The world lost one of its most brilliant minds today (March 14) when the renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76.
As a physicist, Hawking rose to fame for his work on black holes and the origins of the universe. He was also a stellar science communicator who authored several best-selling books that made astrophysics and cosmology accessible to people with no scientific background. But Hawking was also someone with a remarkable sense of humor, which he maintained even as he suffered from a degenerative nerve disease that left him bound to a wheelchair for life.
Despite his physical limitations, Hawking traveled the world to share his love for science with the public. He even made a few cameos on TV shows like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Friends and celebrities took to social media to mourn his death and celebrate his incredible life. Here are some of their most touching tweets. [Stephen Hawking: A Physics Icon Remembered in Photos]
Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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