The Truth About Stephen Hawking’s IQ

Stephen Hawking’s IQ has been the subject of many discussions, yet it remains unclear if he ever actually took any official IQ tests. However, tested or not, he was a genius scientist whose insights have left an indispensable trail in modern science.

While we praise him for his scientific contributions, let’s not forget that he also had an amazing sense of humor, too. When asked about his IQ, he carelessly answered that only losers boast about their IQ scores.

There are so many things to admire about Stephen Hawking’s character that it’s hard to decide where to start. This article will attempt to paint the glory of his beautiful spirit, with a special focus on his undeniably admirable intelligence.

What Was Stephen Hawking’s IQ Score?

The fact circling the internet about Stephen Hawking having an IQ of 160 actually has little backup. As far as it is publicly known, he never took the standardized and commonly used WAIS or the Stanford-Binet IQ test. He did, allegedly, take the MENSA IQ test, which is specially developed to target geniuses in the general population.

Based on the facts shared in the book “Stephen Hawking for Beginners,” he took the MENSA test quickly after being diagnosed with ALS to check whether the illness had impaired his intellectual abilities. Stephen Hawking’s IQ test score was over 200, which is a high above-average IQ and probably among the highest IQs ever.

While he is commonly compared to Einstein, who is also estimated to have an IQ between 160 and 190, the fun fact is that Einstein never took an IQ test, so every comparison is just arbitrary speculation.

However, what both Stephen and Albert surely had in common, apart from their interest in science, was a sense of humor. Einstein also never shared his IQ score, teasing the public by saying, “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

Stephen Hawking’s Early Life & Education

A young student immerses himself in solving geometric problems on the chalkboard

Born on January 8, 1942, in St Albans as the eldest of four siblings to a research biologist father and a medical research secretary mother, Hawking was inclined to science from an early age.

However, probably the most famous scientist of the modern age has shown no signs of being exceptional in any way during his early life and education. He mentioned in many interviews that he was a messy student with very untidy handwriting, which earned him the nickname Einstein.

Though bright and curious, nothing indicated he would really become the next Einstein until his studies at Oxford University, where he graduated in 1962 with first-class honors. His interest in physics and cosmology led him to graduate studies in cosmology at Cambridge, where he got his Ph.D. four years later.

During his graduation, Hawking’s research on black holes and singularities earned him worldwide recognition and a fellowship at Cambridge’s Gonville and Caius College. He remained at the University of Cambridge as a professor of mathematics for more than 30 years while continuing his scientific research and studies.

Being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 21 severely affected his health, but he managed to preserve his intellectual genius by never giving up on science.

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Stephen Hawking: Career Highlights

Severely disabled from such an early age and facing a very pessimistic prognosis for his health, Stephen moved within the field of astrophysics with enchanting grace.

His star began to shine with his groundbreaking doctoral thesis on the “Properties of Expanding Universes” and never stopped glowing, shedding light on some of the most controversial topics in science.

In 1974, he left the scientific community breathless with another fascinating masterpiece, the “Hawking Radiation.” He proposed a theory about black holes, suggesting they weren’t completely black but that they emitted radiation and gradually evaporated over time. This theory has profoundly influenced modern physics.

He shared his love of science and his incredible insights in the book “A Brief History of Time.” The simplicity and lightness with which he managed to bring very complex scientific ideas closer to an average person through this book are special evidence not only of his genius IQ but also his generous spirit. Moreover, this book made him a scientific pop icon.

While his health progressively deteriorated, his intelligence and insatiable intellect never let him succumb to the adversities of his disability. Acknowledgments and awards kept pouring in as his body got weaker and weaker. In 1979, he was honored with the Order of the British Empire and experienced a zero-gravity flight in a modified Boeing 727.

Stephen Hawking’s Biggest Discovery

The “Hawking Radiation” theory is, without a doubt, the discovery that has completely changed the course of modern science. Hawking was especially known for his fascinating ability to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, and it is probably that ability that led him to such a groundbreaking revelation.

He merged the principles of quantum mechanics and general relativity in a way no one had done before, revolutionizing the modern understanding of black holes. And though his discovery resides largely in the field of theory, it has completely altered the long-held perception of black holes, inspiring scientists to view it from another perspective.

Stephen Hawking’s Death & Impact on the Scientific Community

When first diagnosed with ALS, Stephen Hawking was faced with the assumption that he only had a few more years to live. But he beat all the odds living a productive and brilliant life for five more decades despite the obstacles only growing bigger and bigger. His indomitable spirit and fascinating intelligence led him to live well into old age.

His passing on March 14, 2018, brought to a close a chapter in the history of the scientific community. In addition to making significant scientific advances, he will always serve as a source of inspiration for all those fighting disabilities around the world. Moreover, his unwavering spirit is a fascinating illustration of the power of intelligence and the human mind.

Apart from scientific breakthroughs, based on which studies are still being done, his unique contribution to the world is that he managed to popularize otherwise complex and not-so-appealing scientific topics.

He made science approachable to even people with no formal education, inspiring curious spirits worldwide to embark on the quest to explore the universe.

Stephen Hawking’s IQ Controversy

The controversy surrounding Stephen Hawking's IQ illustrates how humans must compare and quantify to understand. What’s important to know is that IQ is in no way a definite measure of anyone’s intellectual capacity. IQ tests are a great way to indicate what we’re good at and which areas we can work on.

Although Stephen Hawking did not spend much time discussing intelligence per se, he frequently emphasized the significance of intellectual curiosity, psychological strength, and continued education.

The real controversy around his IQ may be the question of how his illness affected his intellect. He explained in several interviews how his physical disability propelled him to focus exclusively on theoretical work, which suited him perfectly. Because of his physical limitations, he had to develop very specific methods of thought and research.

Therefore, it makes sense to wonder whether his intellect would develop in an entirely different way if he weren’t disabled.

Key Takeaways

There are many assumptions about Stephen Hawking’s IQ, but no factual data about him taking any IQ test. However, instead of dwelling on questions without definite answers, we can simply let Stephen Hawking's brave spirit inspire us to learn and expand our horizons.

It is interesting how a person completely devoted to science and logic managed, despite all logic, to overcome an incurable disease and live a long and fruitful life. Not only was he among the most original scientists of the modern age, but he is also the longest-living survivor of ALS.

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