Stephen Hawking 1942 - 2018

Source: Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology's brightest star, dies aged 76 | Science | The Guardian

Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology's brightest star, dies aged 76

. . .
Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement: “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.

“His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.

“He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.”
. . .​

My favorite joke: Stephen Hawking both British and not dead • The Register

In perhaps the most amusing effort to discredit US President Barack Obama's plan for nationalized health care - if not the most ridiculous - US financial newspaper Investor's Business Daily has said that if Stephen Hawking were British, he would be dead.

"The controlling of medical costs in countries such as Britain through rationing, and the health consequences thereof, are legendary," read a recent editorial from the paper. "The stories of people dying on a waiting list or being denied altogether read like a horror script...

"People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."
. . .
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As dying approached, I imagine Stephen thinking,"If there is life after death, hopefully no more interruptions."

Source: That Time Stephen Hawking Threw a Champagne Party for Time Travelers | VinePair

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking likes two things: simple experiments and Champagne. So he combined the two and solved one of humanity’s age old questions: Will humans ever be able to time travel?

Hawking threw a Champagne party for time travelers complete with Krug and hors d’oeuvres in 2009, and didn’t release the invitations until after the party had taken place. If people had shown up, he hypothesized, it would be proof that time travel is real. Since people didn’t show up, time travel is not real, probably.

“I sat there a long time, but no one came,” Hawking said in a statement. Video of what the party was like from his documentary “Into the Universe” showed around 10 bottles of Krug being poured into a pyramid of Champagne flutes. Small plates were alongside the drinks. They remained untouched. To be fair, the invitation didn’t say there was going to be Krug.​

Bob Wilson

 

I hope one of his children makes use of the Virgin Galactic suborbital reservation, when that gets going.

 

+1

 

amazing longevity for someone with so many physical ailments.

 

The world would be far less wonderful had he not been here.

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Funny what got me thinking about him, after hearing the sad news: we were walking the dog (as always), and there's a spot on the sidewalk, where someone walked along just after it was poured, there's maybe a dozen immortalized footprints, got me thinking about time, and that led be back to... sniff...

 

mortality?

 

Ad Astra

 

to the moon, alice!

 

Eugene Shoemaker's ashes (not all of them) were impacted on the moon. Clyde Tombaugh got an ash-ride past Pluto which he discovered. I don't know of any other similar exits. But at least one company seems to be talking about doing it.

Prof. Hawking's body might be of substantial medical interest. He survived with ALS for an incredible length of time. Unless he pre-arranged that it would be a family decision. It interesting to contemplate that we could still learn more things from him.

 

Also we can be completely sure what the next major astronomical discovery will be named.

 

hawk's nest?

 

I though Hawking meant hawk-like. If you've seen those nests you know they are disorderly affairs. So, maybe not that.

Actually I'm sure you've seen them; know it or not. Big leafless tree in winter, with a stick pile at highest point that can reasonably support a few kilos.

 

science can be messy.

 

I think he demonstrated that the mind is the strongest 'muscle' in one's body.

 

I have always wondered if Hawking personally did the voice work for his appearances in animated shows, or did he just sign off on the using of his likeness.

 

He was told in 1963 that he had two years to live.