Born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo death, the much-loved physicist has passed at the age of 76, leaving millions of admirers around the world sharing their memorable moments of him. 

Studying at the world-renowned Oxford University, Hawking had always been destined for greatness, finding the world at university ‘too easy’. Whilst his life hasn’t been too easy, contracting motor neurone disease at the age of 21, he has battled tirelessly against his disability and become one of history’s most famous physicians. His work included furthering the idea of black holes, created by Einstein in 1915, and collaborating with Roger Penrose on the theory of the Big Bang. With his work came too his much-loved books that have sold more than 10 million books worldwide, his most famous being ‘A Brief History of Time’. 

His death has also come to bringing worldwide celebrities to honour his work; Eddie Redmayne, who played him in The Theory of Everything, said ‘We have lost a truly beautiful mind, an astonishing scientist and the funniest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet’, whilst the astronaut Tim Peakes said ‘He inspired generations to look beyond our own blue planet and expand our understanding of the universe. His personality and genius will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family.’

Clearly, even though he has passed Stephen Hawking will forever been known as one of the greatest scientists of our generation.