Perspective

Stephen W. Hawking (January 8, 1942 - ) is a world-famous theoretical physicist. He holds a top professorship at the University of Cambridge and a fellowship with Gonville and Caius College. He is most noted for his work with quantum gravity and black holes, suggesting that black holes emit radiation at their event horizons. This theoretical phenomenon is now called Hawking radiation.

Early on in his career, Hawking contracted ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—Lou Gehrig's disease), an illness that greatly reduces the ability to move and talk, but not to think. Nevertheless, he lectures for his students and gives talks throughout the world. His views are important enough that the Vatican listens to his counsel. Whether the Catholic Church is willing to modify its doctrine to drop a creationist God is another matter. Hawking's blending of quantum mechanics with the general theory of relativity, although not a perfect overall theory...