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ENGLCOM-RVLC

Media Log Entry Number 6

Theme: Media and Science

Razon, Patricia Angela Marie R. Mr. Allan Rey S. Villaverde

V26-A July 7, 2013

Stephen Hawking: Questioning the Universe

Video courtesy of YouTube

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English scientist Stephen Hawking has made great contributions in the world we live

in today. The theoretical physicist has an endless list of credentials; He is a

cosmologist, a former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of

Cambridge, the author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical

Cosmology at Cambridge, writer of several significant works in the field of general

relativity, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the

Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom,

the highest civilian award in the United States of America. On February 2008, Hawking

guested at TED, a non-profit organization committed to Ideas Worth Spreading. In the

talk, Hawking asks 5 big questions about life; 1. Where did we come from? 2. How did

the universe come in to being? 3. Are we alone in the universe? 4. Is there alien life out

there? 5. What is the future of the human race?

When Hawking attempted to answer the first question stated above, he added

another underlying question: What or even who created the universe? Hearing these

kinds of questions reminded me of my Philosophy class back when I was a junior in De

La Salle Zobel where I realized how my response to these questions will be totally

based on my religion in what it believed was the true beginning. I still believe there is

only one Supreme Being who created our Universe, but apart from my beliefs, the

scientific theories in the scientific world nowadays are close to being perfect. With two

theories of how the universe began (theory of relativity and the initial state of the

universe), maybe Hawkings ultimate goal, to complete the theory of the universe, is not

too far ahead. It is in fact, in Hawkings words,in good progress.

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When the questions were responded on whether or not we are alone in the universe

or whether or not aliens do exist, I had a rather good laugh at the response of Mr.

Hawking. He admitted that the possibility is high for life to appear in other planets since

there are a lot; however, it remains unproven and unseen. He even made a comment

about his discounting reports of UFOs which, in fact, allowed me to see Mr. Hawkings

humorous side and literally got me laughing out loud. He said, Why would they appear

only to cranks and weirdos?.

Towards the end of his speech, Stephen Hawking shared his more personal opinions

on our way of living in the universe. He shared how we are entering an increasingly

dangerous period of our history as population and the use of our limited resources are

growing exponentially. It is sad to think how all of these problems come from us,

humans, as our genetic code still carries selfish and aggressive instincts. He actually

also believes the only way for our long term survival is if we venture and spread out to

space which I find absolutely frightening. I cannot even bear the image of human beings

being sent out to live in another planet other than our own; however, it is sad to think

how this may be our last resort if we do not take care of our mother earth and control

our population growth.

With Mr. Hawkings great contributions in the scientific world today, some absurd (in

my opinion) but mostly brilliant, I couldnt agree more when Professor Hawking stated,

there is nothing bigger or older than the universe. The universe we live in nowadays is

really so vast that we, humans, are bound to discover something new about it each day.

This is what I think is the best part about science. Although it is definite, it is also an

infinite road of possibilities and actualities.

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References

Stephen Hawking - Home. (n.d.). Stephen Hawking - Home. Retrieved July 8, 2013,

from http://www.hawking.org.uk/

Stephen Hawking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free

encyclopedia. Retrieved July 8, 2013, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

Stephen Hawking: Questioning the universe - YouTube. (2008, March 4). YouTube.

Retrieved July 8, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjBIsp8mS-c

TED Talks Worth Talking About Stephen Hawking | vialogue. (2008, March 19).

vialogue | studying the way | life, truth, leadership, ministry, bible, church,

culture, science, faith, youth, and this very moment. Retrieved July 8, 2013, from

http://vialogue.wordpress.com/2008/04/19/ted-talks-worth-talking-about-

stephen-hawking/