Born Jan. 8, 1942, Stephen Hawking became a household name associated with his brilliance, and an icon with his wheelchair and computerized voice as the progression of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, paralyzed nearly all of his body. Diagnosed at age 21 while he was a graduate student, Hawking was Continue reading "Jan. 8, 1942: The birth of Stephen Hawking" The post Jan. 8, 1942: The birth of Stephen Hawking appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .