Editor's note

Stephen Hawking was not only a world-leading physicist – he was a cult figure. The news of his death has saddened millions, with tributes pouring in from around the globe. UK Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, who was a colleague of Hawking’s, shares his memories of their days together in Cambridge. You can also familiarise yourself with Hawking’s main achievements with our timeline of his fascinating life.

Could Britain launch a cyber offensive against Russia following the nerve agent poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal? Siraj Ahmed Shaikh assesses whether it’s a credible threat or a load of hot air.

Despite now being honoured as the patron saint of Ireland, was St Patrick really Welsh? Celtic history expert Simon Rodway reviews the evidence.

And the latest episode of our The Anthill podcast is all about Bitcoin. We discuss whether or not it will be the currency of the future, what states are doing to regulate it and how to build a cryptocurrency infrastructure that isn’t ruinous to the environment.

Miriam Frankel

Science Editor

Top stories

Lwp Kommunikáció/Flickr

Stephen Hawking: Martin Rees looks back on colleague's spectacular success against all odds

Martin Rees, University of Cambridge

UK's Astronomer Royal Martin Rees shares his memories of the physicist Stephen Hawking, who has died at the age of 76.

Will Oliver/EPA-EFE

Russian spy attack: how likely is a British cyber offensive against Putin's regime?

Siraj Ahmed Shaikh, Coventry University

Theresa May says Britain could unleash 'extensive measures' against Russia following the nerve agent poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal.

St Patrick. Jaqian/Flickr

Was St Patrick Welsh? An expert reviews the evidence

Simon Rodway, Aberystwyth University

St Patrick chose Ireland over the place of his birth – but where was that exactly?

Russian spy attack

Science + Technology

  • A timeline of Stephen Hawking's remarkable life

    Michael Courts, The Conversation; Sarah Keenihan, The Conversation

    Hawking's most famous book, A Brief History of Time, sold 10 million copies and was translated into 40 languages, skyrocketing to the top of the bestseller lists in the US and UK.

  • Tributes pour in for Stephen Hawking, the famous theoretical physicist who died at age 76

    Alan Duffy, Swinburne University of Technology; Alice Gorman, Flinders University; Jonti Horner, University of Southern Queensland; Lisa Harvey-Smith, CSIRO; Matthew Bailes, Swinburne University of Technology; Steven Tingay, Curtin University

    Stephen Hawking inspired people with his work on black holes and other mysteries of the universe. Many were quick to pay tribute to the theoretical physicist who died today in the UK, aged 76.

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