Short answers to the big questions

In his latest published book for a wide readership, Hawking explores many of the greatest mysteries of the universe, as well as the potential problems that humanity faces or may face on our home planet. The book is divided into four sections entitled "Why are we here?", "Will we survive?", "Will technology save us or destroy us?" and "How do we make sure we thrive?" and considers ten "big questions" - Does God exist? How did it all start? What's inside the black hole? Can we predict the future? Is time travel possible? Will we survive on planet Earth? Is there intelligent life in the universe? Should we colonize the universe? Can AI outsmart us? How do we shape the future? In the text, the author discusses many difficulties, that could threaten humanity - climate change, for example, nuclear war, the development of artificial intelligence, genetic modification of man or the collision of Earth with an asteroid -, ...and he's pushing a point of view.., that science will play an important role in solving problems on planet Earth. Copyright © Spacetime Publications Limited 2018 Foreword © Eddie Redmayne 2018 Introduction © Kip S. Thorne 2018 Afterword © Lucy Hawking 2018 Translation © Rudolf Chalupský, 2021