Stephen William Hawking, born 8 January 1942, is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.

Hawking is best know for discovering five important interlinked breakthroughs in science. Because of his work he was awarded the largest prize in all of science in 2012. He is also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. His book "A Brief History of Time" appeared on the British Sunday Times best-seller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.

Hawking suffers from a rare early-onset, slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as motor neuron disease in the UK, that has gradually paralyzed him over the decades. He is completely paralyzed from arms, legs and voice and now communicates using a single cheek muscle attached to a speech-generating device.