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8 shocking things we learned from Stephen Hawking's book
The book covers major questions about the nature and origin of the universe.
Thu, Nov 04 2010 at 11:03 AM
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Photo: Robert Gendler/NASA
From the idea that our universe is one among many, to the revelation that mathematician Pythagoras didn't actually invent the Pythagorean theorem, here are eight shocking things we learned from reading physicist Stephen Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design," written with fellow physicist Leonard Mlodinow of Caltech.
The book, covering major questions about the nature and origin of the universe, was released Sept. 7 by its publisher, Bantam.
1. The past is possibility
According to Hawking and Mlodinow, one consequence of the theory of quantum mechanics is that events in the past that were not directly observed did not happen in a definite way. Instead they happened in all possible ways. This is related to the probabilistic nature of matter and energy revealed by quantum mechanics: Unless forced to choose a particular state by direct interference from an outside observation, things will hover in a state of uncertainty.
According to Hawking and Mlodinow, one consequence of the theory of quantum mechanics is that events in the past that were not directly observed did not happen in a definite way. Instead they happened in all possible ways. This is related to the probabilistic nature of matter and energy revealed by quantum mechanics: Unless forced to choose a particular state by direct interference from an outside observation, things will hover in a state of uncertainty.
For example, if all we know is that a particle traveled from point A to point B, then it is not true that the particle took a definite path and we just don't know what it is. Rather, that particle simultaneously took every possible path connecting the two points.
Yeah, we're still trying to wrap our brains around this.
The authors sum up: "No matter how thorough our observation of the present, the (unobserved) past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities."
2. The power of light
This fun fact: A 1-watt night-light emits a billion billion photons each second.
Photons are the little packets that light comes in. Confusingly, they, like all particles, behave as both a particle and a wave.
3. Theory of everything
If there is any "theory of everything" that can describe the whole universe, it is M theory, according to Hawking and Mlodinow. This model is a version of string theory, which posits that at the tiniest levels all particles are fundamentally little loops of string that vibrate at different frequencies. And, if true, all matter and energy would follow rules derived from the nature of these strings.
"M theory is the only model that has all the properties we think the final theory ought to have," the authors write.
One consequence of this theory is that our universe is not the only one – untold numbers of cousin universes exist with different physical laws and properties.
4. General relativity
If most people think of general relativity at all, they assume this high-minded idea of Einstein's applies only to super-large objects completely outside the realm of normal life, such as galaxies and black holes.
But actually, the warping of space-time does affect things we know and use, the authors point out.
"If general relativity were not taken into account in GPS satellite navigation systems, errors in global positions would accumulate at a rate of about ten kilometers each day," the book states. That's because general relativity describes how time flows slower the closer an object is to a large mass. Thus, depending on satellites' distances from Earth, their onboard clocks will run at slightly different speeds, which could offset position calculations unless this effect is taken into account."
5. Oppressed fish
A few years ago, the city council of Monza, Italy, barred pet owners from keeping goldfish in curved bowls. This law was meant to protect the poor fish from a distorted nature of reality, since bent light might show them an odd portrayal of their surroundings.
Hawking and Mlodinow bring up the incident to make the point that it is impossible to know the true nature of reality. We think we have an accurate picture of what's going on, but how would we know if we were metaphorically living in a giant fishbowl of our own, since we would never be able to see outside our own point of view to compare?
6. Pythagoras stole the credit
In passing, the authors casually assert that the famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras did not actually discover the Pythagorean theorem.
A little digging suggests the formula (a2 + b2 = c2, which describes the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle) was actually known earlier. The Babylonians, for example, seem to have documented the basic idea in ancient mathematical tablets before Pythagoras came on the scene in 570 B.C.
7. Quarks are never lonely
Quarks, the adorably named building blocks of protons and neutrons, come only in groups, never alone. Apparently, the force that binds quarks together increases with distance, so the farther one tries to pry a lone quark away, the harder it will pull back. Therefore, free quarks never exist in nature.
Protons and neutrons are both made of three quarks. (Protons contain two "up"-flavored quarks and one "down," while neutrons have two downs and one up.)
8. The universe is its own creator
One of the most talked-about assertions in the whole book is that we don't need the idea of God to explain what sparked the creation of the universe.
"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going," Hawking and Mlodinow write.
Instead, the laws of science alone can explain why the universe began. Our modern understanding of time suggests that it is just another dimension, like space. Thus it doesn't have a beginning.
"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," they write. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist."
This article was reprinted with permission from LiveScience.
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I think number 2 is incorrect...
First of all, the Earth doesn't move around the Sun like a clock. Secondly, if scientist believed in god, then it wouldn't be science, it would be religion. But I agree with you. I'm sick of "theory" and no facts.
I know. Germ Theory, who needs it? Theory of Gravity? Time to retire it. Atomic Theory? Who says there's not lots and lots of little people doing things.
Back to facts indeed.
Remember the Sabbath, that in six days God created the universe and rested on the 7th day,
An omnipotent being that needs a rest?? That is like saying circles are square.
More like the Supreme Being created it.
Hi, "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," they write. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist." Ummm... where did that law of gravity come from?
Where did God come from?
Just because someone is supposedly the smartest person on earth does not mean you should blindly believe everything they say.
I don't understand why people can't believe that a universe came from nothing, and still believe that there's a god that always was.
I don't think the universe came from nothing. my theory is that universes expand then contract back to a single massive black hole and then explode back out again.. matter that has always existed and always will. and there's more than one universe... but no one really knows.. it's just my theory
We may not need to believe that God exists, but there are certain things that happen in this world that are way too coincidental to explain through science, logic and even chance alone. Plus, the concept has helped many (including myself) come to terms with what the world has to offer and how it runs. I think science and religion (or at least spirituality) can both exist concurrently; it just takes some reconciliation of a few conflicting ideas and the willingness to believe in both.
have you ever looked at ancient civilizations and the things they created, we have no idea because the scientists cant explain it and ignore it. Also, when the Spanish came over and "conquered" the Inca's they took 9/10s of their books, art, and history that is in a crate underneath the Vatican as a reward, and we will never obtain or see that HISTORY again because religious people do not want us to know the truth. ET's visited us in the past, gave us knowledge and left
ok, we have a misunderstanding. I believe in a "god" but "he is not a guy with a beard in an old robe" (William Bramely: Gods of Eden)" I suggest you read that book.
I don't believe that a God created the universe but the Big Bang sounds just as unbelievable. How can everything fit into a tiny dot. Might as well say God did it. There has to be another theory that makes a little more sense.
That's basically the oscillating universe theory, mixerman
We have always created Gods whenever we couldn't explain the universe or nature... the more we discover, the less we need our Gods
The more we discover the more discover how complex God truly is.
The more I discover the complex I realize God really is.
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