HAWKING’S SCIENTIFIC LEGACY

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HAWKING’S SCIENTIFIC LEGACY

Professor Stephen Hawking changed the way we understand the universe and leaves a legacy of theory ranging from black holes to the quantum effect on time

By Professor Raymond R. Volkas, University of Melbourne

The world is mourning the passing of iconic theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, an inspiration for his scientific achievements as well as his tenacity in dealing with a debilitating illness. Much has been written about Hawking’s impish wit, his celebrity and his personal life. But what about his scientific legacy?

Professor Hawking’s work concerned Einstein’s general theory of relativity, our best theory of gravitation, that recently received further triumphant confirmation through the discovery of gravitational waves.

The discovery of gravitational waves confirmed the existence of black holes. Picture: Shutterstock