Stephen Hawking joins Facebook

After helping the world understand much more about the universe, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is giving netizens a glimpse into his own world - via social networking site Facebook.

Hawking joined Facebook on Oct. 7, and has since posted some insights - and a video of his taking ALS challenge earlier this year.

"I have always wondered what makes the universe exist. Time and space may forever be a mystery, but that has not stopped my pursuit. Our connections to one another have grown infinitely and now that I have the chance, I’m eager to share this journey with you. Be curious, I know I will forever be ... Welcome, and thank you for visiting my Facebook Page," he said in one of his initial posts dated Friday night, PHL time.

A note on the Facebook page indicated it is maintained by Hawking's team, though posts from Hawking will be signed "SH."

The page had gained 1,144,065 likes as of Saturday afternoon.

In another post, Hawking said he greatly enjoyed the STARMUS festival, a combination of science and rock music.

On the other hand, tech site The Verge said this "in part appears to be a marketing move for the upcoming Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything as well."

"So far there's no promotion for the movie on his page, but publicity for the film is going out of its way to make a note of Hawking's new digital presence. Even if that's the case, Hawking's thoughts are still being made a lot more accessible," it said.

Born in 1942, Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at age 21, and suffers from motor neurone disease (MND).

"In 1963, Hawking contracted motor neurone disease and was given two years to live. Yet he went on to Cambridge to become a brilliant researcher and Professorial Fellow at Gonville and Caius College," his official website said.

From 1979 to 2009 he was a Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, holding the chair held by Isaac Newton in 1663.

He was awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1982, is a fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the US National Academy of Science. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News