While Amy answered positively within the cold open of the episode, though, there was still a minor delay, as Sheldon felt he had to get permission from someone very special first: Stephen Hawking.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Everyone knew of Stephen Hawking's cosmic brilliance ... Initially he theorized about the "singularity" of the baby universe in thick but elegant mathematical equations ...

Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018 ... Initially he theorized about the "singularity" of the baby universe in thick but elegant mathematical equations comparing early time to wave functions.

I'd be going out with Stephen on one arm, carrying the baby in the other ... It's not like Stephen Hawking lacks attention. His theories about time, black holes and the origins of the universe ...