Stephen Hawking biography: Life, theories, books & quotes

Stephen Hawking was regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history. His work on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes, revolutionized the field, while his best-selling books have appealed to readers who may not have Hawking's scientific background. Hawking died on March 14, 2018, at the age of 76. Stephen Hawking was seen by many as the world's smartest person, though he never revealed his IQ score. According to the news site(opens in new tab) The Atlantic, when a New York Times reporter asked Hawking what his IQ was, he replied with "I have no idea, people who boast about their IQ are losers." In this brief biography, we look at Hawking's education and career — ranging from his discoveries to the popular books he's written — and the disease that robbed him of mobility and speech. Just before his diagnosis, Hawking met Jane Wilde, and the two were married in 1965. The couple had three children before separating. Hawking remarried in 1995 but divorced in 2006.