'Smartest man' no longer alive: British physicist Stephen Hawking dies at 76

File photo of Stephen Hawking. (Photo/Agencies)

Praised by many as the "smartest man alive," British physician, professor Stephen Hawking has left the world, as announced by his family members.

"We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today," Hawking's children, Lucy, Robert, and Tim said in a statement through Press Association. "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."

The family also praised Hawking that "his courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world."

"He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever."

A brief history of Hawking

Hawking was born in January 1942 in Oxford. He was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, or the "ice bucket disease" in 1963 when he was declared to be able to live for just two years.

But Hawking went on living. The disease paralyzed him so heavily that he had to live in a wheelchair and speak with a voice synthesizer.

He carried on researching theoretical physics and cosmology, reaching loads of breakthroughs on black holes.

The light-absorbing existence was found to emit a kind of radiation, named after Hawking's name.

Hawking was also a great science educator with a sense of humor. His book A Brief History of Time sold more than 10 million copies. It explained many physics theories in an easy-to-understand manner, leading the general public to the world of physics.

His cautious vision of artificial intelligence became a recent news topic. His PhD thesis, which was made public in October 2017, crashed the University of Cambridge's website as too many people rushed to download it.