Tributes from around the scientific community and all over the world are pouring in for the prominent physicist, cosmologist, and legendary scientist Stephen Hawking, who died early on Wednesday aged 76.
He died peacefully at his home in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said in a statement in the confirming his death at his home in Cambridge.
Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.”
He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.
It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever. – Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is considered to be one of the best scientists of our time in an interview with The Guardian in 2011 talked about death and fear.
I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I’m not afraid of death, but I’m in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first. – Stephen Hawking
In the same interview, Professor Hawking dismissed the comforts of belief in the afterlife and said that he expected nothing to greet him after he died.
“I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail,” he said. “There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”
One of the world’s best-loved scientists, renowned for his work on black holes, time and relativity will be in our heart for his greatest contribution to science as well as his personality and inspiration to millions. Here is how the tech community and social media are mourning for our beloved scientist Professor Hawking.
We lost a great one today. Stephen Hawking will be remembered for his incredible contributions to science – making complex theories and concepts more accessible to the masses. He’ll also be remembered for his spirit and unbounded pursuit to gain a complet…https://t.co/z1du859Gy2
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) March 14, 2018
His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it's not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018. pic.twitter.com/nAanMySqkt
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) March 14, 2018
“We only have one planet & we need to work together to protect it. We need to break down, not build up, barriers within and between nations. With resources increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few, we are going to have to learn to share far more” – Stephen Hawking
— Jonathan Bartley (@jon_bartley) March 14, 2018
Sad to wake up to the news of the death of Stephen Hawking – one of the most brilliant human minds of all time and without doubt a great symbol of human perseverance. Goodbye, Professor Hawking.
— Professor Ugail (@ugail) March 14, 2018
Stephen Hawking was often asked if time travel was possible. To test the theory he threw a champagne party, complete with Krug and hors d’oeuvres, in 2009. But he didn’t send the invitations out until long after it it had finished. No one turned up … #RIPstephenhawking pic.twitter.com/jGmQU0o8zD
— Ben Smith (@BSmith) March 14, 2018
Reading through my timeline, it's abundantly clear that Stephen Hawking was as much a cultural icon as a scientific one. His forays into pop culture made people care about his research, even if they didn't understand it. If I can do just a little bit of that, I'll have done well.
— Sally Le Page (@sallylepage) March 14, 2018
Deeply ironic when these folks who are led by a man who claims that Ganesha was a case of plastic surgery, have an education minister who tries to falsify evolution and as a party promote all sorts of Babas speak so effusively about Stephen Hawking.https://t.co/urgIAbOcvm
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) March 14, 2018
In loving memory of Stephen Hawking. It was an honor to have him on The #BigBangTheory. Thank you for inspiring us and the world. pic.twitter.com/9rWoYqIToy
— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) March 14, 2018
We've lost a great mind. “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”
~ Stephen Hawking 1942 – 2018 pic.twitter.com/TdUtTQHGlY— Rebecca Corvese (@racorvese) March 14, 2018
"Space, here I come" – remembering world renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who showed us there are no limits to achieving our dreams. Our thoughts are with his family. pic.twitter.com/52hpw0Tfwf
— ESA (@esa) March 14, 2018
Stephen Hawking was a passionate advocate for science, a friend of the museum & inspired millions to wonder.
‘Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist’
Photo with Peter Higgs pic.twitter.com/vGIR5jJx67
— Science Museum (@sciencemuseum) March 14, 2018
We were on earth at the same time as Stephen Hawking.
That's kind of a miraculous thing.
We breathed the same air as the man who demystified the stars.
— Geraldine (@everywhereist) March 14, 2018
I feel that beneath it all, we each have that subconscious reassurance that those great figures in our lives will somehow tick on, guide us, and be immortal. They’re the fibres of our society. Gutted about #StephenHawking passing. We have truly lost someone special.
— James McVey (@TheVampsJames) March 14, 2018
54 years ago, Stephen Hawking was given 2 years to live. What a extraordinary life he lived in that time. #RIPStephenHawking pic.twitter.com/KPYPVaDQbJ
— Barry Ward (@cllrbarryward) March 14, 2018
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