"In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years?" Stephen Hawking asked us that question twelve years ago. He followed up by saying "I don't know the answer. That is why I asked the question, to get people to think about it, and to be aware of the dangers we now face."
That is one of the things I will always remember about this remarkable man - he made us think. He did it despite the obstacles that were present in his own life. In 1963 he was given two years to live, when he contracted motor neurone disease. Not only did he prove the doctors wrong, but he went on proving things for the next fifty five years. His discoveries, his books, and certainly his awards, would be too numerous to list here, but we can certainly say his life was full.
I wonder how many people went into science because of him. "It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination," Hawking said. "Its a crazy world out there. Be curious." He certainly inspired me.
The famous theoretical physicist who appeared on The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory, passed away early this morning. All day long I expect that people will be singing his praises. I've said before that heroes are not all the same, and Stephen Hawking most certainly was not what you might expect, but he was a hero. Now, he's with the stars.