1942- . English physicist, who has researched
black holes and gravitational field theory.
His books include A Brief History of Time
1988. Professor of gravitational physics at
Cambridge from 1977, he discovered that the
strong gravitational field around a black
hole can radiate particles of matter.
Commenting on Einstein's remark, `God does
not play dice with the universe,' Hawking
said: `God not only plays dice, he throws
them where they can't be seen.' Confined to a
wheelchair because of a muscular disease, he
performs complex mathematical calculations
entirely in his head.