Knowledge is (Sharing) is Caring: Life

, by kasikumar

Black Hole. Black Holes and Baby Universes

All about Professor Stephen William Hawking

Hawking took a zero-gravity flight in a reduced-gravity aircraft, 2007

Professor Stephen William Hawking was born on 8th January 1942 (exactly 300 years after the death of Galileo) in Oxford, England. His parents' house was in north London but during the Second World War Oxford was considered a safer place to have babies. When he was eight his family moved to St. Albans, a town about 20 miles north of London. At the age of eleven, Stephen went to St. Albans School and then on to University College, Oxford (1952); his father's old college. Stephen wanted to study mathematics although his father would have preferred medicine. Mathematics was not available at University College, so he pursued physics instead. After three years and not very much work, he was awarded a first class honors degree in natural science.

In October 1962, Stephen arrived at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) at the University of Cambridge to do research in cosmology, there being no-one working in that area in Oxford at the time. His supervisor was Dennis Sciama, although he had hoped to get Fred Hoyle who was working in Cambridge. After gaining his PhD (1965) with his thesis titled 'Properties of Expanding Universes', he became, first, a research fellow (1965) then Fellow for Distinction in Science (1969) at Gonville & Caius College. In 1966 he won the Adams Prize for his essay 'Singularities and the Geometry of Space-time'. Stephen moved to the Institute of Astronomy (1968), later moving back to DAMTP (1973), employed as a research assistant, and published his first academic book, The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time, with George Ellis. During the next few years, Stephen was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (1974) and Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar at the California Institute of Technology (1974). He became a Reader in Gravitational Physics at DAMTP (1975), progressing to Professor of Gravitational Physics (1977). He then held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1979-2009). The chair was founded in 1663 with money left in the will of the Reverend Henry Lucas who had been the Member of Parliament for the University. It was first held by Isaac Barrow and then in 1669 by Isaac Newton. Stephen is currently the Dennis Stanton Avery and Sally Tsui Wong-Avery Director of Research at DAMTP.

Professor Stephen Hawking has worked on the basic laws which govern the universe. With Roger Penrose he showed that Einstein's general theory of relativity implied space and time would have a beginning in the Big Bang and an end in black holes (1970). These results indicated that it was necessary to unify general relativity with quantum theory, the other great scientific development of the first half of the 20th century. One consequence of such a unification that he discovered was that black holes should not be completely black, but rather should emit 'Hawking' radiation and eventually evaporate and disappear (1974). Another conjecture is that the universe has no edge or boundary in imaginary time. This would imply that the way the universe began was completely determined by the laws of science. Recently Stephen has been working with colleagues on a possible resolution to the black hole information paradox, where debate centres around the conservation of information.

His many publications include The Large Scale Structure of Spacetime with G F R Ellis, General Relativity: An Einstein Centenary Survey, with W Israel, and 300 Years of Gravitation, with W Israel. Among the popular books Stephen Hawking has published are his best seller A Brief History of Time, Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays, The Universe in a Nutshell, The Grand Design and My Brief History.

Professor Stephen Hawking has thirteen honorary degrees. He was awarded CBE (1982), Companion of Honour (1989) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009). He is the recipient of many awards, medals and prizes, most notably the Fundamental Physics prize (2013), Copley Medal (2006) and the Wolf Foundation prize (1988). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

In 1963 Stephen was diagnosed with ALS, a form of Motor Neurone Disease, shortly after his 21st birthday. In spite of being wheelchair-bound and dependent on a computerised voice system for communication Stephen continues to combine family life (he has three children and three grandchildren) with his research into theoretical physics, in addition to an extensive programme of travel and public lectures.

Included below are a selection of Professor Hawking's public lectures.

Into a Black Hole 2008

Is it possible to fall in a black hole, and come out in another universe? Can you escape from a black hole once you fall inside? In this lecture I talk about some of the things I've found out about black holes.

The Origin of the Universe 2005

Why are we here? Where did we come from? The answer generally given was that humans were of comparatively recent origin, because it must have been obvious, even at early times, that the human race was improving in knowledge and technology. So it can't have been around that long, or it would have progressed even more.

