The world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.
His children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement that he had died at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday.
"We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said: 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love'. We will miss him forever."
Stephen Hawking was known for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular books including A Brief History of Time.
At 22 he was given only a few years to live, after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neuron disease.
In his 2013 memoir My Brief History, he recalled: "At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realise the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life."
Hawking was the subject of the 2014 film The Theory Of Everything, which starred Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.
And he also performed cameos in the US comedy series The Big Bang Theory as well as The Simpsons and Star Trek.
RIP #stephenhawking Not only your brilliance, but your sense of humor will be sorely missed by all.
A post shared by Johnny Galecki (@sanctionedjohnnygalecki) on
NASA has lead the tributes to Professor Hawking:
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
