Stephen Hawking bemused by Donald Trump's success - CNET

The Associated Press reported that the famed physicist told the UK's ITV channel that Trump is "a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator."

Subsequently, the AP removed its story, saying that the Idea were embargoed for publishing at a later date. By that time, however, the words had flown. ITV didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The presumptive Republican nominee tends not to appeal to everyone with intellectual pretensions. This seems odd, given that he's all too ready to expound on matters that touch science.

He patiently explained to Califoians last week that, though they might think there is a drought, there actually isn't.

He also used Twitter to reveal that "the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive."

And when it comes to vaccines, he's mused that they're clearly linked to an "epidemic" of autism.