Stephen Hawking Essay

“Where do we come from? How did the universe begin? Why is the universe the way it is? How will it end?” This quote by Stephen Hawking, a physicist famous for his work in theoretical physics, illustrates his fascination with the universe. Hawking has been known for the development of theories about the universe, including his work on black holes and theories on the origins of the cosmos. Aside from his amazing discoveries, Hawking has a unique personal story. (Stephen Hawking's Universe) He was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating neurological disease that affects muscle control, must use a wheelchair and has to speak through a computer and voice synthesizer. Despite his physical limitations and difficulties communicating, Hawking’s research and discoveries in the field of physics have been compared to those of Albert Einstein. His ultimate goal - the understanding of the universe in its entirety – has led to many major ideas. Two of his very fascinating discoveries were the Hawking radiation and the Unified Field Theory.

Hawking first started studying cosmology in graduate school at Cambridge University. He achieved his doctorate degree in 1966, and made his first major contribution to the field of physics with his idea of singularity. “A singularity is a place in either space or time at which some quantity becomes infinite (without an end). Such a place is found in a black hole, the final stage of a collapsed star, where the gravitational field has infinite strength.” (Stephen Hawking Biography - Life, Children, History, School, Young, Son, Book, Information, Born, House, Marriage). Hawking became very interested in black holes which was the most known singularity. He placed particular f...

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...providing information about the beginnings of the universe. Despite his physical limitations, and the presence of a very serious and debilitating condition, Hawking has become one of the premier physicists of our time. Many have stated that he is the greatest mind in physics since Albert Einstein. Hawking’s numerous publications, including A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, Black Holes and Baby Universes, and The Nature of Space and Time, are well- respected within the scientific community, and his outstanding work in modern cosmology and physics is widely recognized. Stephen Hawking continues his research in the universe, and when asked about his future goals, Hawking was quoted as saying, “My goal is complete understanding of the universe, why it is, and why it exists at all.” A noble and lofty goal from a truly inspirational person.