Suggested Searches

1 min read

Stephen Hawking and Our Changing Ideas of the Universe

Stephen Hawking
Cosmologist Stephen Hawking changed our view of the universe with his remarkable theories and outreach even thought he suffered from ALS, which slowly paralyzed him over the years.

Cosmologist Stephen Hawking changed our view of the universe with his remarkable theories and outreach. He also inspired generations around the world, making some of the most complicated physics of our time accessible to the masses.

He also suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosisor, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which gradually paralyzed him over the decades. Despite this crippling disease, Hawking produced ground-breaking theories on black holes and other celestial phenomena.

In this image, Dr. Hawking delivers a speech entitled “Why We Should Go Into Space” during a lecture that was part of a series honoring NASA’s 50th Anniversary, Monday, April 21, 2008. He was joined on stage by his daughter Lucy.

#OctoberIsNationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth

Image Credit: NASA/Paul Alers