Stephen Hawking 'very ill' in hospital

[progressoid]

Source: Belfast Telegraph (also heard on MSNBC)

Monday, 20 April 2009
Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most famous scientists, is "very ill" in hospital, Cambridge University said today.

Professor Hawking, who works at the university, was undergoing tests at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

A university spokesman said the 67-year-old physicist, who is best known for his book A Brief History of Time, was taken to Addenbrooke's by ambulance.

"Professor Hawking is very ill," he added.

...

He has worked at Cambridge's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics for more than 30 years and since 1979 has been the University's Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

Professor Hawking was awarded a CBE in 1982, became a Companion of Honour in 1989 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

He lives in Cambridge and has three children and one grandchild.


...

"He is undergoing tests. He has been unwell for a couple of weeks."

Professor Peter Haynes, Head of the University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, added: "Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be amongst us again soon."



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/stephen-hawking-very-ill-in-hospital-14273466.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Tragic

Hope he recovers ok.

[YOY]

2. MC Hawking will pull through.

Nothing stops my main G from pulling his drivebys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89jt7zJzkNQ

[progressoid]

8. That's better than the video I just watched.

After a statement about climate change, Charlie Rose asks, "Do you think we will survive?"

Hawkings, "maybe."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr5MCbIPPsA

[Hydra]

3. He wants to finish his work

I hope he has the chance to, before his next turn on the wheel.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

7. what you said...

he may be ready and had enough of his physical limitations (though it's those very limitations that help create the opportunity for his eminence in the totally conceptual world of his mind!).

You are loved by many, Dr Stephen!!!

[derby378]

4. Please pull through, Stephen

We need people like you more than ever. I'm still not quite over the death of Carl Sagan.

[Nicole Lambeth]

5. it may be his time

He has lived longer with ALS than most people thought possible. It would be very sad indeed to lose such a renowned mind, but the human body can only last so long, and his has endured so much.

I hope he recovers as well as possible, but I will not be surprised to hear of his passing soon. :-(

[AnneD]

6. The mind is strong....

but the body is weak. These things have a way of cascading in to chaos, speaking mathamatically of course. Seriously, these things are hard to recover from once they get started. Wish him all the best. My fav shot-him, flying weightless in a Nasa plane.

[Triana]

9. I hope he gets to finish his work...

...it would be a great loss if he can't. Wishing him well.

[sarcasmo]

10. Get well soon.

[Akoto]

11. I hope he pulls through!

Such a brilliant mind, and an inspirational person, especially to a physically disabled young fellow like myself. The world still needs him.

[lazyriver]

12. Get well Dr. Hawking. Science is "in" again and we need you

in the game.

[Hugin]

17. Seconded. eom

[Plucketeer]

13. C'mon Stephen!

The Universe is holding it's breath for you!

[Odin2005]

14. Oh no! Hope he gets better!

:-(

[uppityperson]

15. Had a "chest infection" (pneumonia?) couple wks ago. Best wishes to MrHawking

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/05/20090405hawking0406.html

Famed theoretical physicist and cultural icon Stephen Hawking, who has been recovering from a chest infection, canceled his appearance as the headliner today at Arizona State University's Origins Symposium, the school announced Sunday. Hawking was to deliver the concluding lecture to the four-day conference.

[Vidar]

16. Best wishes & strength, Mr. Hawking.

[opihimoimoi]

18. OMG...Hope he gets well soon....The UNIVERSE in a NUTSHELL is the BOMB

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. How Horrible!

Hopefully he, and his remarkable mind, will recover from his illness.

[superconnected]

20. Get well soon Stephen. You have more worked to do on this planet.

[Sultana]

21. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

:(

Get well soon, Mr. Hawkins

[dipsydoodle]

22. Stephen Hawking's condition has "improved"

A university spokesman said the 67-year-old, who has motor neurone disease, was now "comfortable".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8008767.stm @20.22gmt

[progressoid]

23. We're hoping for the best. n/t

[Kablooie]

24. I saw him give a talk last year.

Very entertaining as well as informative.

He stayed outside the auditorium for a while afterwards to meet people.
A man introduced his ALS wife to him and Stephen tapped out "I'm very glad to meet you."
on his computer. It took him about 3 minutes or so.

A remarkable person.

[24601]

25. Sad, Loved his "A Brief History of Time" n/t

[glinda]

26. Pulling for ya, Professor Hawking!

[dipsydoodle]

27. Now expected to make full recovery according to Cambridge Uni.

BBC News currently being updated to reflect this change. Will add link when available.

edit to add :
Scientist Stephen Hawking is expected to make a full recovery after being taken to hospital with chest problems, Cambridge University has said.

The 67-year-old professor, who has motor neurone disease, is "comfortable" at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, his employers said.

Prof Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time, has worked at Cambridge University for more than 30 years.

The world-famous physicist, who uses a wheelchair, has been unwell for weeks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8010058.stm

[myrna minx]

28. May he have a speedy recovery. K&R n/t

[marshall]

29. I wonder if stem cells would help his condition?

Reading that stem cells will cure blindness--the mind goes to all sorts of other maladies that will hopefully be treated.

[dipsydoodle]

30. I think the issue

is that you can grow an eye or an ear but not necessarily repair brain disorders.

[LeftishBrit]

31. There are real hopes that stem cell research may lead to a breakthrough for Parkinsons...

and we may hope the same for some other neurological disorders.

Really hope so - motor neurone disease is truly horrible, and very few people live with it as long as Hawking has.

[eppur_se_muova]

32. Scientist Hawking 'comfortable' in hospital (CNN)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Distinguished scientist Stephen Hawking was said to be in a "comfortable" condition Tuesday after spending the night in hospital, Cambridge University said in a statement.

The 67-year-old, who suffers from a degenerative condition, was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge by ambulance in a "very ill" condition on Monday.

"He is comfortable and his family is looking forward to him making a full recovery," the university, where Hawking is a professor of mathematics, said in a short statement.

Hawking -- a physicist, cosmologist, astronomer and mathematician -- is considered by many to be the greatest scientist of recent years. His numerous books include "A Brief History of Time," a global bestseller exploring the origins of the universe which also made him one of the world's best known scientists.

Hawking suffers from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS is usually fatal within a few years, but Hawking has lived with the disease since he was diagnosed in 1963.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/21/hawking.health/index.html

Not much more; the rest of the article is mostly background.

[Blaq Dem]

33. Stephen Hawking is the smartest man on the planet

I hope he gets well soon. We surely need his gifted intellect.