Stephen Hawking's groundbreaking book ‘A Brief History of Time’ was written from the wrong perspective as per the scientist himself, claims Thomas Hertog, a cosmologist at the KU Leuven University in Belgium and former collaborator of the English scientist.

Stephen Hawking's groundbreaking book ‘A Brief History of Time’ was written from the wrong perspective as per the scientist himself, claims Thomas Hertog, a cosmologist at the KU Leuven University in Belgium and former collaborator of the English scientist. Hertog says that Hawking called him into his chambers in the year 2002 and said, “I have changed my mind. My book, A Brief History of Time, is written from the wrong perspective.” After the announcement, both Hawking and Hertog began working on a new way to better understand the universe. The final output of the duo's brainstorming sessions will be released in the form of a book titled "On the Origin of Time: Stephen Hawking’s final theory" next month. The book title drives inspiration from Charles Darwin's ever-popular "On the Origin of Species". Speaking about the relation, Hertog said while writing the book, both of them realised that physics and biology were much more alike and thus put the two subjects on the 'same footing'. Hertog claims the book is “profoundly Darwinian” in spirit. WATCH | Gravitas: Scientists to create 'lunar time zone' × Releasing five years after Hawking's death, the book will go to print in the UK with Hertog expected to outline the themes discussed in the book at the Cambridge festival lecture, later this month. “Stephen told me he now thought he had been wrong and so he and I worked, shoulder to shoulder, for the next 20 years to develop a new theory of the cosmos, one that could better account for the emergence of life,” said Hertog. The scientist added that Hawking struggled to understand how the universe created conditions so perfectly hospitable for life. It was one of the prominent reasons why the British physicist cast aspersions over his book. ALSO READ | Physicists believe they have cracked Stephen Hawking’s black hole information paradox Notably, Hawkin's book was first published in 1988 and explained the fundamental theories of the universe to non-scientists in a cogent, easy-to-understand way. The book instantly became an international bestseller and to this day, it has sold over 10 million copies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Stephen Hawking admitted ‘A Brief History of Time’ was written from wrong perspective, claims collaborator

Well-wishers filled the streets of Cambridge on Saturday for the funeral of British physicist Stephen Hawking, hailed by another leading scientist as "an imprisoned mind roaming the cosmos".

Hawking, crippled since a young man by a degenerative disease, beat the odds stacked against him to became the most celebrated scientist of his era. His work ranged from the origins of the universe itself, through time travel and probing black holes in space.

He achieved international renown after the publication of "“A Brief History of Time" in 1988.

His coffin was topped with white "Universe" lilies and white "Polar Star" roses and carried by pallbearers from the University of Cambridge, where he worked. It was greeted by a large crowd outside the church who clapped as it was carried in.

The 76-year-old scientist was mourned by his children Robert, Lucy and Timothy, joined by guests including playwright Alan Bennett, businessman Elon Musk and model Lily Cole.

Eddie Redmayne, the actor who played Professor Hawking in the 2014 film "The Theory of Everything" was one of the readers in the ceremony and Felicity Jones, who played his wife, Jane Hawking in the film also attended the service.

The ceremony included space-themed music composed specially for Hawking called "Beyond the Night Sky", inspired by a poem and quotes from "A Brief History of Time" and whistling and "shh" sounds based on recordings of space.

Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, a personal friend, read from Plato's Apology 40, "The Death of Socrates", which talks of the search for knowledge persisting after death.

Confined to a wheelchair for most of his life after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease when he was 21, Hawking's towering intellect and sheer persistence struck a chord with ordinary people, Rees said in an appreciation published earlier this month.

"Why did he become such a 'cult figure'? The concept of an imprisoned mind roaming the cosmos plainly grabbed people's imagination," he said.

"His name will live in the annals of science millions have had their cosmic horizons widened by his best-selling books and even more, around the world, have been inspired by a unique example of achievement against all the odds – a manifestation of amazing will-power and determination."

Hawking's ashes will be interred at Westminster Abbey in June, among some of the greatest scientists in history, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

The ceremony included space-themed music composed specially for Hawking called 'Beyond the Night Sky', inspired by a poem and quotes from 'A Brief History of Time' and whistling and 'shh' sounds based on recordings of space

