Book Review: ‘Brief Answers to the Big Questions'
Published in 2018, this final work by the renowned physicist combines complex scientific ideas with accessible explanations, making it a must-read for anyone curious about the cosmos.
Hawking begins by addressing how the universe came into existence. He explains that the laws of physics are sufficient to describe the universe's origins, suggesting that it could arise from a state of nothingness due to the balance of positive and negative energy.
By linking this to the nature of time, which began alongside the universe itself, he offers a perspective grounded in scientific reasoning.
The book also delves into the evolution of the universe and the evidence supporting it. Hawking discusses how the redshift of light from distant galaxies confirms the universe's expansion, while the cosmic microwave background radiation provides a glimpse into its dense, hot beginnings.
Through the anthropic principle, he demonstrates how the unique conditions of our universe make life possible, underscoring how rare such conditions are.
Hawking also considers the possibility of extraterrestrial life, suggesting that while life may exist elsewhere, intelligent civilizations are unlikely to be nearby or at the same stage of development. He cautions against attempts to communicate with alien life, warning that such interactions could pose risks to humanity.
One of the book's most intriguing sections explores black holes. Hawking examines their immense density, the singularity at their core, and the paradox of information loss. He explains how black holes might release information as they evaporate, preserving the fundamental laws of physics.
Beyond its scientific insights, the book is a call to action. Hawking urges readers to prioritize scientific progress, safeguard the planet, and prepare for the challenges of the future.
Though some sections may challenge non-experts, 'Brief Answers to the Big Questions' remains accessible, inspiring, and deeply insightful — a fitting conclusion to Hawking's extraordinary legacy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
31-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
South Africa starts injecting rhino horns with radioactive material to curb poaching
A South African university launched an anti-poaching campaign Thursday to inject the horns of rhinos with radioactive isotopes that it says are harmless for the animals but which can be detected by customs agents. Under the collaborative project among University of the Witwatersrand nuclear energy officials and conservationists five rhinos were injected Thursday in what the university hopes will be the mass injection of the declining rhino population. Last year about 20 rhinos at a sanctuary were injected with isotopes as part of initial trials that paved the way for Thursday's launch. The radioactive isotopes even at low levels can be recognized by radiation detectors at airports and borders which can lead to the arrest of poachers and traffickers. Researchers at Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit say that tests conducted throughout the pilot study confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the animals. 'We have demonstrated beyond scientific doubt that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,' said James Larkin chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project. 'Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,' said Larkin. The tests also confirmed that individual horns could be detected inside full 40-foot shipping containers,' he said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature an international conservation body estimates that the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century but has now declined to around 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market. South Africa has the largest population of rhinos with an estimated 16,000 but the country experiences high levels of poaching with about 500 rhinos killed for their horns every year. Private and public rhino owners and conservation authorities have been urged approach the university to have their rhinos injected.
Al Arabiya
31-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Italy's opposition warns against SpaceX citing national security risks
Italy's main opposition Democratic Party (PD) has warned Giorgia Meloni's ruling coalition against involving Elon Musk's SpaceX in the update of a satellite program, parliamentary documents show, saying the move would pose national security risks. A lower house defense committee approved this week a government proposal which includes replacing an old satellite system, named SICRAL, with a new one. The system, first launched in 2001, has been developed by Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, two joint ventures between Italy's aerospace and defense group Leonardo and France's Thales. The PD asked the government to make clear that SpaceX would not be called in to help launch the SICRAL 3 satellite into orbit. Defense Undersecretary Isabella Rauti said the administration would assess its options, but SpaceX was the most advanced company available on the market. 'We only want Italian or European companies to be involved in a security matter such as SICRAL,' PD lawmaker and defense committee member Stefano Graziano told Reuters. His party abstained from the vote. Italy's opposition parties have repeatedly urged the government to prevent Musk and his companies from becoming involved in national security matters, amid concerns over the influence he wields through his Starlink satellite service. Europe has been rushing to find viable alternatives to SpaceX's low orbit satellites for communications and intelligence while launching platforms to ensure independent access to space, as pan-European projects still lag behind. Musk, a friend of Prime Minister Meloni, held talks with Italian officials over a potential telecommunications contract, but discussions stalled earlier this year amid mounting political controversy. 'The deployment of the SICRAL 3 satellite addresses the need to strengthen national connectivity and provide Italy with strategic independence in long-range communications,' Rauti told Reuters. SpaceX did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on this story. The SICRAL system uses geostationary satellites for confidential strategic and tactical communications, to support defense missions both in Italy and abroad. The Italian government will invest a total 767 million euros ($878 million) through 2028 in the program, the documents show. Rauti said the new satellite would be launched by the first half of 2027.
