Live data from Hacker News

Stephen Hawking has died

bbc.com

81–90 of 468 posts

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#82
Reading that headline it took me a moment. His books shaped my interest in science, and were wonderful to read and enjoy, even to push on family members. A monumentally inspiring person, not just for his scientific accomplishments, but also for how incredibly he handled the hand he was dealt.

He will be missed, dearly.

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#83
I think in the back of my mind I always thought of Hawking as being immortal. He lived for over 50 years with a debilitating terminal illness, and yet his accomplishments so vastly exceeded the capabilities of his body. It’s hard to believe he was capable of dying.

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#84

“What do Sheldon Cooper and a black hole have in common?” Hawking asked the fictional Caltech physicist whose IQ comfortably outstrips his social skills. After a pause, the answer came: “They both suck.” Stephen's sense of humor has always cracked me up.

He made so many cameos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking_in_popular_cul... and was on not only The Simpsons, but Futurama as well!

Hawking holes!

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#85

Few have accomplished as much while overcoming so little compared to Hawkings. Hawkings is and will always be a hero. To think when he started out black holes were just a myth. He got to witness not only their acceptance and his own vindication but actual gravitational waves as well!

>> Few have accomplished as much while overcoming so little

It's weird; I individually understood both achievements but never thought about their combination that seriously until it was worded like this. Very well put.

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#87
post #77
post #21

Seems to be more info in this article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawk...

This reads like a pre-prepared obituary. No additional information regarding his death.

Pre-prepared is exactly how most obituaries are written. Newspapers keep such pre-prepared obituaries of famous people on-hand so that they can publish them instantly if that person happens to die.

Any newspapers who don't do this will lose the all-important race for publication to newspapers that do.

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#88

“What do Sheldon Cooper and a black hole have in common?” Hawking asked the fictional Caltech physicist whose IQ comfortably outstrips his social skills. After a pause, the answer came: “They both suck.” Stephen's sense of humor has always cracked me up.

He made so many cameos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking_in_popular_cul... and was on not only The Simpsons, but Futurama as well!

The Futurama one had me laughing for weeks every time I thought about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nda7w487yU0

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#89
An inspiring role model in so many aspects, RIP to one of the greatest minds. I strongly believe that his perseverance through his circumstances is even more admirable than his research. It's so easy to become bitter and jaded when a shocking event like that occurs. At the best, you make peace and live as happy a life as you can...but to stand tall and rebuke Fate, defy all odds and even banish almost certain Death for decades through sheer willpower and passion for knowledge is something else. And to hold that tiny, bright flame against an unrelenting torrent for 55 years, always curious, always following his passion...the world lost one of the greats tonight.

Re: Stephen Hawking has died

#90
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This reads like a pre-prepared obituary. No additional information regarding his death.

Pre-prepared is exactly how most obituaries are written. Newspapers keep such pre-prepared obituaries of famous people on-hand so that they can publish them instantly if that person happens to die. Any newspapers who don't do this will lose the all-important race for publication to newspapers that do.

And in celebrating someone’s life, the specific details of their death aren’t so important anyways.
Post reply on HN