Stephen Hawking, who spent his career decoding the universe and even experienced weightlessness, is urging the continuation of space exploration — for humanity’s sake.
The 71-year-old Hawking said he did not think humans would survive another 1,000 years “without escaping beyond our fragile planet.”
The British cosmologist made the remarks Tuesday before an audience of doctors, nurses and employees at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he toured a stem cell laboratory that’s focused on trying to slow the progression of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Hawking was diagnosed with the neurological disorder 50 years ago while a student at Cambridge University. He recalled how he became depressed and initially didn’t see a point in finishing his doctorate. But he continued to delve into his studies.
“If you understand how the universe operates, you control it in a way,” he said.
Renowned for his work on black holes and the origins of the cosmos, Hawking is famous for bringing esoteric physics concepts to the masses through his best-selling books, including “A Brief History of Time,” which sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Hawking titled his hourlong lecture to Cedars-Sinai employees “A Brief History of Mine.”
Hawking has survived longer than most people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control the muscles. People gradually have more and more trouble breathing and moving as muscles weaken and waste away. There’s no cure and no way to reverse the disease’s progression. Few people with ALS live longer than a decade.
Hawking receives around-the-clock care, can only communicate by twitching his cheek, and relies on a computer mounted to his wheelchair to convey his thoughts in a distinctive robotic monotone.
Despite his diagnosis, Hawking has remained active. In 2007, he floated like an astronaut on an aircraft that creates weightlessness by making parabolic dives.
Hawking rattled off nuggets of advice: Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious.
“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at,” he said.
Dr. Robert Baloh, director of Cedars-Sinai’s ALS program who invited Hawking, said he had no explanation for the physicist’s longevity.
Baloh said he has treated patients who lived for 10 years or more.
“But 50 years is unusual, to say the least,” he said.
In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Hawking the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work.
史蒂芬•霍金这位究其一生破译宇宙奥秘、甚至体验过失重状态的英国科学家，正敦促人类为了自身利益继续进行太空探索。
今年71岁的霍金4月9日表示，人类若“不逃离我们脆弱的星球”将难以再活1000年。
霍金本周二在西达斯西奈医学中心作出上述表示，在场的有医护人员和其他职员。他参观了这家医疗中心一个专门致力于延缓“渐冻人”病的干细胞实验室。
50年前，霍金还在剑桥大学读书时被诊断出患上“渐冻人”病。他回忆起自己变得抑郁的过程，最初甚至想放弃博士学位，但他最终继续投身研究。
“如果你明白了宇宙的运转方式，在某种程度上你就能控制它。”他说。
黑洞及宇宙起源理论让霍金享誉全球，他更以能将晦涩难懂的物理概念写成大众畅销书而闻名，其中《时间简史》的全球发行量达到了1000万册。在这家医疗中心，霍金当众发表了长达一小时的演讲，名为《我的简史》。
霍金比其他同病患者活得更长，“渐动人”疾病也称为肌萎缩侧索硬化症，这种疾病会攻击人体中控制肌肉运动的大脑和脊髓的神经细胞。患者将因肌肉逐渐松弛衰弱变得呼吸困难，行动缓慢。目前尚无治愈良方。很少有人患病后能活过十年。
霍金需要日夜照看，只能通过抽动脸颊来进行交流，依靠装在轮椅上的电脑发出特别的机器人声表达思想。
虽然身患重病，但霍金依旧活跃。2007年，他乘坐飞机在空中像宇航员一样体验了失重之感。
霍金说出金玉良言：仰望星空，保持好奇心。“不管生活看起来多么困难，总有可做并且成功之事。”
该中心“渐冻人”疾病项目主管罗伯特-巴隆医生称其长寿无法解释。也正是巴隆医生邀请霍金前来。
巴隆表示他的患者中曾有活过10年或10年以上的。“但至少可以说，活过50年的患者非常少见。”
2009年，奥巴马总统授予霍金总统自由勋章以表彰其工作。