Physicist Stephen Hawking rushed to hospital

Physicist Stephen Hawking rushed to hospital
www.reuters.com...

LONDON (Reuters) - Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's foremost physicists, has been urgently admitted to hospital, Cambridge University said in a statement on Monday.

Hawking, 67, who is wheelchair-bound and almost completely paralyzed by a wasting illness, was taken to a local hospital in Cambridge, where he is a professor of applied mathematics.

"Professor Hawking is very ill and has been taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke's Hospital," the statement said.

This is not good...he has been in a frail state for quite awhile now...

His loss would be quite a blow to Quantum Physics...

[edit on 4/20/2009 by Hx3_1963]

Oh, how sad. I really like Stephen Hawking, his book A Brief History of Timenad Universe in a Nutshell, illustrated, is one of my favorites. I hope he recovers quickly.

Poor guy. I wish him and his family well.


more characters needed: His illness (Lou Garrick disease?) is fatal so if he does pass, at least he'll be out of misery.

If he does pass there will be a big void to fill.

His insight into the unseen is only *possibly* second to maybe Einstein?

I'm sure he has tons of unfinished theory's, that because of his disease, will never see the "light of day"...very sad indeed...

I wish his family peace, if such a thing comes to pass...

[edit on 4/20/2009 by Hx3_1963]

This is sad for us all, if we lose him its a loss to all humanity.

I wonder if this will affect the cloning debate worldwide.

Damn....I hope he pulls through.

If he passes, I hope he has a successor to carry on his work.

There's much more to be done Stephen, come on!

An inspiration to mankind and yet the media gives no attention

But when some fatuous degenerate, immoral siren from Big Brother exploits cancer, the media gives undivided attention. Cruel words, yes, but Stephen Hawking is a national treasure of the United Kingdom and a significant figure for humanity.

Just wish he was treated much better.

I have to wonder about the cosmic irony of a great and rare mind like his suffering from a disease.
It is like being given a christmas present you have to return my March.

I hope he makes it but the life of someone parapalegic in a wheelchair is pretty short. 8 years on average.

His would be a great loss to the field of theoretical physics and academia in general, but I must say that he must hold the record of having survived ALS.

He can't live forever, but his track record has been extremely good so far, given the disease he has, and he might very well survive this.

Let us hope that that will be the case.

Originally posted by infinite
An inspiration to mankind and yet the media gives no attention....

The news of Hawkings hospitalization hit the internet less than an hour ago.

For an academic, Hawking gets probably about as much publicity as he cares for.

He certainly will be remembered long after the shallow entertainment celebrities have passed into oblivion.



[edit on 2009/4/20 by GradyPhilpott]

In a way...it's a very cruel joke...

...To be that brilliant, and be trapped in a "shell", unable to communicate some of the most difficult theory's ever known...

Stephen Hawking 'very ill' in hospital
www.telegraph.co.uk...
www.winnipegsun.com...

Prof Hawking, who works at the university, is undergoing tests at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

A university spokesman said the 67-year-old physicist, who is best known for his book A Brief History of Time, was taken to Addenbrooke's by ambulance.

More at Links...

[edit on 4/20/2009 by Hx3_1963]

reply to post by Alora


ALS is a tragic disease. Hawkings has lived much longer than most that have been diagnosed. He was diagnosed when he was 21 and has survived this horrible disease 46 years! Most people die within 3 to 5 years and some barely survive a year. I do hope he recovers. The only good thing is that ALS is a motor disorder and did not destroy his brilliant mind.

My brother in law was perfectly fine one Christmas. He was diagnosed in Feb. and by the next Christmas in a wheelchair and unable to do anything for himself. He died in March, 13 months after diagnosis. My sister's boss, a neurologist, also died just over a year after her diagnosis.

Here is an interesting bit of information (bolded part) from an ALS researcher

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can strike anyone. The Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung, Russian composer Dimitri Sjostakowitz, the legendary New York Yankee baseball player Lou Gehrig, and astro-physicist Stephen Hawkins have all been afflicted with ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can strike anyone. In addition, an unusually large number of Italian professional soccer players, airline pilots, and soldiers from the Golf War have been stricken by this fatal disease. About half of them have died within three years - some even in the first year - and usually as a consequence of asphyxiation, while still ’in full possession of their faculties’.

www.innovations-report.com...]http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/repor t-36956.html

Originally posted by Hx3_1963
If he does pass there will be a big void to fill.

I wonder if it would emit Hawking radiation?

He has a good sense of humour so he wouldn't mind me posting that I don't think.

Stephen Hawking had been scheduled to attend the ASU Origins conference that was held & webcast a few weeks ago, but his daughter filled in at the last minute with his wonderful presentation via power point.

I was hoping that his health had improved but am very sad to read this latest news. Wishing him a full recovery and my thoughts and best wishes are with him and his family.

I also pray for a speedy recovery and for his caretakers to be gentle, kind and filled with the light. His presence on this planet has always been a miraculous journey for all he has touched with his authentic and courageous individuality.

Sorry to hear about Hawkings; ( I really hope he pulls through.. YEs, if he does pass, their will be a HUGE void to fill, and quite frankly, thier will NEGVER be someone again, like Hawkings or carl sagan for that matter. Ive hbeen into astronomy since i wa 11, im 34 now. HIs work was complicated for me to understand, but he is a genious, as well as a true gentleman. In my opinion, the woprld needs him..
damn i hope he survives to write more books and teach.

It looks like he may be doing better and will only be kept overnight. Let's all pray and/or send positive vibes his way.

www.hawking.org.uk...

Monday 20th April, approx. 19:00 UK time Due to very high demand, the website has been simplified to keep the server online. We apologise for the lack of in-depth content, which would normally be available here. Professor Hawking is comfortable, but will be spending the night in hospital. The Cambridge University Press Office have a statement to this effect, and do not expect to have any further updates until mid-morning tomorrow.