Hawking, Stephen

Stephen Hawking was a renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist known for his work on black holes and the nature of the universe. He proposed that black holes emit radiation—now called Hawking radiation—which suggested they can slowly evaporate over time. Despite facing a motor neuron disease that limited his physical abilities, Hawking made complex concepts accessible through books like *A Brief History of Time* and popular science outreach. His work profoundly advanced our understanding of space, time, and fundamental physics, making him one of the most influential scientists of his era.