Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicist and cosmologist passed away and found his place among the stars on March 14, 2018. But while he lived he made sure that his legacy will be remembered by generations to come. His ground-breaking work in physics and cosmology, and the books that he has written about his work and findings on black holes and the big bang have enlightened the mankind for ever.

Despite that fact that he couldn’t walk, speak, and even move on his own, yet somehow, he found a way to solve the greatest interstellar mysteries. Right from birth his life has been full of inspiration and moments of triumph. So, here we are presenting some of the most interesting facts about the superstar scientist that will amaze and motivate you at the same time.

Born On Galileo’s Death Anniversary & Passed Away On Einstein’s Birth Date

Now this is one of the most amazing fact about that has put intellectuals as well as common people in wonder. Stephen Hawking was born on 8th January 1942, during the World War II and that day was the 300th death anniversary of Galileo. And what increases everyone’s amazement is that he died on March 14th the anniversary of Albert Einstein’s birth.

Average Student, but a Genius Mind

Knowing that he has made some breakthrough discoveries in terms of cosmology and the outer world, it’s hard to believe that Hawking wasn’t a brilliant student during his early academic career. In fact, he wasn’t able to learn to properly read until he was 8 years old and used to score average grades in school. However, as a teenager Hawking is known to have built a computer with friends and his Mathematics teacher using an old telephone switchboard, clock parts, and some recycled electronic components. And at the age of 17 he cleared the Oxford entrance exam and earned a scholarship to study physics at the coveted University. The rest is history! Moreover, his classmates nicknamed him “Einstein”; probably because even Albert Einstein was a mediocre student in his early days, but went on to become one of the greatest physicians and scientists we know.

He Was an Adventurous Lad

Stephen Hawking was adventurous and witty as a youth. In fact, he was a part of the rowing team at the Oxford University and his fellow rowers used to call him “the adventurous type”. Rowing was an important sport at Oxford and Hawking’s position in the team was as a coxswain, and he had to control the stroke rate and the steering. Thus, he understood the joy and importance of indulging in all sorts of fun in life.

Life Beyond Expectations

At the age of 21 when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a motor neuron disease in 1962, Doctors said he would live only 2 to 2 and a half year, yet he endured for over 55 years after that. In one of his interviews he also mentioned – “My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.” It is noteworthy that when he got confined to a wheelchair and lost the abilities to write and speak due to the disease, two Indian programmers Vickram Crishna and Arun Mehta developed the program in Visual Basic 6 that helped Hawking communicate through his computerised wheelchair.

He Made Multiple TV Appearances

Despite the challenges Hawking didn’t shy away from appearing on television. His first TV appearance was on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1993. Late, he appeared in an animated version on The Simpsons for which he lent his voice himself. Beyond that he has also featured in various documentary shows such as ‘Stephen Hawking: Master of the Universe’ and ‘Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking’.

Hawking’s Equation & The Boundless Universe’ Theory:

In 1974 he devised this formula, which involves the speed of light (c), Newton’s constant (G) and other symbols, and helps measures emissions from black holes, now known as Hawking radiation. Another big achievement of Hawking was that he come up with the theory that the universe is boundless in 1983. He also wrote about the conditions under which time travel would be possible.

Lesson for Everyone

Although, he did never recover from his disease, and it made his condition even worse in time. But his willingness to work and the strength of his mind kept him going. Once he quoted that “Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.” And that’s what we must learn from his life.