Hawking, Stephen W(illiam)

Hawking, Stephen W(illiam)
born Jan. 8, 1942, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Eng.

English theoretical physicist.

He studied at the University of Oxford and later received his Ph.D. from Cambridge. He has worked primarily in the field of general relativity and particularly on the physics of black holes. In 1971 he suggested that numerous objects, formed after the big bang, each had as much as one billion tons of mass but the size of only a proton. These "mini black holes" are unique in being subject to both the laws of relativity, due to their immense mass and gravity, and the laws of quantum mechanics, due to their minute size. In 1974 he proposed that black holes "evaporate" by what is now known as Hawking radiation. His work greatly spurred efforts to delineate the properties of black holes. His work also showed the relationship of these properties to the laws of classical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. Hawking's achievements, despite near-total paralysis from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have earned him extraordinary honours. His books include the best-selling A Brief History of Time (1988).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Hawking, Stephen W(illiam) — (n. 8 ene. 1942, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Inglaterra). Físico teórico inglés. Estudió en la Universidad de Oxford y más tarde recibió su doctorado de la Universidad de Cambridge. Ha trabajado sobre todo en el tema de la relatividad general y en… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Stephen — (as used in expressions) Austin, Stephen (Fuller) Bechtel, Stephen D(avison) Benét, Stephen Vincent Biko, Stephen Breyer, Stephen (Gerald) Brook, Sir Peter (Stephen Paul) Case, Stephen Cleveland, (Stephen) Grover Crane, Stephen Decatur, Stephen… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Hawking — [hôk′iŋ] Stephen W(illiam) 1942 ; Eng. physicist …   English World dictionary

  • William — (as used in expressions) William Alexander Abbott Aberhart, William George William Russell Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) Ashley, William Henry Ashton, Sir Frederick (William Mallandaine) Barkley, Alben W(illiam) Bartram, William William Allen… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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