Stephen Hawking Ill

[ediblenapalm]

Scientist and author Stephen Hawking is "very ill" and has been hospitalized, according to Cambridge University, where he is a professor.
Stephen Hawking attends the Cambridge Honorary Degrees procession in 2008.

Stephen Hawking attends the Cambridge Honorary Degrees procession in 2008.

Hawking, 67, is one of the world's most famous physicists and also a cosmologist, astronomer, and mathematician.

Wheelchair-bound Hawking is perhaps most famous for 'A Brief History of Time' which explored the origins of the universe in layman's terms, is considered a modern classic.

Hawking has Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS), which is usually fatal after three years. Hawking has survived for more than 40 years since his diagnosis.

On his Web site, Hawking has written about living with ALS. "I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many," he wrote.

He added: "I have been lucky, that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope."

The disease has left him paralyzed -- he is able to move only a few fingers on one hand. Hawking is completely dependent on others or technology for virtually everything -- bathing, dressing, eating, even speech. He uses a speech synthesizer with an American accent.

Hawking has been married and divorced twice. In 2004, police completed an investigation into accusations by Hawking's daughter that his second wife was abusing him. Authorities said they found no proof.

His Web site says he has three children and one grandchild.

Hawking was born on what turned out to be an auspicious date: January 8, 1942 -- the 300th anniversary of the death of astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei.

A Cambridge University spokesman told CNN: "Professor Hawking is very ill and has been taken by ambulance to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge."

Professor Peter Haynes, head of the university's department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, said: "Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague, we all hope he will be amongst us again soon."
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At Cambridge, he holds the position of Lucasian Professor Mathematics -- the prestigious post held from 1669 to 1702 by Sir Isaac Newton.

Hawking has guest-starred, as himself, on Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Simpsons. He also said if he had the choice of meeting Newton or Marilyn Monroe, his choice would be Marilyn.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/20/hawking.health/index.html

 

[felixthecoach]

NO! I'm kinda sad now.

 

[Aught3]

That is sad.
This comment is kinda stupid though

Hawking was born on what turned out to be an auspicious date: January 8, 1942 -- the 300th anniversary of the death of astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei.

Yeah, Galileo's death-day I can think of at least one person who didn't find that day particularly auspicious.

On another note, I thought the title of this thread was Stephen Hawking the third. I was thinking what the hell? Was there a Stephen Hawking II that I totally missed?

In summary, very sad.

 

[blinddesign]

i wouldn't be surprised if he dies soon. i hope not, obviously, but he was never expected to live past about 20 or something. it would be a great loss...
wait, i'm getting too morbid here. best wishes for his recovery.

 

[JBeukema]

One of the greatest minds of our time

 

[Kennethah81]

One of the greatest minds of our time

One of the greatest minds of ALL times

 

[CupOfWater]

FFS, Stephen Hawking can't just DIE?!

I mean, just... NOOOO!
He's so freakin awesome

 

[Lunar Sonata]

We will inevitably lose all great people, but their minds shall stay behind to lead the way.

I thought the title of this thread was Stephen Hawking the third. I was thinking what the hell? Was there a Stephen Hawking II that I totally missed?

QFT. WTF. BBQ

 

[nasher168]

He'd better not die. That would just suck.