Godel and the End of Physics 2002

In this talk, I want to ask how far can we go in our search for understanding and knowledge. Will we ever find a complete form of the laws of nature? By a complete form, I mean a set of rules that in principle at least enable us to predict the future to an arbitrary accuracy, knowing the state of the universe at one time. A qualitative understanding of the laws has been the aim of philosophers and scientists, from Aristotle onwards.

Space and Time Warps 1999

In science fiction, space and time warps are a commonplace. They are used for rapid journeys around the galaxy, or for travel through time. But today's science fiction, is often tomorrow's science fact. So what are the chances for space and time warps.

Does God Play Dice 1999

This lecture is about whether we can predict the future, or whether it is arbitrary and random. In ancient times, the world must have seemed pretty arbitrary. Disasters such as floods or diseases must have seemed to happen without warning or apparent reason. Primitive people attributed such natural phenomena, to a pantheon of gods and goddesses, who behaved in a capricious and whimsical way. There was no way to predict what they would do, and the only hope was to win favor by gifts or actions.

The Beginning of Time 1996

In this lecture, I would like to discuss whether time itself has a beginning, and whether it will have an end. All the evidence seems to indicate, that the universe has not existed forever, but that it had a beginning, about 15 billion years ago. This is probably the most remarkable discovery of modern cosmology. Yet it is now taken for granted. We are not yet certain whether the universe will have an end.

Life in the Universe 1996

In this talk, I would like to speculate a little, on the development of life in the universe, and in particular, the development of intelligent life. I shall take this to include the human race, even though much of its behavior throughout history, has been pretty stupid, and not calculated to aid the survival of the species.

Books

Professor Hawking has published many books tackling the fundamental questions about the universe and our existence. Stephen has also published many scientific papers and lecture notes.

My Brief History

My Brief History recounts Stephen Hawking’s improbable journey, from his post-war London boyhood to his years of international acclaim and celebrity. Illustrated with rarely seen photographs, this concise, witty and candid account introduces readers to the inquisitive schoolboy whose classmates nicknamed him ‘Einstein’; the jokester who once placed a bet with a colleague over the existence of a black hole; and the young husband and father striving to gain a foothold in the world of academia. Read more, or you can order your copy at amazon.com

The Grand Design

When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? What is the nature of reality? Is the apparent ‘grand design’ of our universe evidence for a benevolent creator who set things in motion? Or does science offer another explanation? In The Grand Design, the most recent scientific thinking about the mysteries of the universe is presented in language marked by both brilliance and simplicity. Read more, or you can order your copy at amazon.com.

A Brief History of Time

Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries? These are just some of the questions considered in an internationally acclaimed masterpiece by one of the world's greatest thinkers. It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory. Read more, or you can order your copy at amazon.com

George and the Blue Moon

“It is said that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction, and nowhere is that more true than in the case of black holes. Black holes are stranger than anything dreamed up by science fiction writers.”

In 2016 Professor Stephen Hawking delivered the BBC Reith Lectures on a subject that has fascinated him for decades – black holes. In these flagship lectures the legendary physicist argues that if we could only understand black holes and how they challenge the very nature of space and time, we could unlock the secrets of the universe.

In my latest book for children, "George and the Blue Moon", George and Annie, set out to solve a mystery set on one of the cosmic water worlds of space. Is there life under the icy crust? Where did those robots come from and who is controlling them? Meanwhile, my two young heroes win places on a Mars training programme which has a dangerous and unexpected twist. Suddenly, the best friends find themselves fighting for survival in what feels like the Hunger Games set on the red planet. Packed with space facts and essays from leading scientists, it is my most unpredictable thriller so far!

George and the Unbreakable Code

George and the Big Bang

Stephen and Lucy Hawking's fourth book about the adventures of George and Annie.

Just as thrilling a book as all the ones before it, George and the Unbreakable Code also delves deeper and covers topics and ideas that the intended readers might not normally think about.

Overall, a brilliant book as always brought from the fabulous Hawking duo. See a review, or you can order your copy at amazon.com.

The third book in the series, with a full color set of photographs, illustrating the wonder of the cosmos, George and the Big Bang, follows George’s adventures in the universe. You can order your copy at amazon.com or amazon.co.uk

George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt

The second in the series of children's books written by Stephen and Lucy Hawking. George and Annie, the middle-school cosmologists, return in this sequel to George's Secret Key to the Universe. You can order your copy at amazon.com.