Arab News
31-07-2025
- Arab News
‘Silent killer': the science of tracing climate deaths in heatwaves
PARIS: A heatwave scorching Europe had barely subsided in early July when scientists published estimates that 2,300 people may have died across a dozen major cities during the extreme, climate-fueled episode. The figure was supposed to 'grab some attention' and sound a timely warning in the hope of avoiding more needless deaths, said Friederike Otto, one of the scientists involved in the research. 'We are still relatively early in the summer, so this will not have been the last heatwave. There is a lot that people and communities can do to save lives,' Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, told AFP. Heat can claim tens of thousands of lives during European summers but it usually takes months, even years, to count the cost of this 'silent killer.' Otto and colleagues published their partial estimate just a week after temperatures peaked in western Europe. While the underlying methods were not new, the scientists said it was the first study to link heatwave deaths to climate change so soon after the event in question. Early mortality estimates could be misunderstood as official statistics but 'from a public health perspective the benefits of providing timely evidence outweigh these risks,' Raquel Nunes from the University of Warwick told AFP. 'This approach could have transformative potential for both public understanding and policy prioritization' of heatwaves, said Nunes, an expert on global warming and health who was not involved in the study. Science can show, with increasing speed and confidence, that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves hotter and more frequent. Unlike floods and fires, heat kills quietly, with prolonged exposure causing heat stroke, organ failure, and death. The sick and elderly are particularly vulnerable, but so are younger people exercising or toiling outdoors. But every summer, heat kills and Otto — a pioneer in the field of attribution science — started wondering if the message was getting through. 'We have done attribution studies of extreme weather events and attribution studies of heatwaves for a decade... but as a society we are not prepared for these heatwaves,' she said. 'People think it's 30 (degrees Celsius) instead of 27, what's the big deal? And we know it's a big deal.' When the mercury started climbing in Europe earlier this summer, scientists tweaked their approach. Joining forces, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine chose to spotlight the lethality — not just the intensity — of the heat between June 23 and July 2. Combining historic weather and published mortality data, they assessed that climate change made the heatwave between 1C and 4C hotter across 12 cities, depending on location, and that 2,300 people had likely perished. But in a notable first, they estimated that 65 percent of these deaths — around 1,500 people across cities including London, Paris, and Athens — would not have occurred in a world without global warming. 'That's a much stronger message,' said Otto. 'It brings it much closer to home what climate change actually means and makes it much more real and human than when you say this heatwave would have been two degrees colder.' The study was just a snapshot of the wider heatwave that hit during western Europe's hottest June on record and sent temperatures soaring to 46C in Spain and Portugal. The true toll was likely much higher, the authors said, noting that heat deaths are widely undercounted. Since then Turkiye, Greece and Bulgaria have suffered fresh heatwaves and deadly wildfires. Though breaking new ground, the study has not been subject to peer review, a rigorous assessment process that can take more than a year. Otto said waiting until after summer to publish — when 'no one's talking about heatwaves, no one is thinking about keeping people safe' — would defeat the purpose. 'I think it's especially important, in this context, to get the message out there very quickly.' The study had limitations but relied on robust and well-established scientific methodology, several independent experts told AFP. Tailoring this approach to local conditions could help cities better prepare when heatwaves loom, Abhiyant Tiwari, a health and climate expert who worked on India's first-ever heat action plan, told AFP. 'I definitely see more such studies coming out in the future,' said Tiwari from NRDC India. Otto said India, which experiences tremendously hot summers, was a 'prime candidate' and with a template in place it was likely more studies would soon follow.
