Renowned Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking Dies at 76|英天文物理學家霍金過世 享壽76歲

English astrophysicist Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76 on Mar. 14 in the United Kingdom. He had a rare early-onset form of ALS, and used a wheelchair and speech synthesizer for many years. Hawking was known for his theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, as well as his bestselling book "A Brief History of Time," which explained the origins of the universe for readers with no prior knowledge of scientific theories. In August 2009, then-American President Barack Obama presented English astrophysicist Stephen Hawking with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States. Hawking was recognized for his contributions to science. This was one of the many awards and honors Hawking received in his lifetime. He was born in 1942. He had a rare, early-onset, slow progressing form of ALS, which he was diagnosed with when he was a university student. He relied on a wheelchair to move around. When he was in his 40s, he lost his ability to speak, and had to use a speech synthesizer to communicate with others. However, these obstacles did not prevent Hawking from studying cosmology. I want to report that I think I have solved a major problem in theoretical physics that has been around since I discovered that black holes radiate thermally 30 years ago. Hawking's religious views also became scrutinized due to his study of the origins of the universe. One of the most important scenes in the 2014 biographical film "The Theory of Everything" focused on this issue. You have said you do not believe in God. Do you have a philosophy of life that helps you? We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. While there is life, there is hope. I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space. I therefore want to encourage public interest in space. Hawking urged everyone to "remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist." His curiosity about the universe lasted through his lifetime. Hawking was not only a scientist, but also became a cultural icon. He also took part in charitable activities and served as a role model for disabled people. He urged society to treat disabled people as they would anyone else. Hawking passed away at the age of 76 on Mar. 14.