Hawking: The Man Who Stood Against ALS and Became a Prominent Physicist

In the final years of Stephen Hawking's life, only a few muscles in his cheeks connected him to the outside world. Hawking used a slow speed – about one word per minute – from the muscles under his right eye to connect to a special computer designed for him and write his thoughts on time, the universe, and humanity's place in it. His work resulted in the production of vast amounts of scientific resources that established a strong connection with the non-academic world and inspired many in the fields of physics and quantum theory. By appearing on popular television programs, Hawking became a scientist known by most people, who connected with his work in black holes and cosmology. Hawking gained part of his popularity through his victory over ALS, a condition that gradually destroyed all of his nerve cell networks. When diagnosed with this disease at the age of 21, he was told he had only a few years to live. However, Hawking turned those few years into more than 50, astonishing the medical community and exciting his many fans. Although he had to breathe through a tube due to pneumonia, a speech-generating device allowed him to converse with others in a robotic tone. He worked on various theories until the age of 70, taught, and wrote the book 'A Brief History of Time,' which sold millions of copies. At the time of his death at the age of 76, he was considered one of the most recognized figures in the world of science alongside Albert Einstein. He held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University and followed in the footsteps of Isaac Newton, researching to find a grand goal in physics: the theory of everything. If found, this theory would resolve the contradictions in Einstein's theory of relativity, which deals with the laws of gravity governing very large objects, with quantum mechanics, which concerns the motion and behavior of subatomic particles. For Hawking, finding this theory became a religious mission. He stated that if such a theory were found, humanity could access 'God's insight.' In 'A Brief History of Time,' he wrote: 'Finding a theory of everything is just the first step; our goal is to achieve a complete understanding of the events around us and our existence.' However, in later years, Hawking suggested that such a theory might not exist. He wrote another book in 2001 titled 'The Universe in a Nutshell,' discussing supergravity and the possibility of a universe with 11 dimensions. Stephen Hawking described the belief in a God who intervenes in the world to ensure that good or victorious people are rewarded in their next life as a wishful thought. In 1991, he stated: 'But one cannot stop the question: Why does the universe exist? I cannot provide an effective way to address this question or answer it – even if such a thing exists. But it troubles me.' To overcome his limitations, Stephen Hawking utilized humor and comedy. He appeared in the animated series 'The Simpsons' and the television series 'The Big Bang Theory,' and the guitarist of the band 'U2' attended his 60th birthday celebration in January 2002. His life was depicted in the film 'The Theory of Everything,' starring Eddie Redmayne. Some of Hawking's colleagues credit him with igniting a new enthusiasm in the field of science worldwide. His efforts and work, despite the dangerous condition he faced, reinforced the mindset that limitations should not be seen as the end of the road, and anyone facing limitations can still pursue significant achievements in life.