Hawking refers to Stephen Hawking, a renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist known for his work on black holes and the nature of the universe. He was born on January 8, 1942, and became famous for his book, A Brief History of Time, which explains complex scientific concepts in an accessible way. Despite being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease, he continued to work and communicate using a speech-generating device. Hawking's contributions to science include the development of the Hawking radiation theory, which suggests that black holes can emit radiation and eventually evaporate. He also made significant advancements in understanding the Big Bang and the nature of time. His work has inspired many in the fields of physics and cosmology.