George's Secret Key to the Universe

The first in a series of children's books that melds cosmology and adventure, co-authored by Professor Hawking and his daughter Lucy.

George's best friend Annie needs help. Her scientist father, Eric, is working on a space project - and it's all going wrong. A robot has landed on Mars, but is behaving very oddly. And now Annie has discovered something weird on her dad's super-computer... You can order your copy at amazon.com.

The Universe in a Nutshell

In 200 highly illustrated pages, Hawking is pushing the frontiers of popular physics beyond relativity and quantum theory, past superstring theory and imaginary time, into a dizzying new world of M-theory and branes. Read more, or you can order your copy at amazon.com.

Black Holes and Baby Universes

In his first collection of essays and other pieces - on subjects that range from warmly personal to the wholly scientific- Stephen Hawking is revealed variously as the scientist, the man, the concerned world citizen, and - as always - the rigorous and imaginative thinker. You can order your copy at amazon.com.

On the Shoulders of Giants

On the Shoulders of Giants tells a compelling story, using original papers from Einstein, Copernicus, Galilei, Kepler and Newton. Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking explains how these works changed the course of science, ushering astronomy and physics out of the Middle Ages and into the modern world. Read more, or you can order your copy at amazon.com.

The Large Scale Structure of Space-time

A textbook for Physicists, this 1973 book explores two predictions of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: first, that the ultimate destiny of many massive stars is to undergo gravitational collapse and to disappear from view, leaving behind a 'black hole' in space; and secondly, that there will exist singularities in space-time itself. You can order your copy at amazon.com.

God created the Integers

God Created The Integersis Stephen Hawking's personal choice of the greatest mathematical works in history. The book includes landmark discoveries spanning 2500 years and representing the work of mathematicians such as Euclid, Georg Cantor, Kurt Godel, Augustin Cauchy, Bernard Riemann and Alan Turing. You can order your copy at amazon.com.

Stephen Hawking quotes:

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.

We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.

My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.

Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.

I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.

People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.

We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet,

Not only does God play dice, but... he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.

There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.

“I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail,” he said. “There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”

He spoke also of death, an eventuality that sat on a more distant horizon than doctors thought. “I’m not afraid of death, but I’m in no hurry to die,” he said. “I have so much I want to do first.”

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, by kasikumar

Happiness

10 other ways we say “I love you”

From early on in the relationship to throughout your time together, there are ways to say “I love you” without saying “I love you.” And, in many cases, the alternatives are more meaningful, because they are, arguably, more clear.

Jessica Semaan wrote a lovely piece on other ways to say “I love you.” In response, here are ten additional alternatives I’ll offer:

“I see you.” Not always in the literal sense, though sometimes even looking directly at the person you care about, with undivided attention, can mean the world. But beyond that, the gesture of emotional and mental acknowledgment is invaluable. It is the basic foundation of “you matter.”It is the second of buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I know you are there.”

“I understand you.” The gift of listening, and empathy. And in the case of hard times, it is the third of Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I know you are suffering.”

“I am here for you.” The gift of presence. Physical and emotional. I love the concept of “holding space.” As someone who prefers to show rather than say emotions, this one is incredibly meaningful for me, both to give and receive. But this can be as light as “I am here with you;” i.e., “quality time.” This is the first of Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I am here.”

“I cherish, honor, and respect you as your own person, with your own lived experience outside of what you offer me, my wants, or my needs.” And, put differently.

“I will care lightly, with non-attachment, and I will let you breathe. “When your love is genuine, it is calm and composed enough — secure enough — to let the other person exist freely.

“I value whatever is best for your own lived experience.” And, put differently: “I value your happiness enough that I just want you to be happy.”

“I give without needing anything in return — and this includes ‘love’ or ‘appreciation.’” Love does not come with conditions. These are conditions.

“Your pain is my pain.” But, in should be said, never in a way that “usurps” their pain. Sometimes people have this incredibly unwelcoming habit of “over-taking” your own experience and reacting more to it than you have; that’s not the love I’m talking about. This is quiet — an echo back; a silent reflection; a shared embrace.

“Your happiness is my happiness.” Again, never to “usurp” the happiness of the beloved, always in echo and embrace.

“I will help.” As someone who values self-sufficiency, receiving an act of service is an act of vulnerability. When someone offers help — and then actually follows through on it without looking for anything (including “appreciation”) in return — it’s like a one-two punch that’s hard to mis-read.

