In 1988, Professor Hawking wrote a book called A Brief History of Time. It explained
many different scientific theories about space, but it wasn’t just written for
scientists. Professor Hawking wrote the book to explain science to everyone. This meant anyone could learn
about physics, science and space. The book became extremely popular. It has
sold more than 10 million copies and has been translated into over 30
languages.
Before publishing A Brief History of Time, Professor Hawking had already made an
amazing discovery while he was studying black holes. To understand his discovery,
you have to first know what a black hole is.
Black holes are areas in space that have an
incredibly high mass. Mass is a measure of how heavy something is. The higher
an object’s mass, the stronger the force of gravity is around it. For example, the Sun has a higher
mass than the Earth. This means the Sun has stronger gravity than the Earth.
The mass of a black hole is very high, which
means it has a very strong force of gravity. The gravity is so strong that not
even light can escape it. This is why
it is called a black hole. Light can’t reach us through it, so it looks
completely black.
When Professor Hawking began studying black
holes, scientists thought that nothing
could escape a black hole. Professor Hawking disagreed. He argued that tiny
particles (very, very small pieces of material) could escape from a black hole.
His argument was so convincing that most scientists now agree with him.
This discovery was very important. It helped us
understand more about black holes and the universe. Now, the small particles
released from a black hole are known as Hawking Radiation. This is in honour of
Professor Hawking’s hard work and research.
This was just one of Professor Hawking’s many
achievements. His career was filled with discoveries, and he also inspired many
people to become interested in science. Throughout his life, he became a
celebrity. He even appeared on popular television shows like The Simpsons. His
fame made space seem exciting, and his work changed the way we understand the
universe. This is why he will be remembered as one of the great minds of his
time.
Watch Black Holes to find out more about how black holes are formed.
