Scientist Stephen Hawking 'very ill'

[The Straight Story]

Scientist Stephen Hawking 'very ill'

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Scientist and author Stephen Hawking is "very ill" and has been hospitalized, according to Cambridge University, where he is a professor.

Cambridge University said the 67-year-old is "comfortable" and will stay overnight at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

Hawking, one of the world's most famous physicists, is also a cosmologist, astronomer, and mathematician.

Wheelchair-bound Hawking is perhaps most famous for "A Brief History of Time" which explored the origins of the universe in layman's terms, is considered a modern classic.

Hawking has Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS), which is usually fatal after three years. Hawking has survived for more than 40 years since his diagnosis.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/20/hawking.health/index.html

[spanone]

1. let's send him some du love....

:grouphug:

[Delphinus]

3. Good idea!

Dr. Hawking :grouphug:

[backscatter712]

2. Vibes to Dr. Hawking!

He's a brilliant man, who showed that even with profound disability, one can make tremendous contributions to the world.

[Warpy]

4. There are several types of ALS

and Dr. Hawking has a slowly progressive form, although I'm sure it doesn't feel like it to him. It generally starts with skeletal muscles and then progresses inward to involuntary muscles.

The quickly fatal form starts with involuntary muscles controlling swallowing and breathing and progresses outward.

I have a cousin with the second type.

I hope he pulls through this. As ill as he is, he's still able to teach.

[SheilaT]

5. I first heard of him

when I read a book about black holes, sometime in the late 1970's, I think. It contained an article about Hawking and noted that he had ALS and therefore probably not long too live. It's so amazing that he has gone on this long.

[HeresyLives]

6. Apparently it's a chest infection.

So here's hoping they can clear it up.

[kestrel91316]

8. Not good. I think pneumonia is a big killer when you have advanced

neuro disease.

[InvisibleTouch]

7. Wishing him a quick recovery! n/t

[malaise]

9. Ditto

What a mind.

[Bryn]

10. I enjoyed his "A Brief History of Time" book

I've always admired Dr. Stephen Hawking. Astronomy is my fave subject. That's how I came upon him. Hope he gets well soon.