Why is Stephen Hawking famous?

He's a great human interest story. That's why the scientifically illiterate masses know who the Steven Hawking is. And that's fine. That's a GOOD THING. He serves as an inspiration.

But is he the best theoretical physicist of all time? SHIT NO! He's not even in the top twenty of this freaking decade. There are plenty of unknown (to the masses) cosmologists who are making greater contributions than Hawking. But as I said before...great human interest story.

Why does Joe America care more about a 6 hour marathoner with knee cancer than the Kenyan winner? Human interest.

Probably Hawking radiation and the theory that the universe began as a singularity.

I'm not a physicist, but I have many friends who are. My sense is that it's become fashionable to downplay Hawking's accomplishments. I can't say if they're right to do so or not. But, back in the 60s and 70s he was pretty hot sh*t. His appointment as Lucasian Professor (the chair Isaac MF Newton held) was not an act of affirmative action.

Link wrote:

Probably Hawking radiation and the theory that the universe began as a singularity.

I'm not a physicist, but I have many friends who are. My sense is that it's become fashionable to downplay Hawking's accomplishments. I can't say if they're right to do so or not. But, back in the 60s and 70s he was pretty hot sh*t. His appointment as Lucasian Professor (the chair Isaac MF Newton held) was not an act of affirmative action.

Lots of truth in this. Back in 70s everyone expected Hawking to become the new Einstein, even before he got ALS. But he never lived up the expectations.

The top brains in theoretical and particle physics, and weapons engineering are not known to the public. They live anonymously in New Mexico, Japan, Berkeley, China, Russia, Southern California, Iran, India, and so forth. We will never know their names.

I am one one them wrote:

The top brains in theoretical and particle physics, and weapons engineering are not known to the public. They live anonymously in New Mexico, Japan, Berkeley, China, Russia, Southern California, Iran, India, and so forth. We will never know their names.

Right. But fortunately several of us are here on letsrun.

He had the worlds largest penis

anel wrote:

He had the worlds largest penis

Oh, my! What happened to it?

birdingworld wrote:

Don't quote me on this, I might be wrong, but I think he's famous for inventing the Toblerone.

OK, I know this isn't THAT funny...

But when I read it last night after a 15 hour day it just struck me as frigging hilarious and I was laughing so hard in bed that I woke my wife up and was banished to the couch because I couldn't get myself under control.

He was the first "break dancer"

Because he banged his HOT nurse.

Or in other words: He is a friggin paraplegic who banged and then 'ran' away with his hot nurse!!

He couldn't walk or talk yet somehow gets the hot nurse - he should be the admiration of every man out there!

He is famous because he wrote 'A Brief History of Time.'

He explained complex ideas of the universe in a way that the average person could read and comprehend.

So being able to communicate to a massive audience makes you famous.

The physical ailment adds a human interest element that compounded the fame from the book.

a cool dude wrote:

Because he banged his HOT nurse.

Or in other words: He is a friggin paraplegic who banged and then 'ran' away with his hot nurse!!

He couldn't walk or talk yet somehow gets the hot nurse - he should be the admiration of every man out there!

So a potentially rich well educated scientist with social prestige was able to attract a hot nurse. BIG FREAKING DEAL!!! Women care about money and power. Women don't give a shit if you have a healthy body or are nice for that matter.

Now tell me a story where a healthy and fit homeless man with no social power or mental apparatus capable of potentially making lots of money was able to attract a hot nurse. Now THAT would be impressive and inspirational.

The idiot masses in the United States know only about Einstein and Hawking...and possibly Isaac Newton (because of that apple story). They might have also heard of Werner Heisenberg because of Breaking Bad. The masses LOVE a good story, and that's what Stephan Hawking is...a great story.

And I'm not immune to this. My favorite scientist is Richard Feynman. Not because he was the greatest physicist ever, but because he made for a great story. He was charismatic and did so much weird and interesting shit.

Dint forget Hubble. They know about him. Oh, and Galileo. Yup, both of those guys. Maybe Bortzmann, too?

elainemason wrote:

anel wrote:

He had the worlds largest penis

Oh, my! What happened to it?

Unfortunately, it was Lorena Bobbited.

grug wrote:

It really amazes me that grown people watch that show. It's literally not funny. Plus they have the most over the top laugh track that I've ever heard.

stighty wrote:

Oh, he's a guest star on The Big Bang Theory sometimes.

I have to disagree with you.

I love TBBT.

I love the episode where Sheldon plays Bongos at 3 a.m. as a way of embracing chaos.

Then, in the process, he tells Penny that she forgot to use the subjunctive (mood) or whatever you call it in English!

I think he even trips on the stairs while playing Bongos.

I love every time I see it.

OH,

Pertinent to the question-gist of the matter,

Stephen Hawking is a famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist despite his physical challenge.

I meant laugh. Ha ha!

Hawking holds the Isaac Newton Chair at Cambridge. He's the world expert on black holes and certain other parts of cosmology.

Hard to believe how stupid and arrogant people here are at the same time.