Breaking: Stephen Hawking Has Died at Age 76

According to a family spokesperson, Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

Hawking died Wednesday morning after complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Hawking was best known for his work on black holes and the theory of relativity. He was the author of many books, with the most popular being A Brief History of Time.

His three children released a statement acknowledging their father's death:

"We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour 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."

In 1963, Hawking was given approximately two years to live when he contracted motor neurone disease. Instead he defied the odds, going on to study at Cambridge and becoming one of the most well known theoretical physicists since Einstein.