The modern-day equivalent of Albert Einstein is widely considered to be Stephen Hawking. Hawking, a renowned theoretical physicist, made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe, particularly in the fields of black holes, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. Just like Einstein, Hawking's work has revolutionized our perception of space, time, and the fundamental laws of physics.

One of Hawking's most famous achievements is his discovery that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation. This finding challenged the long-held belief that nothing could escape the gravitational pull of a black hole. Hawking's theory provided new insights into the behavior of these mysterious cosmic objects and had profound implications for our understanding of the nature of space and time.

Furthermore, Hawking's book "A Brief History of Time" became an international bestseller and brought complex scientific concepts to a wider audience. This achievement, akin to Einstein's ability to communicate complex ideas to the general public, solidified Hawking's status as a modern-day scientific icon.

References:

1. Stephen Hawking - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking
2. Hawking radiation - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawking_radiation
3. A Brief History of Time - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Brief_History_of_Time