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As news of famed physicist Stephen Hawking's death at age 76 spread Tuesday night, friends and fans of the great scientist were quick to mourn and remember him on social media.
Remembering Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and ambassador of science. His theories unlocked a universe of possibilities that we & the world are exploring. May you keep flying like superman in microgravity, as you said to astronauts on @Space_Station in 2014 pic.twitter.com/FeR4fd2zZ5
— NASA (@NASA) March 14, 2018
Some of the tributes came from famous names in their own right.
His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it's not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018. pic.twitter.com/nAanMySqkt
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) March 14, 2018
I just heard about Stephen Hawking's passing. He was both a genius and my favorite Simpsons character. We'll miss you, buddy.
— Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) March 14, 2018
It had to happen, eventually. We were lucky to have him for so long, and I was lucky to be able to work with him. A truly fabulous human being. Stephen Hawking. Funny, perverse, and, of course, brilliant.
— errolmorris (@errolmorris) March 14, 2018
RIP Stephen Hawking. Genuinely very sad to hear that. If you haven’t, read A Brief History of Time. It’ll make the world feel more amazing and beautiful and strange. It’ll also make you feel smart and stupid all at once.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 14, 2018
Just sitting here absolutely shattered about Stephen Hawking.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) March 14, 2018
The world has lost a beautiful mind and a brilliant scientist. RIP Stephen Hawking
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 14, 2018
We lost a great one today. Stephen Hawking will be remembered for his incredible contributions to science – making complex theories and concepts more accessible to the masses. He’ll also be remembered for his spirit and unbounded pursuit to gain a complet…https://t.co/z1du859Gy2
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) March 14, 2018
Many remarked on Hawking's remarkable brainpower, and many shared memorable quotes from the physicist.
Stephen Hawking has joined Einstein - lets hope both are offering the Old One advice re how to fix this messed-up universe. https://t.co/UITww0hK6Q
— Paul Saffo (@psaffo) March 14, 2018
While Hawking easily solved intellectual problems, physical challenges proved a tougher opponent. He was diagnosed at just 21 with a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis known as Lou Gehrig's disease that gradually paralyzed him. He got around via wheelchair and spoke through a computer system operated with his cheek.
Many took inspiration from Hawking's continuing to learn and work despite his physical limitations.
Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at 21 & given just 2 years to live. Not only did he defy the odds for 52 years, even as his body failed him, his mind soared. I hope his meeting with the Universe was beyond even his wildest imagining.