Apr 20, 2009

Stephen Hawking hospitalized: very ill

Scientist and author Stephen Hawking (pictured) is "very ill" and has been hospitalized, according to Cambridge University, where he is a professor.

Stephen Hawking is one of the world's most famous physicists. He is also a cosmologist, astronomer, and mathematician.

Cambridge University said the 67-year-old is "comfortable" and will stay overnight at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

Wheelchair-bound Hawking is perhaps most famous for "A Brief History of Time" which explored the origins of the universe in layman's terms, is considered a modern classic.

Hawking has Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS), which is usually fatal after three years. Hawking has survived for more than 40 years since his diagnosis.

The disease has left him paralyzed -- he is able to move only a few fingers on one hand. Hawking is completely dependent on others or technology for virtually everything -- bathing, dressing, eating, even speech.

He uses a speech synthesizer with an American accent.

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