Eminent British physicist Stephen Hawking has passed away at 76 years old. Hawking is known for his works in the field of science and modern cosmology.

“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today,” professor Hawking’s children, Robert, Tim and Lucy said in an announcement conveyed by Britain’s Press Association news agency.

“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.”

Hawking was diagnosed to have motor neurone malady in 1963 at 21 years old and the doctors anticipated that he would live for two more years. however, his malady advanced gradually than regular and he survived for 50 years.

His first significant leap forward came in 1970, when he and mathematician Roger Penrose applied the maths of black holes on the whole universe. Hawking kept on working on black holes and then in 1974 he drew a quantum theory that black holes should emit heat and then pop out of existence.