RIP Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest experts on gravity and cosmology of the twentieth century. Graham met him (over lunch) three times but never spoke to him – the awe was too great. But in the 1970s Graham did once come close to putting him in hospital, but accidentally pushing a button on wheelchair that resulted in his instant ejection.

Hawking taking a zero-gravity flight in a reduced-gravity aircraft, 2007
Photograph: AP

 
Graham would like to recommend this appreciation of Hawking’s life (PDF), achievement and legacy by the great cosmologist, Martin Rees.
 
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