Stephen Hawking, ill...

[jackson33]

Stephen Hawking hospitalized, reported very ill

Published: 4/20/09, 11:25 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) - Famed mathematician Stephen Hawking has been rushed to a hospital and is seriously ill, Cambridge University said Monday.

The university said Hawking has been fighting a chest infection for several weeks, and was being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, the university city north of London.

"Professor Hawking is very ill," said Gregory Hayman, the university's head of communications. "He is undergoing tests. He has been unwell for a couple of weeks."

Hawking, 67, gained renown for his work on black holes, and has remained active despite being diagnosed at 21 with motor neurone disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable degenerative disease.

For some years, Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed, and he communicates through an electronic voice synthesizer activated by his fingers.

"Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be amongst us again soon," said Professor Peter Haynes, head of the university's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.

Hawking had canceled an appearance at Arizona State University on April 6 because of his illness.

He announced last year that he would step down from his post as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a title once held by the great 18th century physicist Isaac Newton, and the end of this academic year. However, the university said Hawking intended to continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

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With so much interest on 'Black Holes', Einstein or Theoretical Physicist as is Hawking, thought some might be interest in the above..Dosen't look good but our best wishes for a recovery....

 

Copied the entire AP release, to avoid all the advertising and a wiki profile on Steven Hawkings...

[Megabrain]

Thanks J33 - Hope he pulls through.

[Martin]

In November Hawking accepted a visiting faculty appointment at Canada's Perimeter Institute.

http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/

http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/News/In_The_Media/Stephen_Hawking_to_Regularly_Visit_Perimeter_Institute_as_Distinguished_Research_Chair/

 

If he does pull through, then he will apparently be spending part of his time at PI, in Waterloo Ontario, on a regular basis. And presumably also part time back in Cambridge, although he has retired from his professorship there.

Edited April 20, 2009 by Martin

[Megabrain]

Not much on any of the BBC channels about it but there is a long article on a new Startrek film. Having seen a brother of mine suffer from MND I'd be very surprised if he survives, although he is one of the longest surviving victims of MND (usually 3-7 years from onset to death as I remember). 40 or so years is an impressive record, clearly the man has will power.