Different messages are meant for different people, but these are some of mine.

None of them, you may note, include messages of either:

“Feelings” (“I feel,” “You make me feel,” “I am overwhelmed with,” etc.)or “My wants and needs” (none of them start with “I want,” and none of them end with “I want.” Or any synonyms.)

Because self-serving notions are not full love. That’s not to say that we should not protect ourselves from toxic or harmful love, but (a) doing so is not love in and of itself and (b) serving our interests isn’t either. It’s merely a check; a safeguard.

Love is extending energy to another person, as they exist, in and of themselves — not as they exist in relation to you, and certainly not for what they offer you.

"True love stands alone; true love is offering, doing so freely. And true love is said in so many other, sometimes even more meaningful, ways than those three little words" — albeit they’re still nice to hear !!!

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, by kasikumar

Happiness

10 other ways we say “I love you”

Jessica Semaan wrote a lovely piece on other ways to say “I love you.” In response, here are ten additional alternatives I’ll offer:

“I see you.” Not always in the literal sense, though sometimes even looking directly at the person you care about, with undivided attention, can mean the world. But beyond that, the gesture of emotional and mental acknowledgment is invaluable. It is the basic foundation of “you matter.”It is the second of buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I know you are there.”

“I understand you.” The gift of listening, and empathy. And in the case of hard times, it is the third of Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I know you are suffering.”

“I am here for you.” The gift of presence. Physical and emotional. I love the concept of “holding space.” As someone who prefers to show rather than say emotions, this one is incredibly meaningful for me, both to give and receive. But this can be as light as “I am here with you;” i.e., “quality time.” This is the first of Thich Nhat Hanh’s four love mantras: “Darling, I am here.”

“I cherish, honor, and respect you as your own person, with your own lived experience outside of what you offer me, my wants, or my needs.” And, put differently.

“I will care lightly, with non-attachment, and I will let you breathe. “When your love is genuine, it is calm and composed enough — secure enough — to let the other person exist freely.

“I value whatever is best for your own lived experience.” And, put differently: “I value your happiness enough that I just want you to be happy.”

“I give without needing anything in return — and this includes ‘love’ or ‘appreciation.’” Love does not come with conditions. These are conditions.

“Your pain is my pain.” But, in should be said, never in a way that “usurps” their pain. Sometimes people have this incredibly unwelcoming habit of “over-taking” your own experience and reacting more to it than you have; that’s not the love I’m talking about. This is quiet — an echo back; a silent reflection; a shared embrace.

“Your happiness is my happiness.” Again, never to “usurp” the happiness of the beloved, always in echo and embrace.

“I will help.” As someone who values self-sufficiency, receiving an act of service is an act of vulnerability. When someone offers help — and then actually follows through on it without looking for anything (including “appreciation”) in return — it’s like a one-two punch that’s hard to mis-read.

Different messages are meant for different people, but these are some of mine.

None of them, you may note, include messages of either:

Love is extending energy to another person, as they exist, in and of themselves — not as they exist in relation to you, and certainly not for what they offer you.

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, by Unknown

facts

Life is full of Question - But we have change

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, by Unknown

Life

Life is meaningless?

Life is totally meaningless. We live. We die. So what's the point?

The moment you start feeling life is meaningless, it means that you have lost all contact with existence.You have become old.Maybe not physically but psychologically old.The joy, the love, the celebration of youth is gone.Now only death remains.

Have you ever heard a little child say ‘Life is meaningless’?or have you tried asking a child questions like ‘what is the meaning of life?’,’What is the point?’

He will simply look at you like you are cool and continue with his play.For child life play. In his innocence, every moment is a celebration.They feel no boredom.

But as we grow something strange happens.We lose our innocence.The voices of society start taking over. It programs you, represses you in many different ways. It fills your being with ideas like You have to be serious, that is the sign of matured person.Life is a serious affair.Life is a race etc.

Now if you give into these ideas, You lose your precious innocence.With the innocence disappears your joy, with the innocence disappears all celebration, with the innocence disappears love.With innocence disappears your individuality.Now everything meaningful has disappeared.Life feels futile,’utterly meaningless’.

In addition to this, there are these ‘scientists’ which has reduced humanity to mere biological creatures, with no meaning except to born, reproduce and die someday.What meaning can life have then?

