JACK: He was often called the most
brilliant theoretical physicist
since Albert Einstein.
Known for his ground-breaking
theories that changed the way
we think about the universe,
and even time itself.
But Stephen Hawking's amazing career
actually started as a young man
who struggled to get around
to doing his homework.
That was the word around
Oxford University,
where he studied physics.
That's the examination of all matter
and the forces that interact with it.
He then went on to Cambridge
to research cosmology -
the study of the origin of universe.
But when he was 21,
Hawking's life hit a big hurdle.
He was diagnosed with
motor neuron disease,
Which causes the brain
to stop sending messages
to a person's muscles.
At the time, doctors said he would
only live for around two years.
But he proved them very, very wrong.
STEPHEN HAWKING:
However difficult life may seem,
there is always something you can do
and succeed at.
And with the help of a special
wheelchair and speech computer
that's exactly what he did.
Hawking spent much of his time
researching the beginning
of the universe and black holes.
His most famous discovery
was probably when he demonstrated
that black holes emit some radiation.
Before this, it was believed
that nothing could escape
their gravitational pull.
The radiation from black holes
has since become known as
Hawking Radiation.
He also spent a lot of time
thinking about what existed
before the big bang,
which sounds pretty complicated,
right?
But Hawking wrote books
that explained his big ideas
in ways that could be understood
by the average person.
In 1988 he published
A Brief History Of Time
which became really popular and sold
more than 10 million copies.
Your bet.
I raise 50.
But he wasn't just known
for his books.
He also had a lot of fun
becoming a regular
on TV screens around the world.
He featured in shows like
The Big Bang Theory...
It's an honour
and a privilege to meet you, sir.
I know.
(LAUGHTER)
..and came to light
as an animated character
on Futurama and The Simpsons.
Your theory of a doughnut-shaped
universe is intriguing, Homer.
I may have to steal it.
He even had a big Hollywood film
made about his life.
What if I reverse time
to see what happened
at the beginning of time itself?
Throughout his life,
Stephen Hawking inspired people
to look beyond our planet and expand
our knowledge of the universe.
His family says
that he'll be greatly missed
but the legacy of his amazing ideas
will live on.
