Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain the origins of the universe, the mysteries of black holes and the nature of time itself, died on Wednesday, March 14th, aged 76. Here are ten things most people don't know about him:
10. He's funny. He says this about his college courses: “Physics was always the most boring subject school because it was so easy and obvious. Chemistry was much more fun because unexpected things, such as explosions, kept happening.”
9. He likes his work. “To my surprise, I found I liked it (scientific research). Someone once said that scientists and prostitutes get paid for doing what they enjoy.”
8. He doesn't think it's possible to travel back into time. “I don't think time travel will ever be possible. If it were, we would ave been overrun by tourists from the future by now.”
7. His father was a tropical medicine specialist. Frank Hawking studied medicine at Oxford University and spent considerable time studying topical diseases in East Africa.
6. He expresses gratitude easily, naturally. “When I was twenty-one and contracted ALS, I felt it was very unfair....I thought my life was over and I would never realize th potential I felt I had. But now , fifty years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life. I have been married twice and have three beautiful and accomplished children. I have been successful in my scientific career.”
5. His fame comes with burdens and possibilities. “Being well known and easily recognizable has its pluses and minuses. The minuses are that it can be difficult t do ordinary things such as shopping without being besieged by people wanting photographs and that in the past the press has taken an unhealthy interest in my private life. But the minuses are more than outweighed by the pluses. People seem genuinely pleased to see me.”
4. He's positive. “My disability has not been a serious handicap in my scientific wok. In fact, in some ways I guess it has been an asset: I haven't had to lecture or teach undergraduates, and I haven't had to sit on tedious and time consuming committees. So I have been able to devote myself completely to research.”
3. He's stayed in touch with lifelong friends. When he entered his teen years, Hawking had “six or seven close friends, most of whom I'm still in touch with.”
2. His disease added meaning to his life. Prior to the diagnoses, he drifted through university with the feeling “that nothing was worth making an effort for.” After the diagnosis of ALS, Hawking says became motivated: “One result of my illness has been to change all that (drifting). When you are faced with the possibility of an early death, it makes your realize that life is worth living and that there are lots of things you want do do.”
1. He writes children's books. Hawking and his daughter, Lucy, have co-written a series of “George” books for children. Some titles include: George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt, George's Secret Key To The Universe, George and the Big Bank.
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10. He's funny. He says this about his college courses: “Physics was always the most boring subject school because it was so easy and obvious. Chemistry was much more fun because unexpected things, such as explosions, kept happening.”
9. He likes his work. “To my surprise, I found I liked it (scientific research). Someone once said that scientists and prostitutes get paid for doing what they enjoy.”
8. He doesn't think it's possible to travel back into time. “I don't think time travel will ever be possible. If it were, we would ave been overrun by tourists from the future by now.”
7. His father was a tropical medicine specialist. Frank Hawking studied medicine at Oxford University and spent considerable time studying topical diseases in East Africa.
6. He expresses gratitude easily, naturally. “When I was twenty-one and contracted ALS, I felt it was very unfair....I thought my life was over and I would never realize th potential I felt I had. But now , fifty years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life. I have been married twice and have three beautiful and accomplished children. I have been successful in my scientific career.”
5. His fame comes with burdens and possibilities. “Being well known and easily recognizable has its pluses and minuses. The minuses are that it can be difficult t do ordinary things such as shopping without being besieged by people wanting photographs and that in the past the press has taken an unhealthy interest in my private life. But the minuses are more than outweighed by the pluses. People seem genuinely pleased to see me.”
4. He's positive. “My disability has not been a serious handicap in my scientific wok. In fact, in some ways I guess it has been an asset: I haven't had to lecture or teach undergraduates, and I haven't had to sit on tedious and time consuming committees. So I have been able to devote myself completely to research.”
3. He's stayed in touch with lifelong friends. When he entered his teen years, Hawking had “six or seven close friends, most of whom I'm still in touch with.”
2. His disease added meaning to his life. Prior to the diagnoses, he drifted through university with the feeling “that nothing was worth making an effort for.” After the diagnosis of ALS, Hawking says became motivated: “One result of my illness has been to change all that (drifting). When you are faced with the possibility of an early death, it makes your realize that life is worth living and that there are lots of things you want do do.”
1. He writes children's books. Hawking and his daughter, Lucy, have co-written a series of “George” books for children. Some titles include: George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt, George's Secret Key To The Universe, George and the Big Bank.
(feel free to repost or share on your social media)
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