The physicist from England, Stephen Hawking, is known not only in scientific circles. Many compare it to prominent 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 drive the universe. Stephen is a very influential scientist of our time, he heads the department of the University of Cambridge.
But the story of Stephen Hawking is a constant overcoming of the incurable disease that accompanies him for almost his entire conscious life. This amazing person was able to realize the limitless possibilities of the human mind, suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Short biography of the scientist
Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in a middle-class family. However, his parents were graduates of Oxford 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 was no different from his peers.
Feeling interest in physics in high school, he entered the physics department at Oxford, where he did not show much zeal for study, devoting more time to sports and parties. Despite all this, in 1962 he managed to graduate from the university with a bachelor's degree. Stephen remained at Oxford for some time and studied sunspots, but later decided to go to Cambridge. There he was engaged in theoretical astronomy.
Stephen Hawking's disease began to make itself felt already at the time of admission to Cambridge University. 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 is slowly progressing. 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 called in honor of the scientist Charcot, who described its symptoms in the mid-19th century. In the US, this disease is often referred to as Goering’s disease in memory of a popular basketball player who died from ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fairly rare disease. From 100 thousand people suffer from one to five. Most often people fall ill from 40 to 50 years old. Stephen Hawking's disease, whose causes are unknown, is incurable. Science still does not understand why nerve cell death is triggered. Heredity plays a role in about 10% of cases.
However, in the early 2000s, researchers suggested that ALS 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 as a result, die quickly. Currently, an active search is underway for genes responsible for the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Even taking into account that a lot of work is being done to find a cure for this disease, mortality from it is 100%.
Symptoms 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 hands). This is expressed in difficulty, for example, writing, fastening buttons, taking small items.
After the disease begins to progress, and in the process, the motor neurons of the spinal cord die off, and along with them the parts of the brain that control voluntary movements. As a result, more and more muscles are without movement, without receiving impulses from the brain.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has received this 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, difficulties arise 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, he does not experience any pain.
Although Stephen Hawking’s disease is terrible, as it makes him paralyzed, it does not disturb mental processes. Memory, hearing, vision, consciousness, cognitive functions of the brain remain at the same level.
What is the cause of death of ALS patients?
At the last stages of the disease, the muscles of the respiratory tract atrophy, as a result of which the person cannot breathe. Although it happens that the body is not yet completely immobilized, the muscles that are involved in breathing cease to function.
Stephen Hawking's Life with ALS
Despite the terrible diagnosis, Stephen continued his active life. However, the symptoms of the disease made themselves felt. And after another deterioration, Hawking went to the hospital for an examination, where he was told the terrible news that he had no more than two years left to live. After this news, any person would become depressed, and Stephen was no exception. But the thirst for life 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 stop 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 life to her chosen one, caring for him, while he could work fruitfully, doing research. Together they lived for more than 20 years, three children were born in marriage. Thanks to Jane, Stephen constantly trained, even being half paralyzed.
But living with a person suffering from ALS is very difficult. Therefore, in the early 90s, the couple divorced. However, Hawking did not stay alone for long. He married his nurse. This marriage lasted 11 years.
Scientific activity
Stephen William Hawking, whose disease progressed along with his scientific career, defended his thesis in 1966, and the next year he moved not with a cane, but on crutches. After a successful defense, he began working at Cambridge College Gonville and Caius as a research fellow.
We had to use a wheelchair since 1970, but despite this, from 1973 to 1879, Hawking worked at the University of Cambridge at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, where in 1977 he became a professor.
From 1965 to 1970, physicist Stephen Hawking conducted research on the state of the universe at the time of the Big Bang. In 1970, he studied the theory of black holes, formulated several theories. As a result of his scientific work, he made a huge contribution to cosmology and astronomy, as well as to the understanding of gravity and the theory of black holes. Thanks to his fruitful work, Hawking became the owner of a large number of awards and prizes.
Until 1974, the scientist could eat on his own, as well as get up and go to bed. Some time later, the disease forced me to turn to students for help, but subsequently I had to hire a professional nurse.
Stephen Hawking quickly lost the ability to write due to atrophy of the muscles of the hands. I had to solve complex problems and equations, build and visualize graphs in my mind. The scientist’s speech apparatus was also affected, it was understood only by close people and those who often spoke with him. Despite this, Stephen dictated scientific work to the secretary and lectured, but, with the help of an interpreter.
Writing books
The scientist decided to popularize science and in the 1980s began to work 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 ordinary people would be interested in the book. And so it happened. Stephen did not hope that his work would become so popular. In 2005, Hawking wrote a second book and gave it the title “The Shortest Time History”. It is dedicated to the latest advances in theoretical astronomy.
Communication with the outside world using technology
In 1985, Hawking contracted pneumonia. Stephen was completely speechless due to a forced tracheotomy. Indifferent people saved the scientist from silence. A computer program was developed for him, which allows using the lever with a finger to select the words displayed on the monitor and make up phrases from them that were ultimately sent to the speech synthesizer. Communicating with people through computer technology has greatly improved the life of a scientist. It was also possible to translate the equations of physics, which were written in words, using the equalizer into the symbols. Now Stephen learned to give lectures on his own, but they had to be composed in advance and sent to a 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 with a look.
Conclusion
Despite his serious illness, Stephen William Hawking at the age of 73 remains very active. Many healthy people would envy him. He often travels, gives interviews, writes books, tries to popularize science, makes plans for the future. The professor’s dream was to travel on a spaceship. The disease taught him not to spare himself, because for many she is not so supportive. He believes that he has lived so long thanks to mental work and excellent care.
We can say that the story of Stephen Hawking is an example of the enormous industriousness and courage that only a select few possess.