Physicist from England Stephen Hawking is known not only in scientific circles. Many compare him to eminent scientists such as Einstein and Newton. Hawking deals with issues of theoretical physics and applied mathematics, the theory of space and time, studies the fundamental laws that move the universe. Stephen is a very influential scientist of our time, he chairs the University of Cambridge.
But the story of Stephen Hawking is a constant overcoming of an incurable disease that accompanies him almost all of his adult life. This amazing man was able to realize the limitless possibilities of the human mind, suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Scientist's short biography
Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 into a middle-class family. However, his parents were Oxford graduates and were considered intellectuals. Stephen was an ordinary child, only at the age of 8 he learned to read. He studied well at school, but did not differ from his peers in anything outstanding.
Feeling an interest in physics in high school, he entered the physics department at Oxford, where he did not show much zeal forstudy, devoting more time to sports and parties. Despite all this, he managed to graduate in 1962 with a bachelor's degree. Stephen remained at Oxford for some time and studied sunspots, but later decided to go to Cambridge. There he studied theoretical astronomy.
Stephen Hawking's disease began to make itself felt already during the period of admission to the University of Cambridge. And in 1963, the young man was given a disappointing diagnosis - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
What is ALS?
This is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that progresses slowly. It is characterized by damage to the cortex and brain stem, as well as spinal cord neurons responsible for movement. Patients develop paralysis, and then atrophy of all muscles.
In Europe, Stephen Hawking's disease has long been named after the scientist Charcot, who described its symptoms in the middle of the 19th century. In the United States, the disease is often referred to as Hering's disease in memory of a popular basketball player who died of ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a fairly rare disease. From 100 thousand people suffer from it from one to five. Most often, people from 40 to 50 years old get sick. Stephen Hawking's disease, the causes of which are unknown, is incurable. Science is still unclear why the death of nerve cells is triggered. Heredity plays a role in about 10% of cases.
However, in the early 2000s, researchers suggested thatALS is associated with the accumulation of neurotransmitter molecules in the brain. Some evidence suggests that this disease develops due to an excess of glutamic acid, which causes neurons to work at full capacity, and therefore die quickly. Currently, the search for genes responsible for the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is being actively conducted. Even taking into account the fact that a lot of work is being done to find a cure for this disease, the mortality rate from it is 100%.
Signs and course of the disease
Stephen Hawking's disease, the symptoms of which are easily confused with the manifestation of other, less dangerous ailments, is very insidious. First, a person feels mild muscle disorders (most often of the hands). This is expressed in difficulty, for example, writing, fastening buttons, picking up small objects.
After the disease begins to progress, and in the process, the motor neurons of the spinal cord gradually die off, and with them the areas of the brain that control voluntary movements. As a result, more and more muscles are left without movement, without receiving impulses from the brain.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis got its name because the neurons that conduct impulses to the muscles of the body are located on the sides throughout the spinal cord.
Quite often in the early stages of the disease there are difficulties with speech, swallowing. In the later stages, a person is already completely devoid of movement, his face loses facial expressions, the muscles of the tongue atrophy, salivation appears. However, no painhe does not experience.
Stephen Hawking's illness, although terrible, as it makes him paralyzed, does not impair his thought processes. Memory, hearing, vision, consciousness, cognitive functions of the brain remain at the same level.
What causes the death of ALS patients?
At the last stages of the disease, the muscles of the respiratory tract also atrophy, as a result of which a person cannot breathe. Although it also happens that the body is not yet completely immobilized, the muscles that are involved in breathing cease to function.
The life of Stephen Hawking with ALS
Despite the terrible diagnosis, Stephen continued an active life. However, the symptoms of the disease made themselves felt. And after another deterioration, Hawking went to the hospital for examination, where he was told the terrible news that he had no more than two years to live. After this news, any person would have fallen into a depressed state, and Stephen was no exception. But the thirst to live won, and he began to write his dissertation. Hawking suddenly realized that there was still time to do something worthwhile, something useful for the whole world.
Stephen Hawking's illness did not prevent him from marrying Jane Wilde in 1965, however, he came to his wedding with a cane. His wife knew about the terrible diagnosis, but decided to devote her whole life to her chosen one, caring for him, while he could work fruitfully, doing scientific work. Together they lived for more than 20 years, three children were born in marriage. Thanks to Jane, Stephen was constantly training, even when he was halfparalyzed.
But living with someone with ALS is very difficult. Therefore, in the early 90s, the couple divorced. However, Hawking was not alone for long. He married his nurse. This marriage lasted 11 years.
Scientific activity
Stephen William Hawking, whose illness progressed along with his scientific career, defended his dissertation in 1966, and the next year he moved not with a cane, but on crutches. After a successful defense, he began working at the Cambridge College of Gonville and Caius as a research assistant.
I had to use a wheelchair since 1970, but despite this, from 1973 to 1879, Hawking worked at the University of Cambridge at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, where he became a professor in 1977.
Physicist Stephen Hawking from 1965 to 1970 conducted research on the state of the universe at the time of the Big Bang. In 1970, he was engaged in the theory of black holes, formulated several theories. As a result of his scientific work, he made enormous contributions to cosmology and astronomy, as well as to the understanding of gravity and the theory of black holes. Thanks to his fruitful work, Hawking has won a large number of awards and prizes.
Up until 1974, a scientist could eat on his own, as well as get up and go to bed. Some time later, illness forced students to seek help, but subsequently had to hire a professional nurse.
Stephen Hawking quickly lost the ability to write due to atrophy of the arm muscles. Solve complextasks and equations, I had to build and visualize graphs in my mind. The speech apparatus of the scientist also suffered, he was understood only by close people and those who often communicated with him. Despite this, Stephen dictated scientific work to the secretary and lectured, but, however, with the help of an interpreter.
Writing books
The scientist decided to popularize science and in the 1980s began working on a book called A Brief History of Time. It explained the nature of matter, time and space, the theory of black holes and the Big Bang. The author avoided complex mathematical terms and equations, hoping that the book would be interesting for ordinary people as well. And so it happened. Stephen did not expect that his work would become so popular. In 2005, Hawking wrote a second book and named it The Briefest History of Time. It is dedicated to the latest achievements in the field of theoretical astronomy.
Communication with the outside world using technology
In 1985, Hawking contracted pneumonia. Stephen was completely speechless due to the forced tracheotomy. Caring people saved the scientist from silence. A computer program was developed for him, which allows using a lever with a movement of a finger to select the words displayed on the monitor and form phrases from them, which are ultimately sent to a speech synthesizer. Communication with people through computer technology has significantly improved the life of a scientist. It also became possible to translate using the equalizer inphysics equation symbols that were written in words. Steven was now able to give lectures on his own, but they had to be pre-composed and sent to the speech synthesizer.
After muscle atrophy completely immobilized the scientist's limbs, an infrared sensor was placed in his glasses. This allows you to select letters at a glance.
Conclusion
Despite his severe illness, Stephen William Hawking at 73 remains very active. Many he althy people would envy him. He often travels, gives interviews, writes books, tries to popularize science, and makes plans for the future. The professor's dream was to travel on a spaceship. The disease taught him not to spare himself, because it is not so favorable to many. He believes that he has lived so long thanks to mental work and excellent care.
You can say that the story of Stephen Hawking is an example of great diligence and courage that only a select few have.
