Steven Hawking
Steven Hawking is mostly known for his work in physics, however, his work has affected biology and other areas of science as well. Steven Hawking is also famous for having ALS. If you a picture of him you will see him in a wheel chair due to his disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, also known as Lou Gherig disease, is a disease that depletes the storage of motor neurons in the brain and spinal column. These motor neurons are what control the voluntary muscles. When motor neurons deplete the individual is no longer able to move. Steven Hawking has had the disease since the age of 21 when he was diagnosed. He first noticed that he was losing mobility when he fell over twice for no apparent reason when he was in his second year at Oxford. Hawking has overcome his disability and has gone on to do many great things in the name of science.
Steven Soderbergh and Cate Blanchett
English: NASA StarChild image of Stephen Hawking.
English: Professor Stephen Hawking in Cambridge, U...("Hawking, Steven." Encyclopedia Britannica.)
Steven William Hawking was born on January 8th 1942, in the middle of WWII. His family lived in northern London but Oxford was considered to be a much safer place to have children. When Steven was eight his family moved to St. Albans, about 20 miles north of London. While living in St. Albans Steven attended St. Albans School. From there he went on to Oxford University in Oxford. While at Oxford Hawking wished to study math. Unfortunately, Oxford did not offer a mathematics course. So, not being able to take mathematics, Hawking went into physics. Hawking was able to obtain a first-class honors degree in Natural Science in only three years at the University. (http://www.hawking.org.uk/)
After leaving Oxford, Hawking went to Cambridge to research Cosmology. After obtaining his Ph. D he went on to the Institute...