‘May you keep flying like superman in microgravity’: Twitter pays homage to Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking, legendary British theoretical physicist and all-round great guy, has died at the age of 76 in Cambridge, England.

Born in 1942 — 300 years after the death of Greek astronomer Galileo Galilei — Hawking was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease at 21, an illness that stripped him of major muscle control. But that didn’t stop the man from becoming one of the planet — and possibly the universe’s — most loved scientists.

After news of his passing broke Wednesday morning, Twitter was awash with messages of condolence and remembrance.

“His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake,” wrote Neil deGrasse Tyson on Twitter.

His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it’s not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018. pic.twitter.com/nAanMySqkt

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) March 14, 2018

“May you keep flying like superman in microgravity,” wished NASA.

Remembering Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and ambassador of science. His theories unlocked a universe of possibilities that we & the world are exploring. May you keep flying like superman in microgravity, as you said to astronauts on @Space_Station in 2014 pic.twitter.com/FeR4fd2zZ5

— NASA (@NASA) March 14, 2018

“The world has lost a beautiful mind and a brilliant scientist,” wrote Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

The world has lost a beautiful mind and a brilliant scientist. RIP Stephen Hawking

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 14, 2018

“Godspeed on your journey to the stars,” wrote singer and actress Nancy Sinatra, after posting one of Hawking’s many tweetable quotes.

“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.”
Godspeed on your journey to the stars. #StephenHawking 🌎 🌟 😢

— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) March 14, 2018

“His contributions to science will be used as long as there are scientists, and there are many more scientists because of him. He spoke about the value and fragility of human life and civilisation and greatly enhanced both,” wrote British physicist Professor Brian Cox.

Sad to hear about Stephen Hawking. What a remarkable life. His contributions to science will be used as long as there are scientists, and there are many more scientists because of him. He spoke about the value and fragility of human life and civilisation and greatly enhanced both

— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) March 14, 2018

“Just Sitting here absolutely shattered about Stephen Hawking,” wrote actress Emmy Rossum.

Just sitting here absolutely shattered about Stephen Hawking.

— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) March 14, 2018

“If you haven’t, read A Brief History of Time. It’ll make the world feel more amazing and beautiful and strange. It’ll also make you feel smart and stupid all at once,” wrote actor Kumail Nanjiani.

RIP Stephen Hawking. Genuinely very sad to hear that. If you haven’t, read A Brief History of Time. It’ll make the world feel more amazing and beautiful and strange. It’ll also make you feel smart and stupid all at once.

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 14, 2018

The Simpson’s executive producer Matt Selman paid homage to Hawking’s cameos on the show over the years, of which he made 12.

Farewell to Stephen Hawking, the most intelligent guest star in the brief history of The Simpsons pic.twitter.com/po3fIHgEdh

— Matt Selman (@mattselman) March 14, 2018

Feature image: Steve Elliott via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY-SA, resized)