It’s one of those "where were you when" moments for anyone who loves science. The news broke early, hitting the wires while most of the Western world was still sleeping. Stephen Hawking died on March 14, 2018. He was 76.
Honestly, the date itself feels like some kind of cosmic prank or a perfectly scripted ending to a Hollywood biopic. March 14 is Pi Day ($3.14$). It’s also the birthday of Albert Einstein. You couldn’t make that up if you tried. Hawking, a man who spent his entire life trying to find the "Theory of Everything," left us on the exact day we celebrate the most famous constant in mathematics and the birth of the man whose theories he spent a lifetime refining (and occasionally poking holes in).
The Quiet Morning in Cambridge
He passed away peacefully at his home in Cambridge, England. His children—Lucy, Robert, and Tim—released a statement that pretty much summed up the global mood: "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."
It’s weird to think about, but Hawking was never supposed to make it to 76. Not even close. When he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 21, doctors gave him maybe two years. They told him to finish his PhD quickly because he wouldn't be around to see the results. He gave them the middle finger—metaphorically, of course—and lived for another 55 years.
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He didn't just survive; he thrived.
Why the Stephen Hawking Date of Death Feels Prophetic
Scientists aren't usually big on "destiny," but the numbers around Hawking’s life and death are enough to make even a hardcore materialist pause.
- January 8, 1942: Hawking is born on the 300th anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s death.
- March 14, 2018: Hawking dies on the 139th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s birth.
Basically, his life was bookended by the two other pillars of physics. It’s like the universe was passing a baton.
The Battle with ALS and the "Health Miracle"
If you’ve seen The Theory of Everything, you know the gist. But the reality was grittier. ALS is a brutal, degenerative disease that kills the motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. Most people diagnosed with it today still only live three to five years. Hawking was an extreme outlier.
Dr. Lucie Bruijn from the ALS Association once noted that she wasn't aware of anyone else who had lived with the disease for over half a century. Why did he last so long? Some neurologists think that because he developed it so young, his brain and body adapted differently. Hawking himself once joked that maybe his variety was due to "bad absorption of vitamins."
Regardless of the "why," the "how" was incredible. He lost his voice in 1985 after a bout of pneumonia forced an emergency tracheotomy. After that, he was limited to that iconic, robotic computer voice. It became his brand. He even turned down "more human" sounding voices later in life because he felt that specific synth was who he was.
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What Actually Caused His Death?
While the family didn't release a hyper-specific medical report, it’s widely accepted that he died from complications related to his long-term ALS. In most cases, the disease eventually weakens the respiratory muscles until the body simply can't breathe anymore.
That Final Resting Place: Between Giants
If you ever find yourself in London, head to Westminster Abbey.
In June 2018, Hawking’s ashes were interred in Science Corner. He’s buried right between Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Think about that for a second. The man who explained gravity, the man who explained evolution, and the man who explained black holes, all tucked into the same patch of floor.
His memorial stone is beautiful. It’s made of Caithness slate and features a series of rings surrounding a central ellipse—a nod to a black hole. It also bears his most famous equation for Hawking Radiation:
$$S = \frac{\pi A k c^3}{2 h G}$$
Wait, that's the entropy. Let's look at the temperature equation often associated with his work on black hole evaporation:
$$T = \frac{\hbar c^3}{8 \pi G M k_B}$$
It’s a bit of a flex, honestly. Having your life’s work carved into stone so people walk over your math for the next thousand years.
The Scientific "Vacuum" Left Behind
The reaction to the Stephen Hawking date of death was immediate. Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted that his passing "left an intellectual vacuum in his wake." NASA called him an ambassador of science. Even The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory—shows he frequently appeared on—ran tributes.
He was one of the few people who could bridge the gap between "scary math" and "cool space stuff." He made us care about the event horizon of a black hole while making a joke about his wheelchair driving. Speaking of which, he was notoriously a "wild" driver. He supposedly once ran over Prince Charles's toes and often expressed regret that he never got to do the same to Margaret Thatcher.
Lessons from the Life of a Legend
So, what do we do with this info? Knowing the date is one thing, but Hawking's life offers some pretty solid "take-home" value:
- Defy the Odds: If Hawking had listened to his 1963 prognosis, we wouldn't have A Brief History of Time. Don't let a "forecast" dictate your output.
- Communication is Key: He was a genius, but his real power was explaining that genius to regular people. Whatever you're good at, learn to explain it to someone who isn't.
- Humor is a Survival Tool: Even when he could only move a single cheek muscle to type, he was cracking jokes.
What You Can Do Now
If you want to truly honor the man, don't just memorize a date. Go deeper.
- Read the book: Pick up a copy of A Brief History of Time. It’s notoriously the "most bought, least read" book in history. Be the person who actually finishes it.
- Watch the lectures: There are hours of his lectures on YouTube. Hearing that iconic voice explain the beginning of time is still a trip.
- Support ALS Research: The Stephen Hawking Foundation continues to fund research into Motor Neurone Disease.
Hawking once said, "However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. While there is life, there is hope."
He proved it for 76 years.
Next Steps for the Curious
You might want to look into the "Black Hole Information Paradox," which was one of Hawking's biggest "unfinished" debates. Or, check out the specific details of his 2018 memorial service at Westminster Abbey, which famously included a "time traveler" invitation—he invited people from the future to attend his funeral just to see if anyone would show up.