Stephen Hawking

About Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) was a towering figure in theoretical physics, whose pioneering work on black holes and relativity fundamentally advanced cosmology. His historical significance is underscored by his ranking at #181 on the MIT Pantheon index, reflecting his profound global cultural and scientific impact. Among his most celebrated achievements was co-authoring *A Brief History of Time* and formulating the concept of Hawking radiation, a major theoretical breakthrough.

Despite this high historical standing, Hawking’s online attention in 2025 appears relatively modest compared to contemporary figures. He garnered 3.8 million annualized Wikipedia views, which, while substantial, is less than a seventh of the attention Elon Musk received (who is ranked #273 in importance). In fact, Hawking receives only about a third of the attention given to Bob Dylan (#736 importance), suggesting a potential overattention gap where contemporary cultural relevance outweighs long-term, foundational scientific influence.

Furthermore, the year-over-year trend shows a -26.0% drop in views, indicating his online presence is currently decelerating, though his Q1 to Q3 momentum remained flat at 0% for the year.