Extremetech: Stephen Hawking has done wonders for every scientific field. Not only has his own research in physics and cosmology been useful for other scientists, but he has inspired countless people to learn more about the scientific method and the fabric of reality. As we are all well aware, Hawking is paralyzed due to a degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). (Hi-tech, Intel, PC hardware, Stephen Hawking)