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

Legendary scientist and physicist Stephen Hawking <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-scientist-stephen-hawking-passes-away-35749">passed away earlier today at the age of 76</a>. Hawking was diagnosed with a degenerative ailment that damages the body&#39;s motor system.&nbsp;

The demise of the century&#39;s greatest genius has saddened people across the world with condolences pouring in from all across.&nbsp;

President Ram Nath Kovind described Hawking as a &quot;brilliant mind&quot; and dedicated a tweet in his memory.

&quot;Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations,&quot; the President tweeted.&nbsp;

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Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentKovind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidentKovind</a>
&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/973777063600680961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s tweet followed where he noted that Hawking&#39;s &quot;grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world&quot;.

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Professor Stephen Hawking was an outstanding scientist and academic. His grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world. His demise is anguishing. Professor Hawking&rsquo;s pioneering work made our world a better place. May his soul rest in peace.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/973785753607122946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, United Kingdom, Professor Stephen William Hawking was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1976. He was also announced as one of the winners of the Fundamental Physics Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of science.

Hawking will always be remembered for his mammoth contribution in the understanding of the universe, Black Holes among others.&nbsp;

President Ram Nath Kovind also tweeted describing Hawking as a 'brilliant mind'

Legendary scientist and physicist Stephen Hawking passed away earlier today at the age of 76. Hawking was diagnosed with a degenerative ailment that damages the body's motor system. The demise of the century's greatest genius has saddened people across the world with condolences pouring in from all across. President Ram Nath Kovind described Hawking as a "brilliant mind" and dedicated a tweet in his memory. "Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations," the President tweeted. Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations #PresidentKovind — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 14, 2018 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet followed where he noted that Hawking's "grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world". Professor Stephen Hawking was an outstanding scientist and academic. His grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world. His demise is anguishing. Professor Hawking’s pioneering work made our world a better place. May his soul rest in peace. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2018 × Born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, United Kingdom, Professor Stephen William Hawking was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1976. He was also announced as one of the winners of the Fundamental Physics Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of science. Hawking will always be remembered for his mammoth contribution in the understanding of the universe, Black Holes among others.

Hawking's grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world: PM Modi

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, on his Chinese microblog Weibo account, praised the lead singer of China&#39;s most popular boy band for asking about life beyond Earth.

Wang Junkai, leader singer of the wildly popular TFBOYS, posted a video of himself on his Weibo account on Friday asking the author of &quot;A Brief History of Time&quot; how humanity should prepare for interstellar migration in years to come.

Hawking recently warned that the human race must evacuate Earth in 600 years before soaring energy consumption turns the planet into a &quot;ball of fire&quot;.

Earlier this month, Hawking made a video appearance at a science summit organised by Tencent Holdings and pleaded for investors to support his idea of travelling to the closest star outside our solar system in the hope of finding an inhabitable planet.

The 75-year old physicist said in a video posting on his Weibo account that Wang asked &quot;an excellent question&quot;, which gave him insight into Chinese millennnials and their &quot;curiosities&quot; regarding the future.

Wang and his two other band mates each have more than 30 million followers on their Twitter-like Weibo microblog accounts.

Owned by Weibo Corp, Weibo is China&#39;s biggest social media platform with more than 200 million active users.

Hawking, who opened his Weibo account last year, has 4.3 million followers, while British Prime Minister Theresa May has more than 900,000, having inherited her account from David Cameron.

Wang Junkai asked Hawking how humanity should prepare for interstellar migration in years to come

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, on his Chinese microblog Weibo account, praised the lead singer of China's most popular boy band for asking about life beyond Earth. Wang Junkai, leader singer of the wildly popular TFBOYS, posted a video of himself on his Weibo account on Friday asking the author of "A Brief History of Time" how humanity should prepare for interstellar migration in years to come. Hawking recently warned that the human race must evacuate Earth in 600 years before soaring energy consumption turns the planet into a "ball of fire". Earlier this month, Hawking made a video appearance at a science summit organised by Tencent Holdings and pleaded for investors to support his idea of travelling to the closest star outside our solar system in the hope of finding an inhabitable planet. The 75-year old physicist said in a video posting on his Weibo account that Wang asked "an excellent question", which gave him insight into Chinese millennnials and their "curiosities" regarding the future. Wang and his two other band mates each have more than 30 million followers on their Twitter-like Weibo microblog accounts. Owned by Weibo Corp, Weibo is China's biggest social media platform with more than 200 million active users. Hawking, who opened his Weibo account last year, has 4.3 million followers, while British Prime Minister Theresa May has more than 900,000, having inherited her account from David Cameron.

Stephen Hawking lauds Chinese pop star for space migration question

Humans will have to colonise another planet in the next hundred or face doom, according to renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.

The apocalyptic remark is part of a resurrected BBC documentary series titled Expedition New Earth.

Hawking said Earth faced numerous life-ending challenges as humans do not have the necessary instinct for survival.

Global warming, asteroid strikes, overpopulation and epidemics are the key reasons laid down by him for human extinction.&nbsp;

In the documentary, Hawkings and his former student Christophe Galfard will embark on a worldwide tour to find out how humans could survive another planet.&nbsp;

The documentary is a part of BBC&#39;s year-long science and technology&nbsp;programming under the banner of the hugely popular Tomorrow&#39;s World.

Tomorrow&#39;s World is being revived after 14 years, after having been on air for 38 years between 1965 and 2003.

(WION)

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Making a video appearance at the innovative technology event, Hawking said it still remains to be seen if AI is a force for good or evil (Reuters)
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Renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said asteroid strikes, epidemic or global warming would soon trigger human extinction

Humans will have to colonise another planet in the next hundred or face doom, according to renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. The apocalyptic remark is part of a resurrected BBC documentary series titled Expedition New Earth. Hawking said Earth faced numerous life-ending challenges as humans do not have the necessary instinct for survival. Global warming, asteroid strikes, overpopulation and epidemics are the key reasons laid down by him for human extinction. In the documentary, Hawkings and his former student Christophe Galfard will embark on a worldwide tour to find out how humans could survive another planet. The documentary is a part of BBC's year-long science and technology programming under the banner of the hugely popular Tomorrow's World. Tomorrow's World is being revived after 14 years, after having been on air for 38 years between 1965 and 2003. (WION) Making a video appearance at the innovative technology event, Hawking said it still remains to be seen if AI is a force for good or evil (Reuters) ×

Humans will have to quit Earth soon or face doom: Hawking

&#39;SpongeBob SquarePants&#39; creator Stephen Hillenburg said he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease ALS, but has wished to carry on working with the popular animated show.

&ldquo;I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS,&rdquo; the statement published by Variety read. &ldquo;Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on &lsquo;SpongeBob SquarePants&rsquo; and my other passions for as long as I am able. My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. We ask that our sincere request for privacy be honoured during this time.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Steve Hillenburg is a brilliant creator who brings joy to millions of fans,&rdquo; read a statement Nickelodeon issued. &ldquo;Our thoughts and support are with Steve and his family during this difficult time. Out of respect for their wishes for privacy, we will have no further comment.&rdquo;

People close to Hillenburg said he was diagnosed with the motor neurone disease recently. ALS is a debilitating disease, which affects the brain and the spinal cord.

Stephen Hawking is one of the people to have been suffering from the crippling disease.

(WION)

Stephen Hillenburg, however, intends to carry on working

'SpongeBob SquarePants' creator Stephen Hillenburg said he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease ALS, but has wished to carry on working with the popular animated show. “I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS,” the statement published by Variety read. “Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and my other passions for as long as I am able. My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. We ask that our sincere request for privacy be honoured during this time.” “Steve Hillenburg is a brilliant creator who brings joy to millions of fans,” read a statement Nickelodeon issued. “Our thoughts and support are with Steve and his family during this difficult time. Out of respect for their wishes for privacy, we will have no further comment.” People close to Hillenburg said he was diagnosed with the motor neurone disease recently. ALS is a debilitating disease, which affects the brain and the spinal cord. Stephen Hawking is one of the people to have been suffering from the crippling disease. (WION)

'SpongeBob SquarePants' creator diagnosed with ALS

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Stephen Hawking: A brief history of genius

Hawking's grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world: PM Modi

Stephen Hawking lauds Chinese pop star for space migration question

Humans will have to quit Earth soon or face doom: Hawking

'SpongeBob SquarePants' creator diagnosed with ALS