Then there are these pseudo-religions teaching you that life here is insignificant.Renounce it and you will book your position in the ‘Kingdom of God’.You will be awarded there.

I am telling you, stop looking for the meaning of life and simply live it.For when you are fully flowing in life these questions simply disappear or will seem insignificant.Now you are an outsider looking at life and asking ‘why are you here’?,’What is your purpose?’.Get back into your life.

Look back from where you started giving into the society and started losing all respect for yourself.Become a child again.Reclaim your innocence.These religions, society and their ideals had done enough harm. It is time you put an end to this!

Celebrate life.What other meaning need there be?Simply rejoice.Existence has gifted you with this opportunity to live, to love, to celebrate.The sun rises, the birds rejoice.The rain comes and a peacock starts dancing.There need not be a reason.They simply do it for the sheer joy of it.Look around you there is so much magic, beauty.Existence is full of beauty.Look at it, participate in it, get back in contact with existence, your life.

Then you will see every moment is a celebration, Every moment is an experience to be lived, to be loved and then meaning will come of its own accord.

In short-'Stop thinking about the meaning of life and start living it, for there is no other way you can find it.’

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, by Unknown

Best

Your's top 7 rules for best Life

Rule No.7: People will always tell you who they are. Believe them the first time.

We tend to ignore the facts and accept and even fall in love with the idea of the people we built up in our minds. Sooner or later reality will clash with such imaginary constructs and pain is then inevitable. Try to stay objective and keep idealization at a minimum so that you will be able to see people for what they truly are and not as you would want them to be. And everyone is unintentionally helping you in this.

You see, people have an uncontainable urgency to tell you who they are. Every. Single. Time. However, not with their words. Words are compressed air, they mean little and are worth even less, especially to narcissists who will say what you need to hear once they get to know you. Their actions, however, their actions always speak the truth about who they truly are. Believe them. Actions talk. Bullshit walks.

Rule No.6: Protect your own. Keep everyone else at a distance.

A man needs three things: a steel sword to protect his family; a silver sword to keep the beasts at bay; and a pure heart to be able to distinguish between the two. That last part is the trickiest one.

Rule No.5: Never betray a friend or a spouse.

I have a BSc in Neurobiology from one of the best North American universities and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from one of the oldest Greek ones. I speak three languages. I have published a dozen scientific papers and numerous articles. Condensed 2-pages CVs are hard for me to construct because of all the facts I have to leave out. And yet, I know that all those accomplishments were simply the result of hard work and dedication, I am not particularly proud of any of them. Do you know what is the single thing I am truly proud off? The fact that I never, ever let down a friend or betrayed the trust of a girl.

Rule No.4: Do your very best. Every time.

If you want to be able, wherever you lay down your head, to sleep with a light heart and a clear conscience, you have to be able to honestly say to yourself: “today, I did my very best”. If it was not enough, tomorrow you may get another chance - or maybe not. It does not matter. Your best is all that can be expected from you.

Rule No.3: Forgive the shortcomings of others. Every day.

When others fail you or even intentionally wrong you, forgive them. It would be utopic to expect anyone to forget as well yet do not waste your future by dwelling in the past. There is only one direction in life: ahead. And the path is far from easy so try not to burden yourself with old weight. Especially if it is not yours to carry.

Rule No.2: This too shall pass.

I lost my mother at a young age. I still miss her dearly - yet I survived. Some years later, I was paralyzed for months from Guillain-Barre syndrome. I did not know if I was to ever walk again - yet fully recovered. Ten years later, human pettiness denied me the University professor tenure-track position I had been working all of my life towards. Almost immediately following this major professional setback, I was divorced by my wife of 9 years. And I had to come to grips with all this at the height of the Greek economic crisis, which left me essentially unemployed for more than a year. So, believe me when I tell you that, no matter the difficulty or misfortune you are currently in: this too shall pass. Happiness is a choice. It is not the place where you find yourself into. It is what you choose to focus upon.

Rule No.1: God loves you and is watching your every step.

The great majority of people beleive in the existence of God. However, it is not until one believes in His loving Providence that the powers of faith get unleashed. Try to enjoy this life as much as you can yet never forget that this world is our exile.

Because, sooner or later, one way or another, we are all going home.