Tomorrow marks a major milestone for Stephen Hawking, considered by many to be the greatest mind in physics since Albert Einstein. Today, Hawking turns 70. While that age is a milestone birthday for anyone, bring 70 is nothing unusual in itself in this age of medicine. For Hawking, though, it is a major accomplishment as he was never expected to even see his 25th birthday.
In 1963, shortly after his 21st birthday, Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that eventually results in total paralysis and death, typically within years of diagnosis. While mostly impacting older people above age 50, the disease can strike at any age, as shown by Hawking's diagnosis at 21. However, as time has shown, not only was Hawking's young diagnosis abnormal, his survival with the disease, nearly 50 years and counting.
So, how has Hawking defied the odds.
In an interview with the Scientific American, ALS expert Leo McCluskey delves into how Hawking has managed to not only beat the odds, but reshape the way we view the universe, too.
As the gist of the interview, McCluskey, who has never treated Hawking, speculates on why the famed physicist has lived so long with the normally quickly lethal disease. Taking experience from his own practice, McCluskey states that there is a lot of variation with ALS and that people surviving decades with the disease is not unheard of as he has actually has such patients. When it comes to death, ALS typically kills by paralyzing the diaphragm (causing resparatory failure) or the throat muscles (starvation and dehydration), but this can be fixed with a feeding tube. Since there are variations of the disease, McCluskey speculates that Hawking has simply been lucky in that his particular case has not attacked these all-important muscles, which has allowed him to continue to live despite being now almost completely paralyzed.
As for Hawking's birthday celebration itself, Cambridge University, from which Hawking is now semi-retired, is holding a symposium called “the State of the Universe.” Many top scientists plan to attend and speak at the event, foremost among them, Hawking himself.
For more info:
Hawking: women are the universe's greatest mystery
Like this?
Hit the 'subscribe' button for automatic email updates when I write something new!
Want to read more of my stuff? Check out my other Examiner columns!
Photography Examiner
Cleveland Astronomy Examiner
Cleveland Photography Examiner
Space News
NASA has lost 500+ Moon rocks
New evidence for martian water
Geminid Meteor Shower wrap-up
NASA faces unexpected budget cuts
Phobos-Grunt may not be a total waste
NASA announces Earth-sized planets
'Doomsday' is a year away
Spaceballs: they're real!
Want even more? Check out my personal website:
Bodzash Photography & Astronomy
Comments