Stephen Hawking's last warning from beyond the grave

The latest message addressed to the universe by the acclaimed physicist, Stephen Hawking, is a plea for the "isolated and island" unity of the Brexit and Trump, as well as its fear that a "world revolt against experts" could hinder the search for the next Einstein to solve. our biggest problems.

Hawking's family met Monday at the Science Museum in London to launch his latest book, Brief answers to major questions, which he started but did not finish until his death in March at the age of 76.

With tears in her eyes, Lucy Hawking listened to her father's narration during an animation explaining her ideas about the paradoxes of black holes: a problem that he investigated – and published research – until his death.

"Sometimes we feel like he's still there," she says.

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But if he were, he would not only talk about the exotic problems of fundamental physics and cosmology.

"He was deeply concerned that our thinking was becoming more local at a time when the challenges facing us are global – and need to unite to work together," said Lucy Hawking. "At a time when we should call for unity, we became more and more fractured and divided.

"I think it was a major concern for him and you will find it throughout the book … it's a call to unity, it's a call to the world." humanity, to pull ourselves together and face the challenges that lie ahead of us and work together to find a solution. "

The book is a collection of Professor Hawking's favorite answers to questions that have been constantly asked throughout his acclaimed career, such as "are we going to survive on Earth?" and "the artificial intelligence will she thwart us?".

He started collecting it before his death, but the project was completed by his family and colleagues.

The tenth and final question of the book is "How can we shape the future?"

In his response, Hawking emphasized the importance of education and research, lamenting that funding for science is significantly reduced.

"We are also in danger of becoming culturally isolated and insular," he wrote. "With Brexit and Trump exerting new strengths in immigration and educational development, we are witnessing a worldwide revolt against experts, including scientists."

But science has found answers to urgent problems such as global warming, population growth, renewable energies and epidemic diseases.

Making science more accessible to diverse populations and young people "greatly increases the chances of finding and inspiring the new Einstein wherever it is."

In the book, Hawking also said:

* Colonizing the solar system "may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves … if we stay [on Earth] we risk being annihilated. "
* When computers become smarter than us, "we'll have to make sure [they] have goals aligned with ours ".
* In the future we will communicate via wired brain-computer interfaces in our skulls.
* During this century, we will be able to use genetic engineering to improve our memory and our lifespan, but "unimproved" humans will not be able to compete with the new "self-designed race of beings".
* Scientists have a duty to alert the public to the "unnecessary risks" posed by climate change.

Hawking concluded that there was "probably no heaven or life after death" and that there was no reliable evidence of a God who would have created the universe or headed our destiny.

It's wishful thinking, he says. We just have a life to enjoy the great design of the universe.

"When we die, we fall back into the dust, but there is a sense in which we live, in our influence and in our genes that we transmit to our children."

Lucy Hawking stated that her father would have been "very honored" by the decision to deposit his ashes at Westminster Abbey, between the graves of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

"He never liked being alone, he always wanted to be at the center of everything," she said.

"I like to think that Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin will never be alone again."

– Sydney Morning Herald