Stephen Hawking, born in 1942, was a renowned theoretical physicist from England. In his youth, he studied mathematics and physics at Newton and Cambridge University, earning his Ph.D. at the age of 23. However, he later developed a motor neuron disease that led to total paralysis. His main research area was general relativity, particularly focusing on black holes, challenging the notion that black holes could not be understood. He developed and refined the theory of the Big Bang, making significant contributions to humanity’s understanding of the universe. His popular science book, “A Brief History of Time,” remains widely read today.
The Curious Child
At the age of 3, Stephen Hawking received a toy train from his father, which became his favorite toy. He excitedly told his father:
“I want a train that moves!”
In response, his father went to great lengths to fulfill Hawking’s wish, finding a wind-up train and modifying it before giving it to him. This moving train captivated Hawking, and he could play with it for hours without losing interest. His mother wondered, “Why is Hawking so fascinated by this mechanical toy?”
On his 8th birthday, just as his father returned from a business trip to America, he bought a beautiful fabric doll for Hawking’s sister that could close its eyes and even cry or smile, which delighted her. Eager to know what his father had gotten for him, Hawking stared at the large unopened box and asked, “Dad, where’s my present?” His father placed the gift box in front of him, and when he opened it, he exclaimed, “Wow! It’s a brand new wind-up train from America, complete with a beautiful push button and tracks for it to run on.” Hawking was overjoyed, gazing at the train with growing affection.
Not long after, during a model railway exhibition, he discovered an electric train model and stood mesmerized as he watched it race along the tracks, sometimes losing track of time while observing for hours.
In their home, there was a telescope. On clear mornings, the family would go outside to the front lawn to observe the night sky and identify stars. As he gazed at the twinkling stars above, countless questions filled Hawking’s mind. He asked his father: “Why don’t the stars fall from the sky?”
“Because the Earth and the Sun are just two of those stars. They orbit each other in the universe, creating a wondrous cosmos,” his father explained.
“Then where did the universe come from?”
“Perhaps no one knows that yet,” his father pondered. “This question exceeds human understanding.”
“No, there must be an answer,” Hawking thought to himself. He looked up at the starry sky, imagining himself soaring among the twinkling stars…
Late into the night, while his parents had gone to bed, Hawking remained there, gazing at the stars above, filled with imagination. It wasn’t until his father called him that he returned to his room. That night, he dreamt of floating through the sky, searching for the answers he yearned to discover.
From that day on, Hawking became enamored with the night sky. Every evening, he would take his father’s telescope to observe one star after another, pondering the questions that still puzzled him.
Seeing his son’s passion for stargazing, his father brought home many books about the universe, filled with illustrations of stars, constellations, and characters. As Hawking learned to read, he flipped through the pages of book after book, growing increasingly fascinated with astronomy and determined to uncover the secrets of the universe.
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Stay tuned for: “Stephen Hawking – Battling Illness“