Well-wishers filled the streets of Cambridge on Saturday for the funeral of British physicist Stephen Hawking, hailed by another leading scientist as "an imprisoned mind roaming the cosmos". Hawking, crippled since a young man by a degenerative disease, beat the odds stacked against him to became the most celebrated scientist of his era. His work ranged from the origins of the universe itself, through time travel and probing black holes in space. He achieved international renown after the publication of "“A Brief History of Time" in 1988. His coffin was topped with white "Universe" lilies and white "Polar Star" roses and carried by pallbearers from the University of Cambridge, where he worked. It was greeted by a large crowd outside the church who clapped as it was carried in. The 76-year-old scientist was mourned by his children Robert, Lucy and Timothy, joined by guests including playwright Alan Bennett, businessman Elon Musk and model Lily Cole. Eddie Redmayne, the actor who played Professor Hawking in the 2014 film "The Theory of Everything" was one of the readers in the ceremony and Felicity Jones, who played his wife, Jane Hawking in the film also attended the service. The ceremony included space-themed music composed specially for Hawking called "Beyond the Night Sky", inspired by a poem and quotes from "A Brief History of Time" and whistling and "shh" sounds based on recordings of space. Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, a personal friend, read from Plato's Apology 40, "The Death of Socrates", which talks of the search for knowledge persisting after death. Confined to a wheelchair for most of his life after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease when he was 21, Hawking's towering intellect and sheer persistence struck a chord with ordinary people, Rees said in an appreciation published earlier this month. "Why did he become such a 'cult figure'? The concept of an imprisoned mind roaming the cosmos plainly grabbed people's imagination," he said. "His name will live in the annals of science millions have had their cosmic horizons widened by his best-selling books and even more, around the world, have been inspired by a unique example of achievement against all the odds – a manifestation of amazing will-power and determination." Hawking's ashes will be interred at Westminster Abbey in June, among some of the greatest scientists in history, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

Stephen Hawking's funeral held, Eddie Redmayne gives reading

Stephen Hawking, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-scientist-stephen-hawking-passes-away-35749">who has died aged 76</a>, was Britain&#39;s most famous modern day scientist, a genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe.

Born on January 8, 1942 - 300 years to the day after the death of the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei - he believed science was his destiny.

But fate also dealt Hawking a cruel hand.

Most of his life was spent in a wheelchair crippled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease that attacks the nerves controlling voluntary movement.

Remarkably, Hawking defied predictions he would only live for a few years, overcoming its debilitating effects on his mobility and speech that left him paralysed and able to communicate only via a computer speech synthesiser.

&quot;I am quite often asked: how do you feel about having ALS?&quot; he once wrote. &quot;The answer is, not a lot.

&quot;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.&quot;

Stephen William Hawking, though, was far from normal.

Inside the shell of his increasingly useless body was a razor-sharp mind, fascinated by the nature of the Universe, how it was formed and how it might end.

&quot;My goal is simple,&quot; he once said. &quot;It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.&quot;

Much of that work centred on bringing together relativity - the nature of space and time - and quantum theory - how the smallest particles in the Universe behave - to explain the creation of the Universe and how it is governed.

Life on Earth at risk

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File photo: Stephen Hawking speaks to an audience by hologram in Hong Kong, beamed live from his office in Cambridge, England. (AFP)
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In 1974, he became one of the youngest fellows of Britain&#39;s most prestigious scientific body, the Royal Society, at the age of 32.

In 1979 he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, where he had moved from Oxford University to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology.

A previous holder of the prestigious post was the 17th-century British scientist Isaac Newton.

Hawking eventually put Newton&#39;s gravitational theories to the test in 2007 when, aged 65, he went on a weightless flight in the United States as a prelude to a hoped-for sub-orbital spaceflight.

Characteristically, he did not see the trip as a mere birthday present.

Instead, he said he wanted to show that disability was no bar to achievement and to encourage interest in space, where he believed humankind&#39;s destiny lay.

&quot;I think the human race has no future if it doesn&#39;t go into space,&quot; he said.

&quot;I believe life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers.&quot;

More recently he said artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute to the eradication of disease and poverty, while warning of its potential dangers.

&quot;In short, success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation.

&quot;Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons, or new ways for the few to oppress the many,&quot; Hawking said in 2016, at the opening of a new AI research centre at Cambridge University.

Pop culture and politics

Hawking&#39;s genius brought him global fame and he become known as a witty communicator dedicated to bringing science to a wider audience.

His 1988 book &quot;A Brief History of Time&quot; sought to explain to non-scientists the fundamental theories of the universe and it became an international bestseller, bringing him global acclaim.

It was followed in 2001 by &quot;The Universe in a Nutshell&quot;.

In 2007, Hawking published a children&#39;s book, &quot;George&#39;s Secret Key to the Universe&quot;, with his daughter, Lucy, seeking to explain the workings of the solar system, asteroids, his pet subject of black holes and other celestial bodies.

Hawking also moved into popular culture, with cameos in &quot;Star Trek: The Next Generation&quot; and &quot;The Simpsons&quot;, while his voice appeared in Pink Floyd songs.

Beyond scientific debate Hawking also weighed into politics, describing Donald Trump as &quot;a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator&quot; ahead of his election as US president.

