Wednesday 4 January 2023

Wiki Challenge - Stephen Hawking

Alright, I admit it. I’m trying to get a high specialist aggregate in next Monday’s Mastermind. That’s why I’ve done a second wiki challenge with Stephen Hawking. He turns out to be a hell of a subject. Here’s what I’ve culled thus far from the Wikipedia page

At the time of his death, Stephen Hawking was the director of research where? – Centre for theoretical Cosmology, Cambridge University.

Which post did Hawking hold for 30 years from 1979? – Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Cambridge

Where did Hawking study for his first degree? – University College, Oxford

Where was Hawking studying when he received his PhD in applied mathematics and Theoretical Physics? – Trinity Hall, Cambridge

With whom did Hawking collaborate on gravitational singularity theorems? – Roger Penrose

In 2005 in which position did Hawking feature in the BBC poll of the Hundred Greatest Britons – 25th

Both of Hawking’s parents attended Oxford University. Which subject did his father Frank study? – Medicine

What subject did his mother Isobel (nee Walker) study? – PPE

The family moved to St. Albans when Frank Hawking became head of the parasitology department of which research organisation? – National Institute for Medical Research.

Which unusual method of transport did the family use during Stephen’s childhood – black taxicab

During Hawking’s childhood while his father was working in Africa, the family stayed for four months on Mallorca with whom? – Robert Graves

Which school in Highgate was the first attended by Hawking, whose progressive methods Hawking blamed for his failure to learn to read? – Byron House School

Which school did Hawking attend in September 1952 having passe the 11 plus exam a year early? – St. Albans School

Hawking was sick on the day of the entrance examination to which school his father wanted him to attend? – Westminster school

Which teacher at St. Albans helped Hawking and a group of friends assemble a home made computer? – Dikran Tahta

Who was Hawking’s physics tutor at University College – Robert Berman

Which eccentric decision probably led to Hawking being on the borderline between a first and an upper second for his BA, necessitating a viva voce exam? – Only answering the questions on theoretical physics

Which country did Hawking visit between completing his BA and starting to study for his PhD? – Iran

In his PhD studies Hawking was initially disappointed that Dennis William Sciama was appointed his tutor – he had hoped it would be whom? – Fred Hoyle

Which student of Hoyle did Hawking criticise in a lecture in 1964? – Jayant Narlikar

In which college did hawking receive a research fellowship? – Gonville and Caius, Cambridge

Which prize did Hawking’s essay Singularities and the Geometry of Space-Time share with an essay by Penrose in 1966 – the Adams Prize

Which fellowship was specially created for Hawking in 1969 so that he could remain at Caius? – Distinction in Science

With which two scientists did Hawking propose four laws of black hole mechanics – James Bardeen and Brandon Carter

Which essay by Hawking won the Gravity Research Foundation Award in 1971? – Black Holes

What was the title of Hawking’s first book, published in 1973 – The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time

Hawking moved into research quantum gravity and quantum mechanics following a visit to which city ? - Moscow

A few weeks after the announcement of Hawking radiation, Hawking became a fellow of which organisation? – The Royal Society

In 1974 Hawking was appointed to the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Visiting Professorship in which establishment, that he would continue to visit for most of the rest of his life? (Cal Tech)

Hawking’s academic disagreement with Susskind and T’Hooft is known by which nickname – The Black Hole War

Hawking once told Kip Thorne – I would rather be right than – what? – Rigorous

With which publishing company did Hawking sogn the contract to write A Brief History of Time?

When he appeared on the cover of Newsweek Magazine, which four word epithet did it use to describe him? – Master of the Universe

In the 1989 Birthday Honours list which appointment did Hawking receive? (Companion of Honour)

Who collaborated with Hawking on A Briefer History of Time? – Leonard Mlodinow

In January 2014, what did Hawking describe as his biggest blunder? _ his views on alleged loss of information in Black Holes

What is the title of the 2007 Children’s book written by Hawking and daughter Lucy – George’s Secret Kay to the Universe

To whom did Hawking get married in 1965? – Jane Wilde

Name the student who lived with the Hawing family during his 1974 appointment at Caltech, the first to fulfil this role? – Bernard Carr

Name the nurse who became Hawking’s second wife in 1995 – Elaine Mason

What was the title of Jane Hawking’s 1999 memoir describing her marriage to Hawking and its breakdown? – Music to Move the Stars

As a result of visiting which research facility Hawking developed near fatal pneumonia in 1985? – CERN

Hawking provided narration for which segment of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games – Enlightenment

Published in 2018, what was the title of Hawking’s last book? – Brief Answers to the Big Questions

A commemorative edition of which demonination of British coin was struck in 2019 in honour of Hawking? – 50p

In 1993 Hawking appeared as himself in which episode of Star Trek : The Next Generation? – Descent

Hawking voiced himself in 4 separate episodes of which animated series? – The Simpsons

 

 

No comments: