Stephen Hawking (Oxford, 1942) can no longer lift a finger. The devastating disease that began to corrode his nervous system, when he was only 21 years old, even allows you to use the mouse to select words used before on your computer and transmit them through a voice synthesizer. The muscles in his face have become the latest body tools that are to communicate , activating the right cheek with a coupled sensor on his glasses.
With this impressive technology designed especially for him, Hawking manages to move a cursor on a screen and activate the legendary robotic voice speaking on behalf of an American accent. But despite the huge effort that must meet to share ideas, has granted an exclusive interview for the readers of THE WORLD.
When displayed on a wheelchair at the Tenerife hotel where our meeting takes place, conquer us upon arrival, outlining an endearing smile with those few facial muscles that still serve to express thoughts and emotions. As doctors no longer allow him to fly, Hawking has traveled to the Canary Islands on a cruise six days to file this week his vision of the cosmos in Starmus Festival, a system designed to disseminate the findings of astronomy throughout society congress.
Suddenly I’m faced with one of the most brilliant minds of the last century, about to do the interview with which I have always dreamed of. But when the moment of truth arrives, I remain so shocked that I’m not sure how I should not greet him. One of the five nurses, Nikky O’Brien, realize my hesitation and resolve my doubts immediately, grabbing her hand and pulling her to Hawking mine, so you can shake it.
A ‘gourmet’ in Canary
After thanking the most famous scientist on the planet and admired the immense privilege of having granted an exclusive interview, he showed the wonderful portrait Ricardo Martinez that we have brought as a gift, and also the spectacular set that we have prepared to take pictures, before a canvas of constellations and galaxies painted by one of our artists, Ulises Culebro-.
“I hope you like. If it looks good, we would first like to photograph with this cosmic background, “he explained. Its so, it takes about half a minute to reach is the first word that conveys through the motions of his cheeks: ‘Yes’ . O’Brien, permanently hanging on every least gesture Hawking, nurse begins to comb vehemently and confirms the approval of astrophysicist: “Go ahead, no problem, liked it very much for everything you have mounted”
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While Hawking poses like a pro for the photo shoot, raising his eyes to look at the camera and giving us their best smiles , I ask Nikky O ‘Brien if the teacher is enjoying her visit to the Canary Islands. “Of course! Even you have tried the potatoes with spicy sauce and loves, “says me. Although mobility is dwindling, Hawking can still chew food well and is a real gourmet .
Given the crucial importance of sophisticated computer system astrophysicist uses to communicate, the nurse asked Hawking if among his team of caregivers someone with computer skills, if a problem with your computer or voice synthesizer arises. “The truth is no, and the PC hangs occasionally ” I confess O’Brien. However, if a major incident occurs, the nurse explains that a computer of Cambridge can always enter Hawking’s computer via a remote connection and resolve any problem.
Three words per minute
With the sophisticated mechanism activated by the movement of her cheeks, Hawking manages to write a average of three words per minute. Therefore, to interview the British astrophysicist, is a prerequisite send questions in advance . Otherwise, the dialogue would extend for many hours or even days. In our case, we email you a questionnaire of 10 questions at the end of August, three weeks before we meet him in Tenerife last Thursday.
When the shoot ends, Hawking has endured without complaint, I approached him and asked if we can start our dialogue. He immediately begins to move the cursor on the computer screen through the sensor attached to his glasses, and I see that places it on a Word document on your desktop called “THE WORLD” . It’s funny the little typo in the name of our newspaper, and I especially excited about the idea that the indefatigable explorer of cosmos has devoted a few hours of your time to answer the questions that we did get by e-mail.
I ask first if still believes, as he said in the book that made him famous, History of Time, which one day will achieve a “Theory of Everything” to understand the laws that govern the universe, or whether there are aspects of reality which can never penetrate the human mind. His response reflects an unwavering faith in the power of science to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos : “I think so get to understand the origin and structure of the Universe. In fact, right now we’re close to achieving this goal. In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind. “
Science ‘versus’ religion
In my second question, I ask you to clarify your position on God and religion, which has generated an intense debate among its readers. On the one hand, at the end of History of Time , wrote that if one day we managed that ‘Theory of Everything’, would know “the mind of God” . But later in his controversial book The Grand Design , said that the universe can be created “out of nothing, out of nowhere,” and that the idea of God is “not necessary” to explain origin . I wonder, given this apparent contradiction, if he changed his mind in this area, and if deemed agnostic or atheist.
The resounding answer is very clear that although many have come to describe as “a miracle” that Hawking is still alive, half a century after being diagnosed with a disease whose life expectancy is usually a couple of years, astrophysicist rejects all religious beliefs: “In the past, before we understood the science was logical to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation . What I meant when I said I would know ‘the mind of God’ was that we would understand all that God would be able to understand if any exist. But there is no God. I am an atheist. Religion believes in miracles, but they are not supported by science. “
Before you can answer each question, Hawking will selecting phrases of the file where no longer prepared answers and dumped in a program Speaker called that converts written text into sentences that issues your synthesizer . The software which produces the famous Hawking’s voice 80s, the time of the tracheotomy he had to undergo it definitely left speechless. In fact, there are now more advanced programs that sound less robotic, but Hawking takes so many years using this voice, which fully identifies with her and has no intention of changing it.
For once even asked if he would not prefer to settle a synthesizer with an accent british , which look much more like the original voice of a native of Oxford as he. But Hawking responded with his unmistakable sense of humor, which certainly has helped him endure so many years such a cruel disease: “with an American accent, I have much more success with women”
The conquest of other planets
After discussions about religion, we move from the divine to the human and ask if you think it is still worth investing millions in sending missions astronauts into space, or if you think a waste, as scientists say many of their colleagues. Astrophysicist is very clear that the conquest of the cosmos must continue , not only because “space exploration has driven and continue to drive major scientific and technological advances,” but because it can represent a life insurance policy for the future survival of our species: “It could prevent the disappearance of humanity by colonizing other planets.”
I also can not miss the unique opportunity to talk with Hawking in Spain, to ask about the cuts that have hit the field of scientific research in our country in recent years. “What message would you send to the Spanish Government if he were in front, on the importance of investing in science? ‘. Astrophysicist, once again proves that no detours. This is your message for Mariano Rajoy and the entire political class of our country, “ Spain requires graduates with scientific training to ensure their economic development . You can not encourage young people to pursue scientific careers with cuts in the field of research. ”
The time is running and O’Brien begins to nurse me the sign of the guillotine, but I see on the screen Hawking still has one more answer to a question I asked about how you would to be reminded of future generations. “I hope they remember me for my work in the field of cosmology and black holes” , I answer before starting to take him away his nurses.
It strikes me that says absolutely nothing about the extraordinary example he has given his life to prove how far exceeded the capacity of human beings to the most cruel adversity. And while disappears hotel hallways, I remember one of his most memorable statements: “Humanity is insignificant when compared to the universe, the fact that a disabled person does not have much cosmic significance” <. / p>
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