Challenges in the Life of Stephen Hawking in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Stephen Hawking faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Stephen Hawking was a highly influential English theoretical astrophysicist and cosmologist. He served as the Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge and held the prestigious position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge from 1979 to 2009. His work significantly contributed to our understanding of black holes, the Big Bang, and the unification of general relativity with quantum mechanics. Despite battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for most of his adult life, Hawking made groundbreaking contributions to science and became a popular science icon through his books, making complex concepts accessible to a wide audience.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1963: Hawking diagnosed with motor neurone disease

In 1963, at the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset slow-progressing form of motor neurone disease.

1963: Hawking Diagnosed with MND

In 1963, at the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease), and given a life expectancy of two years.

October 1964: Hawking and Jane Wilde get engaged

In October 1964, Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde became engaged, aware of Hawking's new physical limitations and shortened life expectancy due to motor neurone disease.

1974: Appointment at Caltech and Wager on Cygnus X-1

In 1974, Stephen Hawking was appointed to the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Visiting Professorship at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). During this time, he made a scientific wager with Kip Thorne about whether the X-ray source Cygnus X-1 was a black hole, as an "insurance policy" against the proposition that black holes did not exist.

1979: Election as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics

In 1979, Hawking was elected Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He proposed N = 8 supergravity as the leading theory to solve outstanding physics problems. This promotion coincided with a health crisis and a transition to a more intuitive approach to physics.

1985: Hawking undergoes tracheotomy

In 1985, while visiting CERN, Stephen Hawking contracted pneumonia and underwent a tracheotomy, resulting in the loss of his speech and requiring round-the-clock nursing care.

1985: Hawking contracts pneumonia

In mid-1985, during a visit to CERN, Stephen Hawking contracted pneumonia, which led to a tracheotomy and the loss of his remaining speech. The cost of his subsequent care was funded by an American foundation.

1990: Hawking Acknowledges Losing Bet

In 1990, Hawking acknowledged losing the 1974 bet he had made with Kip Thorne regarding the nature of Cygnus X-1. This was the first of several bets he would make with Thorne and others.

1991: Public scientific wager with Kip Thorne and John Preskill

In 1991, Hawking made a public scientific wager with Kip Thorne and John Preskill of Caltech, betting that Penrose's proposal of a "cosmic censorship conjecture" was correct.

1997: Concession in Wager and New Bet on Black Hole Information Paradox

In 1997, Hawking conceded the 1991 public scientific wager made with Kip Thorne and John Preskill regarding Penrose's cosmic censorship conjecture. The same year, a new bet was made between Thorne, Hawking, and Preskill concerning the black hole information paradox.

2002: Debate with Peter Higgs

In 2002, Hawking and Higgs engaged in a heated and public debate over the Higgs boson matter.

2005: Hawking uses cheek muscles to control communication device

In 2005, Stephen Hawking began controlling his communication device with movements of his cheek muscles, allowing him to communicate at a rate of about one word per minute.

2008: Continued Debate with Peter Higgs

In 2008, Hawking and Higgs continued their heated and public debate over the Higgs boson matter.

2009: Difficulty Driving Wheelchair

In 2009, Stephen Hawking could no longer drive his wheelchair independently, and although new typing mechanics were used to drive the chair with chin movements, it proved difficult due to his inability to move his neck, resulting in sporadic and jumpy movement.