the book . If so, I think that's unfortunate. "
What Hawking is so fascinating, well not only his weakness for the great questions of humanity and the desire of his time to get all the phenomena of a natural scientific explanation. It also seems to be the symbolism that resonates with his performances: he sits in a wheelchair, can do very little without help, but his spirit travels to the stars. He can not write without help, do not speak - but with his head he is constantly on the fast track.
"I am the archetype of a disabled genius," Hawking described this phenomenon in an interview with the BBC, which can be read on his website. "People are fascinated by the contrast between my very limited physical abilities and the great size of the universe, with whom I am working."
The universe attracts him since his earliest youth. After school he studied physics only a few terms at Oxford, he decided to study cosmology at Cambridge. He was in his early 20s when doctors realized his incurable disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which would quickly destroy his nervous system. For three years she gave him still. At that time it had become clear that he and his life could begin quite yet, Hawking has said repeatedly.
In record time he put on a scientific career, married, raised a family. Besides, he was a kind of pop star of science, even appeared in an episode of "Star Trek" than himself, and worked in the animated series "The Simpsons" with.
From his private life little is known. His ex-wife, Jane Hawking, the late 90s brought out a book in which she described him as a domestic tyrant, they had to occasionally remind you that he is not God.
With a life after death he does not expect, Hawking said the "Guardian". Before his death he had still not afraid. "I see the brain as a computer that stops working when its parts do not work There is no life after death for broken computers,. Have a fairy tale for people who fear the dark." And what does this mean for people whose hardware is still functioning? "We should derive the most value out of our deeds."
