Stephen Hawking, the famous theoretical physicist, breathed his last today at the age of 76. The man was a living legend. A mathematician, astronomer, cosmologist, he was considered to be the world's greatest living scientist. His insights and theories contributed immensely to the shape the face of modern cosmology.

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Hawking proposed a revolutionary theory of cosmology by merging Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and quantum theory, and suggested that time and space would end in black holes. He believed that black holes emitted radiation, contrary to popular thought that they are completely black. Needless to say, his most famous work was intrinsically connected with Einstein's.

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It then becomes an eerie coincidence that Stephen Hawking died on 14th March, the birth anniversary of Albert Einstein, which is also Pi Day. What makes it even more uncanny is that Hawking was born on 8th March 1942, the 300th death anniversary of famous astronomer, Galileo Galilei. Among the many significant observations Galileo made, his discovery of 4 moons of Jupiter remains a huge development in the field.

Galileo Galilei © Wikimedia Commons

Hawking suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disease that results in the gradual death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles. This patient gradually suffers a failure of body functions and abilities, resulting in eventual demise. Hawking was diagnosed at the age of 21 and was eventually left paralysed in the body except a few fingers. He spoke with the help of a speech synthesizer. But Hawking kept his spirit to live alive.  “I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first,” he had said. The man was known for a mean wit and the ability to laugh at things. His life was beautifully documented in the 2014 movie 'The Theory Of Everything', in which Eddie Redmayne played Hawking.

It's just too strange a coincidence that the man breathed his last on the day Albert Einstein was born. Perhaps it's poetic justice by the cosmos.