Stephen Hawking, the legendary physicist and author of popular science books such as A Brief History of Time, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his home in the U.K. The Guardian reports that his children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, put out a statement that includes:
“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."
He was 76.
Hawking was probably the best-known scientist in the world. He was a theoretical physicist whose early work on black holes transformed how scientists think about the nature of the universe.
Hawking famously suffered from motor neuron disease, with which he was diagnosed at age 21. The condition confined him to a wheelchair and necessitated the use of his famous computerized speaking device, but, despite a grim early prognosis, it did not stop him from living another 55 years and making numerous discoveries (and sometimes wild statements) about the cosmos. He will be missed.
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