Hawking also warned Britain ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016 against leaving the European Union: &quot;Gone are the days when we could stand on our own against the world.&quot;

Making the most of &#39;every minute&#39;

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File photo: Stephen Hawking experiences zero gravity during a flight over the Atlantic Ocean. (AFP)
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Hawking first married Jane Wilde in 1965 and had three children. The couple split after 25 years and he married his former nurse, Elaine Mason, but the union broke down amid allegations, denied by him, of abuse.

The love story between Hawking and Wilde was retold in the 2014 film &quot;The Theory of Everything&quot;, which won Britain&#39;s Eddie Redmayne the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the scientist.

The Oscar triumph was celebrated by Hawking, who has reportedly said there were moments watching the film when he thought he was watching himself.

He was also the subject of a 2013 documentary, &quot;Hawking&quot;, in which he reflected on his life: &quot;Because every day could be my last, I have the desire to make the most of each and every minute.&quot;

Born on January 8, 1942 - 300 years to the day after the death of the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei - he believed science was his destiny

Stephen Hawking, who has died aged 76, was Britain's most famous modern day scientist, a genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Born on January 8, 1942 - 300 years to the day after the death of the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei - he believed science was his destiny. But fate also dealt Hawking a cruel hand. Most of his life was spent in a wheelchair crippled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease that attacks the nerves controlling voluntary movement. Remarkably, Hawking defied predictions he would only live for a few years, overcoming its debilitating effects on his mobility and speech that left him paralysed and able to communicate only via a computer speech synthesiser. "I am quite often asked: how do you feel about having ALS?" he once wrote. "The answer is, not a lot. "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." Stephen William Hawking, though, was far from normal. Inside the shell of his increasingly useless body was a razor-sharp mind, fascinated by the nature of the Universe, how it was formed and how it might end. "My goal is simple," he once said. "It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all." Much of that work centred on bringing together relativity - the nature of space and time - and quantum theory - how the smallest particles in the Universe behave - to explain the creation of the Universe and how it is governed. Life on Earth at risk File photo: Stephen Hawking speaks to an audience by hologram in Hong Kong, beamed live from his office in Cambridge, England. (AFP) × In 1974, he became one of the youngest fellows of Britain's most prestigious scientific body, the Royal Society, at the age of 32. In 1979 he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, where he had moved from Oxford University to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology. A previous holder of the prestigious post was the 17th-century British scientist Isaac Newton. Hawking eventually put Newton's gravitational theories to the test in 2007 when, aged 65, he went on a weightless flight in the United States as a prelude to a hoped-for sub-orbital spaceflight. Characteristically, he did not see the trip as a mere birthday present. Instead, he said he wanted to show that disability was no bar to achievement and to encourage interest in space, where he believed humankind's destiny lay. "I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space," he said. "I believe life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers." More recently he said artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute to the eradication of disease and poverty, while warning of its potential dangers. "In short, success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation. "Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons, or new ways for the few to oppress the many," Hawking said in 2016, at the opening of a new AI research centre at Cambridge University. Pop culture and politics Hawking's genius brought him global fame and he become known as a witty communicator dedicated to bringing science to a wider audience. His 1988 book "A Brief History of Time" sought to explain to non-scientists the fundamental theories of the universe and it became an international bestseller, bringing him global acclaim. It was followed in 2001 by "The Universe in a Nutshell". In 2007, Hawking published a children's book, "George's Secret Key to the Universe", with his daughter, Lucy, seeking to explain the workings of the solar system, asteroids, his pet subject of black holes and other celestial bodies. Hawking also moved into popular culture, with cameos in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "The Simpsons", while his voice appeared in Pink Floyd songs. Beyond scientific debate Hawking also weighed into politics, describing Donald Trump as "a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator" ahead of his election as US president. Hawking also warned Britain ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016 against leaving the European Union: "Gone are the days when we could stand on our own against the world." Making the most of 'every minute' File photo: Stephen Hawking experiences zero gravity during a flight over the Atlantic Ocean. (AFP) × Hawking first married Jane Wilde in 1965 and had three children. The couple split after 25 years and he married his former nurse, Elaine Mason, but the union broke down amid allegations, denied by him, of abuse. The love story between Hawking and Wilde was retold in the 2014 film "The Theory of Everything", which won Britain's Eddie Redmayne the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the scientist. The Oscar triumph was celebrated by Hawking, who has reportedly said there were moments watching the film when he thought he was watching himself. He was also the subject of a 2013 documentary, "Hawking", in which he reflected on his life: "Because every day could be my last, I have the desire to make the most of each and every minute."

Stephen Hawking: A brief history of genius