Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking Retires

Stephen William Hawking is a British theoretical physicist who became a scientific celebrity through his theories on black holes and the nature of time. Hawking is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a title once held by the great 18th century physicist Isaac Newton. The university said Friday that he would step down at the end of the academic year in September, but would continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. Hawking was quoted before a zero flight saying:
“Many people have asked me why I am taking this flight. I am doing it for many reasons. First of all, I believe that life on Earth is at an ever increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers. I think the human race has no future if it doesn’t go into space. I therefore want to encourage public interest in space.”
His science bestseller A Brief History of Time, stayed on the British Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.