What Happened On March 14th?
Today in the year 2018, Stephen Hawking passed away. The brilliant physicist, who defied a devastating diagnosis to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos, passed away peacefully at his Cambridge, England home at the age of 76.
Of course now, Hawking’s character is up for debate after being named on flight logs to Epstein’s Island. Before we get into that, his life story demonstrated extraordinary resilience.
Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the young age of 21, doctors gave him a mere two years to live. However, Hawking refused to accept this prognosis. He lived a full life and developed theories on black holes, cosmology, and the very nature of reality itself.
He is best known for his discovery that black holes emit radiation, which can be detected using meticulous and special instruments.
He worked very closely with NASA and helped guide them after failed launches and shuttle disasters.
On the day Hawking died, even the European Space Agency (ESA) held a minute of silence at their mission control center to honor his contributions to our understanding of the universe. The International Space Station also dimmed its non-essential lights as a symbolic gesture.
In a pre-recorded message aired after his death, Hawking offered humanity a final message. He urged us to “look up to the stars and not down at your feet” and to “keep exploring.”
Despite his speech disability, Hawking immersed himself in popular culture, making several cameo appearances. He voiced himself on shows like “The Simpsons” and “The Big Bang Theory,” showcasing his playful personality.
Following his death, it was revealed that Hawking bequeathed his voice synthesizer to the University of Cambridge for future research projects.
But then, in 2024, documents released during convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation, revealed that Hawking had taken multiple trips to Epstein’s private island. All round the globe, people were shocked, more so questioning Hawking’s judgment and even suggesting he may have been compromised by Epstein.
Hawking’s family maintained they were purely social and that Hawking was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. They pointed to the logistical challenges of travel for someone in Hawking’s condition, suggesting Epstein likely covered the costs, making the trips more accessible.
