Super scientist, Professor Stephen Hawking turned 70 years old yesterday, defying all the odds in his battle with motor neurone disease. Unfortunately, he was not well enough to deliver his birthday address – his chance at reflecting at his life and career.

Even though the Professor was not at the lecture himself, his synthetised voiced still rang through the lecture hall, at an address that was attended by figures such as Sir Richard Branson. Professor Hawking pre-records all of his speeches, but normally cues up each sentence using a special interface that he controls with a muscle in his cheek. These duties were taken over by his assistant.

In his speech he spoke about being diagnosed with his disease at age 21, which he says took him from being a lazy student to one of the world’s leading academics. The lecture was entitled: “A brief history of mine.”

The reason for the Professor’s absence was due to an infection that had not yet healed properly. His son, Timothy, accepted the audience’s thanks and well wishes in his absence.

[Source: Telegraph]