Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking

1942-2018

Revealing the secrets of black holes

Published: September 22, 2025

Watch Video

Stephen Hawking

Imagine a star so powerful it collapses into itself, creating a point where gravity wins over everything—even light! Did you know that a brave scientist named Stephen Hawking made this wild idea something we can study? Get ready to shrink your mind with the real magic of black holes!

Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was born in 1942 and lived until 2018. He grew up in Britain when computers were huge and phones had curly cords! From a young age he loved math and physics more than anything else. His biggest achievement? Discovering that black holes aren’t completely black—they glow, thanks to a strange effect now called Hawking radiation.

Stephen Hawking

In the late 1900s and early 2000s, Hawking became famous for cracking the secrets of the universe. He wrote the super-popular book “A Brief History of Time,” turning tricky science into a page-turner for millions. People worldwide cheered when he explained deep cosmic ideas in ordinary English.

Stephen Hawking

His work on Hawking radiation showed that black holes slowly leak energy, which could make them vanish after trillions of years! This mind-blowing discovery changed how scientists think about space, time, and the Big Bang. It inspired a whole new generation of explorers to look up and ask big questions.

Stephen Hawking

Even when Stephen lost the power of his body and spoke through a computer voice, his brain stayed unstoppable. His courage tells us that obstacles can’t stop a curious mind. So keep dreaming big, ask the wildest “what ifs,” and who knows? Maybe you’ll uncover the next secret of the universe!

Frequently Asked Questions

What fields did Stephen Hawking work in?

He was a theoretical physicist who focused on cosmology, general relativity and quantum gravity — trying to connect how the very large (the universe) and the very small (quantum processes) fit together.

Where did he teach and hold a famous chair?

Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a historic post once held by Isaac Newton, where he worked for decades.

Who were some key collaborators?

He collaborated with several leading scientists, notably Roger Penrose on singularity theorems and others who helped develop black hole thermodynamics and related ideas.

What major puzzles did he help create or study?

He helped shape the black hole information paradox and explored how quantum effects and gravity interact, questions still central to modern theoretical physics.

Did he write other books besides his famous bestseller?

Yes — he wrote and co-wrote several popular science books for adults and children, including works aimed at making complex ideas accessible to wide audiences.

How did his research link general relativity and quantum mechanics?

Hawking applied quantum field theory to curved spacetime around black holes, showing that quantum effects could cause black holes to emit radiation — a key step toward unifying the two frameworks.

Did he appear in popular culture or media?

Yes — Hawking appeared in documentaries and made cameo appearances on TV shows and in interviews, helping bring cutting‑edge science to the general public.