Stephen Hawking was a brilliant physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe. Despite facing immense challenges due to his physical condition, Hawking’s intellect and determination propelled him to become one of the most renowned scientists of our time. In this article, we’ll explore 30 fascinating facts about Stephen Hawking’s life, work, and legacy. From his pioneering research on black holes to his incredible resilience in the face of adversity, get ready to be inspired by the incredible story of this renowned scientist who reached for the stars from his wheelchair.
1-5 Awesome Facts About Stephen Hawking
1. Stephen Hawking defied all odds by living well beyond his life expectancy despite being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) at the age of 21. He wasn’t expected to see his 25th birthday, but he went on to live for 76 remarkable years, making a profound impact on the world of science.
2. Stephen Hawking is the only person known to have portrayed himself in an episode of Star Trek, specifically in a poker game scene with fictional characters such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Data.
3. Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, which happened to be the 300th death anniversary of Galileo Galilei, who died on the same day 300 years earlier.
4. Hawking’s genius and influence reached even the Vatican. He was invited to a conference where he had an audience with Pope John Paul II. However, due to Hawking’s speech difficulties, the Pope knelt beside his wheelchair to better understand him. This prompted one scientist to quip, “Things certainly have changed since Galileo.”
5. Pope John Paul II once advised Stephen Hawking not to study the beginning of the universe, as he believed it was the work of God.
6-10 Surprising Facts About Stephen Hawking
6. Stephen Hawking was among over 1,000 experts, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, who signed an open letter calling for a global ban on AI weapons systems.
7. Stephen Hawking publicly identified as an atheist in 2014.
8. When asked about his IQ, Stephen Hawking responded with his characteristic wit, saying, “I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.”
9. Hawking’s wit extended even to his personal life. His son once played a prank by adding swear words to his voice synthesizer, showcasing Hawking’s playful side.
10. Stephen Hawking married the ex-wife of the person who initially designed his speech synthesizer.
11-15 Fun Facts About Stephen Hawking
11. Hawking claimed that the egg came before the chicken.
12. There is a memory device called the “Immortality Drive” orbiting the Earth that contains the DNA of Stephen Hawking, Stephen Colbert, Lance Armstrong, and others, intended to preserve genetic information in case of a worldwide catastrophe.
13. During his “The Beginning of Time” lecture in Japan in 1996, Hawking was asked not to mention the possible re-collapse of the universe as it might affect the stock market.
14. Hawking was a member of the Oxford rowing team.
15. Hawking helped Pink Floyd record their song “Keep Talking” in 1993.
16-20 Shocking Facts About Stephen Hawking
16. Shockingly, Stephen Hawking attended a girls’ school until the age of 10.
17. Hawking turned down an offer of Knighthood by the British Monarchy and has since been kept off the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
18. Stephen Hawking was known for his appearances in popular culture, including guest appearances on “The Simpsons,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
19. Hawking developed an early interest in mathematics, but his father, a doctor and research biologist, hoped he would study medicine. However, Hawking disliked biology, describing it as “inexact and descriptive.”
20. In 1985, Hawking contracted pneumonia while traveling to Geneva and became unconscious. There were discussions about removing his life support, but his then-wife Jane rejected the idea and instead opted for a successful tracheotomy surgery to help him breathe.
21-25 Interesting Facts About Stephen Hawking
21. During his final year at Oxford, Hawking fell down the stairs and went to see a doctor, who advised him to “lay off the beer” after Hawking complained about feeling clumsier.
22. Hawking was nicknamed “Einstein” by his friends when he was in school.
23. In 1976, Hawking was invited to attend the induction of Prince Charles into the Royal Society. Prince Charles was intrigued by Hawking’s wheelchair, and Hawking demonstrated its capabilities by twirling it around, accidentally running over Prince Charles’ toes. Hawking jokingly regretted not having the opportunity to run over Margaret Thatcher’s toes as well.
24. Hawking believed that time travel is theoretically possible with our current understanding, but argued for the need of a “Chronology Protection Law” to prevent time travelers from going back in time and killing their parents.
25. Stephen Hawking was a strong advocate for human colonization of other planets and expressed his desire to go into space in 2006. He joked that Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Galactic, would help him achieve this dream. In 2007, Richard Branson did indeed pay for all the expenses for Hawking’s zero-gravity experience with Virgin Galactic, allowing Hawking to experience weightlessness during a parabolic flight.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 30 Interesting Stephen Hawking Facts For kids.
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