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Brief Answers to the Big Questions Summary
About Brief Answers to the Big Questions Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The world-famous cosmologist and author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the biggest questions facing humankind.
“Hawking’s parting gift to humanity . . . a book every thinking person worried about humanity’s future should read.”—NPR
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Forbes • The Guardian • Wired
Stephen Hawking was the most renowned scientist since Einstein, known both for his groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and for his mischievous sense of humor. He educated millions of readers about the origins of the universe and the nature of black holes, and inspired millions more by defying a terrifying early prognosis of ALS, which originally gave him only two years to live. In later life he could communicate only by using a few facial muscles, but he continued to advance his field and serve as a revered voice on social and humanitarian issues.
Hawking not only unraveled some of the universe’s greatest mysteries but also believed science plays a critical role in fixing problems here on Earth. Now, as we face immense challenges on our planet—including climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the development of artificial intelligence—he turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us.
Will humanity survive? Should we colonize space? Does God exist? These are just a few of the questions Hawking addresses in this wide-ranging, passionately argued final book from one of the greatest minds in history.
Featuring a foreword by Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar playing Stephen Hawking, an introduction by Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne, and an afterword from Hawking’s daughter, Lucy, Brief Answers to the Big Questions is a brilliant last message to the world.
Praise for Brief Answers to the Big Questions
“[Hawking is] a symbol of the soaring power of the human mind.”—The Washington Post
“Hawking’s final message to readers . . . is a hopeful one.”—CNN
“Brisk, lucid peeks into the future of science and of humanity.”—The Wall Street Journal
“Hawking pulls no punches on subjects like machines taking over, the biggest threat to Earth, and the possibilities of intelligent life in space.”—Quartz
“Effortlessly instructive, absorbing, up to the minute and—where it matters—witty.”—The Guardian
“This beautiful little book is a fitting last twinkle from a new star in the firmament above.”—The Telegraph
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If time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?
“When we see the Earth from space, we see ourselves as a whole. We see the unity, and not the divisions. It is such a simple image with a compelling message; one planet, one human race.”
STEPHEN HAWKING
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IS THERE A GOD?
- At the instant of the Big Bang , Time itself began 🤯.
- There was no time before the Big Bang.
- So there is no time for God to make the universe in.
- No one created the universe and no one directs our fate.
- There is probably no heaven and afterlife either. Belief in an afterlife is just wishful thinking.
- When we die we return to dust.
472
What Are Black Holes ?
- ….. was a star so massive that it had collapsed in on itself.
- It’s so massive that not even light can escape its gravity, which is why it’s almost perfectly black.
- It’s gravitational pull is so powerful, it warps and distorts not only light but also time.
- Black holes are formed when stars collapse by its own gravity.
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How universe was created?
Universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science. The basic assumption of science is scientific determinism.
We need three ingredeints to make universe
- Matter(stuff that has mass)
- Energy
- Space
As we know the equation by remarkeable scientist Albert Einstien i.e. E=mc². Which says mass can be consider same as energy and vice versa.
Ultimately we just need energy and space which was spontaneously invented in the event we call Big Bang.
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Is there a God?
At the moment of Big Bang, an entire universe came into existence. So where did all this energy and space come from? For some, this is where God comes back into the picture.
Postive side of things are energy & mass we see today. The negative side is spread throughout space. If the universe adds up to nothing, then you don't need a God to create it.
If you like, you can say the laws are work of God, but that is more a definition of God than a proof of his existence.
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What is inside black hole?
A black hole is a region where gravity is so strong that light cannot escape itself.
A black hole has a boundary called the event horizon. It is where gravity is just strong enough to track light back and prevent it from escaping. Because nothing can travel faster than light, everything else will get dragged back also.
It is much more likely to emit radiation. A mountain sized black hole would give of X-rays and gamma rays, at about 10 million megawatts, enough for world's electricity supply.
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Philosophy is dead.
Philosophy is dead. It hasn't kept us with modern development in science, especially physics.
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