Iconic Award winning scientist Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Hawking, who wrote several influential books including "A Brief History of Time," was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1962.

He leaves behind a wife, Lucy, and two sons, Robert and Tim. The world-renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist was best known for his work on black holes. Hawking theorized that, contrary to the prevailing scientific belief that black holes were inescapable for all forms of matter and energy, they actually emitted a form of radiation ― now known as Hawking radiation.

He also played a key role in the mathematical effort to unify Einstein’s general theory of relativity with the emergent field of quantum physics.

In 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Hawking was famously diagnosed with the debilitating motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Though 80 percent of those with ALS die within five years of diagnosis, and Hawking’s own doctors gave him roughly two years to live, he survived for decades, perhaps longer than any other patient with the disease in medical history.

Quotes of Stephen Hawking:

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.