RIP Stephen Hawking

[Sharoth]

Stephen Hawking Dies At 76

[Vanykrye]

Personal hero. The world needs a Stephen Hawking in it at all times.

[Wei Ji the Learner]

For length:

Steven Hawking memory: My gramma had gotten tickets through one of her memberships to a speech by the Professor at Fermilab. She was initially going to take my uncle, but he backed out at last minute, and she asked me if I could go.

Of COURSE I said yes, wore a suit, got all fancy (for an early 20ish) and it was neat as he did physics (through his chair computer) in a way that both folks that had advanced studies and layfolk could understand.

At the end of the speech, some student decided to ask a really complex and technical question based on the premise of the first part of the speech (he had to have it packed into two modules for presentation, because the Computer at the time couldn't handle more than that)

There was a brief pause, most of us were expecting a simple 'no', or 'yes' or 'I can't answer'.

No.

About five minutes passed as he typed out his response. "I'm truly sorry. That presentation was in the first half of the speech and to go into the math of it right now would involve reloading it and then dissecting the math. We don't have enough time for that but if you are at my next speech in the Twin Cities next week, I will have a detailed answer ready for you. Thank you for your patience."

Standing ovation and thunderous applause like a freaking rockstar.

[Lathiira]

We've lived to see a legend pass. I hope he finds new thoughts to ponder in the life he's earned beyond this world, as well as the answers he sought so hard. May he rest in peace.

[baron arem heshvaun]

In Star Trek

On The Simpsons and Futurama

[Feros]

Like Carl Sagan before him, Stephen Hawking was dedicated not only to brilliant science but explaining that science to the masses.

Farewell, Professor. You will be sorely missed in this time when we need men like you more than ever.

[The Death of Rats]

SAD SQUEAK. =(

[Freehold DM]

Damn. He is one with the universe he sought to understand. May he rest peacefully.

[John Napier 698]

;_; I'm saddened. Another legend leaves us. Not only because of his brilliance, but because of his longevity. It was a miracle he lived as long as he did. ALS kills early.

[Dragoncat]

A brilliant man, and a brilliant mind. I didn't follow his career, but now I really wish I did.

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

I have no words.

The fact that he lived as long as he did was an inexplicable miracle to begin with.

But no. NO. NONONONONONONONONO.

Not now. He should have at least gotten to go out when things looked better than THIS.

I did get to see one of his presentations in-person in 1999. After making a particularly bleak/scary point or conjecture, he'd add in:

"...but I'm an optimist."

[Terrinam]

Going to be a very long time before we replace him. Geniuses are getting rarer in science.

[John Napier 698]

Terrinam wrote:

Going to be a very long time before we replace him. Geniuses are getting rarer in science.

Perhaps, but I think that Kip Thorne comes close.

[Terrinam]

John Napier 698 wrote:

Terrinam wrote:

Going to be a very long time before we replace him. Geniuses are getting rarer in science.

Perhaps, but I think that Kip Thorne comes close.

He's disqualified because he's also in his seventies. In the blink of an eye he'll be gone too.

[John Napier 698]

Who, then, would you suggest?

[Terrinam]

I don't suggest anyone O.o

I said it'll be a long time before we replace Hawking. Not that I had a replacement waiting for their chance.

[John Napier 698]

I hope that we're all pleasantly surprised, then.

[GM_Beernorg]

Wander on you nomad of the mind, ever another horizon.

We left here shall ponder your words, and the silences between.

[Irontruth]

John Napier 698 wrote:

Who, then, would you suggest?

Sean Carroll gives some very interesting talks that are deep in the weeds on physics concepts, but easy for the lay-person to understand.