Stephen William Hawking Biography

Birth of Stephen William Hawking

Proves first of many singularity theorems; a set of sufficient conditions for the existence of a singularity in space-time showing that, far from being mathematical curiosities singularities are a fairly generic feature of general relativity.

Proves first of many singularity theorems; a set of sufficient conditions for the existence of a singularity in space-time showing that, far from being mathematical curiosities singularities are a fairly generic feature of general relativity. Hawking provides the first of many singularity theorems; such theorems provide a set of sufficient conditions for the existence of a singularity in space-time

Hawking proves singularity theorems showing that spacetime singularities are generic in general relativity

Hawking proves that the area of a classical black-hole event horizon cannot decrease.

In collaboration with Jim Hartle, Hawking develops a model in which the Universe has no boundary in space-time

Elected as one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society

Argues that black hole evaporation creates a fundamental challenge for predictability and quantum information conservation.

Explores the thermodynamic interpretation of black holes and the relationship between horizon area, entropy and temperature.

Created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire

With Don Page, identifies a phase transition between thermal anti-de Sitter space and a stable large black hole.

Created Companion of Honour

Awarded the Copley Medal of the Royal Society

"The Universe in a Nutshell" is winner of the Aventis Prizes for Science Books 2002. Publication of "The Universe in a Nutshell"

Announces a revised position on the black hole information problem, arguing that quantum information need not be permanently lost.

Publication of "A Briefer History of Time", co-written by Leonard Mlodinow

Publication of "A Briefer History of Time", co-written by Leonard Mlodinow

Asked on the British daytime chat show Richard & Judy, to explain his assertion that the question "What came before the Big Bang?" was meaningless, he compared it to asking "What lies north of the North Pole?"

Awarded the Copley Medal of the Royal Society

Presides over the unveiling of the Chronophage Corpus Clock (time eating) clock at Corpus Christi College Cambridge

With Malcolm Perry and Andrew Strominger, proposes that soft quantum degrees of freedom on horizons may carry information about black holes.