Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Stephen Hawking

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: February 26, 2026

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Stephen Hawking.

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

June 1964: Hawking challenges Hoyle's work

In June 1964, Stephen Hawking publicly challenged the work of Fred Hoyle and his student Jayant Narlikar at a lecture, marking the beginning of his reputation for intelligence and brashness.

1981: Information Loss Proposal

In 1981, Hawking proposed that information in a black hole is irretrievably lost when a black hole evaporates. This information paradox violated the fundamental tenet of quantum mechanics, and led to years of debate.

1985: Publication on Arrows of Time

In 1985, Hawking published a paper theorising that if the no-boundary proposition were correct, then when the universe stopped expanding and eventually collapsed, time would run backwards. He later withdrew this concept.

February 1990: Hawking leaves Jane for Elaine Mason

In February 1990, Stephen Hawking told Jane that he was leaving her for Elaine Mason and departed the family home.

1999: Jane Hawking publishes memoir

In 1999, Jane Hawking published a memoir, Music to Move the Stars, about her marriage and its breakdown, causing a sensation in the media.

2002: Debate with Peter Higgs

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

2003: Growing consensus among physicists that Hawking was wrong about loss of information

By 2003, consensus among physicists was growing that Hawking was wrong about the loss of information in a black hole.

2004: Conceded 1997 bet with Preskill

In a 2004 lecture in Dublin, Hawking conceded his 1997 bet with Preskill, but described his own, somewhat controversial solution to the information paradox problem, involving the possibility that black holes have more than one topology.

2008: Continued Debate with Peter Higgs

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

2015: Email from Epstein Alleging Hawking's Participation in Orgy

In 2015, Jeffrey Epstein sent an email alleging Stephen Hawking participated in an "underage orgy" in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

March 2019: Royal Mint Issues Commemorative Coin and Nurse Struck Off

In March 2019, the Royal Mint announced it would issue a commemorative 50p coin in honour of Stephen Hawking, and his nurse, Patricia Dowdy, was struck off the nursing register for failures in his care and financial misconduct.

2024: Mention in Court Documents Released During Ghislaine Maxwell Trial

In 2024, Stephen Hawking was mentioned in court documents released during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British child sex trafficker, where an email from Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 alleged Hawking participated in an "underage orgy."