Physicist and mathematician Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most famous scientists, is "very ill" in hospital, the University of Cambridge said Monday.

Hawking, a professor who teaches at the university, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge by ambulance on Monday, the university said.

The university told The Associated Press Hawking had been fighting a chest infection for several weeks.

"He is undergoing tests," said Gregory Hayman, the university's head of communications.

"He has been unwell for a couple of weeks."
Hayman told the Associated Press later in the afternoon Monday Hawking was "now comfortable but will be kept in hospital overnight."