Stephen Hawking Is Celebrating His Birthday and a Golden Globe Nod

Legendary cosmologist and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has much to celebrate this week.

On Thursday, Hawking turned 73 years old, defying the doctors who, 50 years ago, told him he had two years to live after he contracted motor neurone disease.

Meanwhile, the biopic The Theory of Everything, which chronicles the scientist’s relationship with his first wife and his rise in the world of physics, is up for best motion picture in the drama category at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Eddie Redmayne who portrays Hawking in the film is also nominated for best actor. Hawking had high praise for the film and described it as an “intense emotional experience” after attending the premiere in London last month.

“It is perhaps the closest I will come to time travel,” wrote Hawkings on his Facebook page in December.