Stephen Hawking has been called the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Albert Einstein . His work concentrates on the puzzling cosmic bodies called black holes and extends to such specialized fields as particle physics , supersymmetry, and quantum gravity . The origin and fate of the universe are a central concern of Hawking's work. Though few people are able to understand these abstruse subjects, Hawking has gained a worldwide following, not only among other scientists, but among a great many laypeople. As an author and lecturer, he has become so famous as to approach rock-star celebrity.

Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He often refers to the fact that his birth date coincided with the 300th anniversary of Galileo's death. Hawking was the eldest child of an intellectual and accomplished family. His father, Frank Hawking, was a physician and research biologist who specialized in tropical diseases; his...