World-renowned physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.
A colossal public figure, his 1988 book A Brief History of Time became an instant classic of popular science, spending a record five years on the Sunday Times bestseller list.
“Our goal is nothing less than a complete description of the universe we live in,” he wrote in the book.
His numerous achievements, including extensive research into black holes and quantum mechanics, and his ability to bring theories from the edge of human comprehension to the public at large made him a giant of modern cosmology.
Despite suffering from a rare and debilitating form of motor neurone disease, Hawking pounced on opportunities to appear in public. He made numerous cameo appearances on television, famously voicing himself in the Simpsons, and appearing as a hologram in a 1990s episode of Star Trek in which he was seen playing poker with Newton and Einstein.
Here are images of his incredible life and career.
One of Professor Hawking's greatest attributes was his ability to find humour in his life and work. “Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny,” he said.
