Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain some of the most complicated questions of life while himself working under the shadow of a likely premature death, has died at 76.
The UK's Press Association reported his death, citing a spokesman for the family.
Hawking's formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in the bizarre sub-molecular world of quantum theory, which he said could predict what happens at the beginning and end of time.
His work ranged from the origins of the universe itself, through the tantalising prospect of time travel to the mysteries of space's all-consuming black holes.
But the power of his intellect contrasted cruelly with the weakness of his body, ravaged by the wasting motor neurone disease he contracted at the age of 21.
Hawking was confined for most of his life to a wheelchair. As his condition worsened, he had to resort to speaking through a voice synthesiser and communicating by moving his eyebrows.
The disease spurred him to work harder but also contributed to the collapse of his two marriages, he wrote in a 2013 memoir My Brief History.
In the book he related how he was first diagnosed: "I felt it was very unfair - why should this happen to me," he wrote.
"At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realise the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life."
Hawking shot to international fame after the 1988 publication of A Brief History of Time, one of the most complex books ever to achieve mass appeal, which stayed on the Sunday Times best-sellers list for no fewer than 237 weeks.
He said he wrote the book to convey his own excitement over recent discoveries about the universe.
"My original aim was to write a book that would sell on airport bookstalls," he told reporters at the time. "In order to make sure it was understandable I tried the book out on my nurses. I think they understood most of it."
Reuters
Hawking was an undergraduate at Oxford University, but he is more closely associated with Cambridge University. He studied for his PhD at Trinity Hall and became a fellow at Gonville and Caius College and he maintained a close connection with it for the rest of his life.
Gonville and Caius College lowered its flag to half-mast in honor of its fellow on Wednesday and opened a book of condolences in the porter's lodge. The college was among the earliest at Cambridge to be made wheelchair-accessible, partly so it could better accommodate Hawking.
Olivia Vanstone, a 20-year-old student in her second year at Gonville and Caius College, said she was shocked to hear of Hawking's death.
"I think he was very lucky to live such a fulfilled life," she said. "I think he was predicted to live two years after his diagnosis, so, to die at the age of 76, I think we shouldn't be in mourning, as such, but celebrating the successful life he lived."
Leonard Ng, 31, an engineering student from Singapore studying for a PhD, said Hawking was an inspiration among PhD students at Cambridge.
"He's taught me tenacity, just to push on, mental discipline in general and to achieve the objectives I want in life, especially academically," Ng said.
Beijing sends condolences and praises Hawking's legacy
Beijing expressed its condolences to the family and loved ones of world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking who passed away on Wednesday.
"Mr Hawking and his contribution will be remembered forever," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily news conference on Wednesday.
He was an outstanding scientist and a fighter who struggled against the disease and contributed greatly to mankind's understanding of science, Lu said.
Hawking visited China for three times, Lu said, adding that he had met with Chinese leaders and communicated with Chinese scientists and enthusiasts.
"Mr Hawking cared about China's development and construction and thought highly of China's scientific progress," he said.
Hawking also admired Chinese culture and insisted on climbing onto the Great Wall with the help of his assistants, he added.
Chinese sci-fi writer mourns Stephen Hawking's death
"There are people who can only flicker their eyelids, but their thoughts may travel far into space. There are those whose bodies are robust and strong, but their minds are weak, and they are destined to live their entire lives dependent on others."
Hugo Award-winning author Liu Cixin
Chinese scientist mourns for Stephen Hawking
"Hawking was really an extraordinary scientist. Despite his health conditions, he had such brilliant creative thoughts. The death of such a giant is a great loss to the scientific community, but his scientific thought will be carried on. So while we lament his death, I’m firmly convinced that science will continue to develop."
--Wang Jianyu, academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and head of the CAS's Shanghai branch
Chinese netizens mourn Stephen Hawking's passing away
R.I.P Mr Hawking, you belong to the universe, and I will always bear your teachings in my mind. --Wang Junkai, lead singer of Chinese pop group TFBOYS
He belongs to the cosmos. --Weibo user Teacher Saoyi
Another talent has gone! --Weibo user Favalli
Thank you for the contribution to humankind. --Weibo user Summer Ocean
The Big Bang Theory should have an episode commemorating Hawking, and Sheldon must be very depressed. --Weibo user Dreams of 80 million girls
Hawking has gone...His life is full of perseverance and miracles. --Weibo user Night Twilight
May you become the brightest star of the universe. --Weibo user Zhang Ruping
His flesh maybe gone, but his thoughts will last forever. --Weibo user Jia Lijun 40622
Timeline of Stephen Hawking's life
Jan 8, 1942 — Born in Oxford, England, the eldest of four children born to Frank Hawking, a biologist, and Isobel Hawking, a medical research secretary.
1952 — Attends St. Albans School.
1959 — Receives scholarship to attend University College, Oxford, from which he graduates with a degree in Natural Science.
1962 — Begins graduate research in cosmology at Cambridge University.
1963 — Diagnosed with the degenerative nerve disorder ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, at the age of 21. He is given two years to live.
July, 14, 1965 — Marries his first wife, Jane Wilde, a modern languages student he met at Cambridge.
1967 — The couple's first son, Robert, is born.
1970 — Jane gives birth to a daughter, Lucy.
1974 — Elected as a fellow of the Royal Society at age 32, one of the youngest people to receive the honor.
1979 — Becomes Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a prestigious position once held by Isaac Newton. Hawking holds the post until 2009. Jane gives birth to a third child, Timothy.
1985 — Admitted to a hospital in Geneva with pneumonia. He survives after an operation, but loses what remained of his speech. The next year he begins communicating through the electronic voice synthesizer that gave him his trademark robotic "voice."
1988 — Publishes A Brief History of Time.
1989 — Made a Companion of Honor by Queen Elizabeth II.
1995 — Marries his nurse, Elaine Mason.
2007 — Divorces Elaine Mason.
2014 — Hawking's life is celebrated in the Oscar-winning biopic The Theory of Everything, based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking.
AP
If you have any problems with this article, please contact us at app@chinadaily.com.cn and we'll immediately get back to you.
