Stephen Hawkins dead

[Topcat]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43396008

[Cuda Cody]

That guy was wizard level smart when it comes to understanding stuff.     RIP.

[bluespruce]

RIP, not many minds like his

[cuda hunter]

Really unfortunate.  His knowledge will be missed.

We must remember that his biggest fear was  Artificial Intelligence.

Sad day for sure.....

[ZEN357]

Was very sorry to hear of his passing.  One of my good friends Mother's died from Lou Garrigs disease.  It killed her in a matter of months, how he fought it for as long as he did I'll never know.

[J-Code Jeni]

We lost a truly great mind on Earth. RIP Mr Hawking. I've been reading his book 'A Brief History of Time' off-and-on for a bit, he does a masterful job of writing so laymen, like me, can understand really complicated stuff.

I'm with @ZEN357 ; over the years, I've marveled at Stephen's ability to last & truly thrive in spite of ALS. My Aunt deteriorated so severely and was gone within 3 years... it's a terrible way to go. I have to imagine it was his resources ($$) and intelligence that made the difference; I've never heard of another ALS patient living so long and continuing to contribute so fully.

[RUNCHARGER]

A great loss.

[Spikedog08]

Prayers to his family!  Truly he had a challenging life and faced many difficulties!   

[Burdar]

This has actually hit me kind of hard.  I love looking up at the stars and researching how the universe works.  I just wish I was smart enough to understand more of it.   

[71-440]

R.I.P. Mr. Hawking.

A great scientific mind lost.

Besides being outspoken against A.I. he also was outspoken against us beaming messages
as to who and where we are across the universe.

[JS29]

RIP!!!

[HP_Cuda]

RIP 

Not only one of the brightest minds of our times but the fortitude to live 51 years after being diagnosed with ALS says volumes about him.

I'm sure he would want us to continue to look to the stars.

[340challconvert]

Brave and Brilliant Man who contributed to world knowledge in a powerful way, while he strongly overcame the disability of ALS. He was always 
Rest In Peace!

[superdave]

An amazing mind lost. I'm with him on the AI issue. Still trying to get through "A Brief Histery of Time" very interesting read. I had heard a few yeats ago he had been undergoing some kind of experimental treatments for quite some time.

[Topcat]

As the O.P of this thread I also would like to add gratitude and a personal moment of silence in his honor.
RIP Stephen. 

I love to run into shows about the Universe type stuff and it is truly amazing the breakthroughs he accomplished.

His Wikipedia is almost a book in itself if you went to every footnote.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking