How Did Humans Come Into Existence?
Hawking’s insights about black holes have opened new avenues of thinking about the nature of the universe and helped resolve troubling areas of physics where the laws of nature appear to break down. Of all the universe’s mysteries, Hawking said he would most like to know how it is that humans have come into existence. “The universe is so big, so smooth and yet just right enough for us to exist,” Hawking said in the interview. Speaking with Hawking is a slow, meditative experience. He twitches one of the few muscles still in his control – his cheek – to scroll through word lists stored in his computer. Constructing a 35-word sentence takes 15 minutes and leaves him fatigued. Still, Hawking doesn’t wait for a question to converse. A quip about Hawking’s robotic voice having a nice British accent, prompts him to reply, “Most people think my accent is American.” Later, when asked about the prospects of intelligent life beyond Earth, Hawking said he hopes it exists. “There is not much sign