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The scientific community has lost one of its greatest minds, as news spread this morning of the passing of Stephen Hawking. The celebrated British physicist was 76 years old, and is best known for his groundbreaking work at Oxford University on gravitational singularities, black hole radiation and his book A Brief History of Time. 

What made Hawking's accomplishments all the more impressive was his well documented battle with the motor neurone disease ALS, which he was diagnosed with at the age of 21. The result of his illness meant that he was confined to a wheelchair for most of his adult life, but with the aid of science, Hawking still lived a full life. 

His story was brought to the big screen in 2014's the Theory of Everything, where he was played by Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl). Redmayne went on to receive a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Hawking, along with winning several other awards for the same performance. 

Recognised for his extraordinary mind, Hawking will also be fondly remembered for his sharp wit, along with his several notable contributions to modern physics. 

He will be greatly missed.